East Bay homeless shelter helps get lives back on track year-round

RICHMOND, Calif. - As shelters gear up for a busy holiday week, inside the bustling kitchen of the Bay Area Rescue Mission in Richmond, it's just as busy as ever.

It’s where you’ll find the cook, Comfort Mensah, making comfort food.

The secret ingredient, she admits with a laugh, is love, and lots of it. 

The domestic violence survivor once turned to the Bay Area Rescue Mission for help.

"It has changed my life," Mensah told KTVU. "Coming here [from an abusive] relationship, and joined the program, going to school."

Mensah would enroll in the shelter’s vocational program, go on to get a scholarship to Italy, to study culinary arts, and bring those skills right back to the place that gave her a clean slate.

According to the organization, more than 34,000 people in the Bay Area are experiencing homelessness every night with many of them struggling with the cost of living.

"They have jobs," said Barbara Wallace, a member of the staff. "They’re out there working, but they cannot afford rent."

The organization serves 4,000 meals a day to the homeless in Richmond.

Wayne Jones came here off the streets, made the year-long commitment to get sober, and get his life back on track.

"I look at this place as the platform that gave me a chance, so I could have a better relationship with God and then that’s when miracles began to happen in my life," said Jones. 

Jesse Jackson’s been down that road too, and is working towards becoming a peer counselor to help others recover.

"I understand the jail lifestyle and the addiction lifestyle and coming off drugs is really up to you to change your lifestyle," said Jackson.

"It’s a good place to be to get your life on track," said Mensah.

The organization will be serving Christmas dinner with all the fixings through Christmas night.

More than fifty children experiencing homelessness will be gathered around the tree on Christmas Eve to open presents at the shelter.

The Bay Area Rescue Mission runs a daily food bank, serving hundreds of food baskets each week.

They offer clothing and shelter for about 300 people every day, including children.

Anyone who is hungry, can get three meals a day, no questions asked.