​Bread of Life - A New Partner with the San Diego Rescue Mission

The Bread of Life has served the Community for over 20 years by fulfilling their simple mission: Meeting the needs of those who are hurting, hungry, and poor with the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

Since 2019, Bread of Life has been a beacon of hope to the hopeless and has served the Oceanside area by helping the underserved, those who are down-and-out, and who are facing a variety of hardships.
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How is this accomplished? Not only by providing needed meals, groceries and clothing, but providing life-changing resources along with life skill classes. This year calls for an extra serving of hope. As unemployment rises, so do needs. People are faced with more financial instability and food insecurities than ever before.
 
Tim Yzaguirre joined Bread of Life in 2018. He found the organization’s mission and message so worthwhile he gave up his career in the world of banking to serve full time. He would like to do away with the term “homeless” altogether and instead use God’s vocabulary: “Neighbors without homes.” His point is that if we see these folks as neighbors, rather than a nuisance, it will change our perspective. Tim acknowledges that the growing homelessness population is often seen as a hopeless issue. People without hope is the real issue.
 
“There are really good programs and organizations doing great things but they focus on meeting the need rather than addressing the need, said Tim. “Homelessness is a symptom of a deeper cause and not just a housing issue.”
 
Bread of Life began as a simple grass roots effort by volunteers who put love into action, providing, clothing, hygiene products and sack lunches to the homeless which they distributed at local parks. From those humble beginnings, it has grown into a well-organized program that operates with over 60 volunteers. Their goal remains simple: To help people, offering compassion and a way to get them off the streets (or out of their cars) permanently, all the while offering with humility and hope.
 
Most recently, Bread of Life has teamed up with the San Diego Rescue Mission, becoming the, the North County branch of that organization. With this valuable collaboration they can better serve our most vulnerable population, serving who many would consider are the least, last and lost.
 
The San Diego Mission provides 300 long term beds, 60 emergency beds and a licensed childcare facility. The Mission provides a safe environment for people desiring a better life and seeks to address the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness to address the matters of the heart. Currently there are no beds in Oceanside, but the Bread of Life volunteers are equipped to identify those persons who qualify and get them transferred to San Diego.
 
Tim and Donnie Dee, President and CEO of the San Diego Rescue Mission, met at a breakfast meeting. As the two shared their passion for people, they felt led to come together in unity, as both organizations share the same goal. By doing so Bread of Life uses its resources more efficiently, in turn helping others in a more efficient and effective way.  Their vision would be a countywide program to have shelter/missions in East County, North County and South County.

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