Thanks to you, Ranvir was welcomed to the Thanksgiving table
From homelessness to hope
Ranvir had never had a Thanksgiving meal before.
Originally from Ambala, India, Ranvir built a life in Baltimore. But then an unexpected job loss turned everything he’d worked hard for upside down. Desperate for a new job to support himself, he moved to Washington, D.C. With no connections, no job prospects and no place to stay, he ended up homeless. Miraculously, someone told him about a place he could go to find shelter, job training and a Thanksgiving meal:
Central Union Mission.
WELCOME HOME
He was immediately struck by how welcomed he felt. Like the staff cared for him as a person.
He stayed that first night and, impressed by the devotional programs and the overall atmosphere, decided to join the Fresh Start program.
To Ranvir, the Mission quickly felt like home. And on Thanksgiving Day, he had so much to be grateful for.
HIS FIRST THANKSGIVING
Since he’d never celebrated Thanksgiving before, the holiday made him think differently about his life. “I became more aware of all the things I can be thankful for,” Ranvir says. “Central provides all the basic necessities, and Thanksgiving served as a reminder to thank God for these things.”
Before coming to the Mission, Ranvir believed in God but didn’t consistently practice his faith. The
Fresh Start program introduced him to consistent Bible studies and devotional practices, deepening his spiritual life. Day by day, he got closer to God and learned how to have a disciplined life—thanks to you!
ANSWERED PRAYERS
Looking back, Ranvir can see how God answered his prayers through a tangible sense of divine assistance. He believes God had a plan for him to be at the Mission, which he considers “the best place” he could have been.
But even better, Ranvir has learned life and job skills at the Mission’s kitchen and has a full-time job lined up at a hotel.
Because of your support this Thanksgiving season, men and women like Ranvir will feel welcomed at the Mission—a safe space where they can eat a hot meal surrounded by a loving community and learn how to stand on their own feet again.