San Diego Rescue Mission Hosts Free Christmas Feast and Services

San Diego Rescue Mission is hosting its annual Christmas Community Outreach Meal, offering a festive seated holiday feast and essential services for nearly 1,000 San Diegans experiencing homelessness or food insecurity.

Beyond just a traditional hot meal, guests will have access to free haircuts, hot showers, medical care, pet support, and transportation through the Mission’s HOPE vans. It’s a comprehensive approach to supporting neighbors in need during the holidays.

What’s Being Offered

The Mission is turning 120 Elm Street into a festive dining room where San Diegans experiencing homelessness, living in unstable conditions, or who are low-income can share an indoor seated Christmas meal served by volunteers.

Alongside the food, guests can access vital services including haircuts, hot showers through mobile shower trailers, essential item giveaways on a first-come, first-served basis, medical services, pet care, and spiritual support.

Transportation assistance runs through the Rescue Mission’s HOPE vans, offering free rides to and from the event in downtown San Diego from the City’s O and B safe camping sites and The Neil Good Day Center.

The Bigger Picture

Every meal shared and service provided is a step in helping San Diegans experiencing homelessness or food insecurity.

In 2025, the San Diego Rescue Mission helped 1,319 people receive immediate shelter, supported 293 people in securing permanent housing, and celebrated a record 160 graduates of its year-long Mission Academy Residential Program.

With the kitchen stocked with nearly 5,000 pounds of food, the SDRM team will be ready to serve nearly 1,000 San Diegans in need. That scale requires serious community support to make it happen.

How to Help

Community members can gift one nourishing Christmas meal at just $2.72 each. You can donate new or clean, gently used towels for hot showers – drop them off at the Rescue Mission Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM at 120 Elm Street through December 19. Or donate a toy for families in the Rescue Mission’s care.

See you there!

Support the San Diego Rescue Mission’s Christmas outreach through donations of meals, towels, or toys, and help ensure no one feels alone this season.

📆 Saturday, December 20 | Christmas Meal: 1 PM – 3 PM | Haircuts: 11 AM – 1:30 PM | Hot Showers: 11 AM – 2 PM
📍 120 Elm St, San Diego (Enter on 2nd Ave)
🎟️ For donations and more info, visit here
ℹ️ More info here

See you there, San Diego!