From the Union Bank & Trust Drumstick DASH 5K to providing a feast for hundreds of hungry people, an army of volunteers are needed to pull off all the Rescue Mission's Thanksgiving Day festivities.
"We actually deploy almost 600," says Volunteer Manager Karl Stewart. "There is no way the Drumstick DASH or the community Thanksgiving feats we serve could happen without their help, so we are very grateful for each and every one who gives their time to serve with us."
Stewart says volunteer opportunities are still available for everything from helping in the DASH registration room next week and right up until the 9:00 a.m. start time, to crowd control, race marshals, and servers for the feast.
Since the Drumstick DASH supports the annual Food Services budget at the Rescue Mission, longtime race volunteer Therese Farmer says serving as a marshal along the race route has become her special tradition because it allows her to have a hand in making sure people who are hungry and homeless are fed. The bonus, she says, is knowing she is also helping race participants build special memories and traditions of their own.
“As a marshal, all the people pass me along the race route,” Farmer explains. “They are all smiling and seem happy to be there on Thanksgiving Day with their family and friends. It’s a really fun way to start off the holiday season.”
To reserve your spot to volunteer with the Drumstick DASH or the feast, call 540-777-7651, or send an e-mail to volunteer.info@rescuemission.net.
The Rescue Mission of Roanoke, located at 402 Fourth Street SE, is a 501(C)(3) grassroots organization serving as a Christian Crisis Intervention Center for Southwestern Virginia. Receiving no government funding of any kind, the Rescue Mission is supported by the generous donations of our community partners. Since 1948, The Rescue Mission has consistently served all people in need regardless of race, creed, gender, age, or ethnicity.