(KANSAS CITY, MO)  City Union Mission's 20th annual Celebration of Love, held Saturday, November 19, 2005, brought in 612 turkeys, 22 hams, and 4,000 pounds of food, which will be used in holiday food baskets, as well as serving the homeless at City Union Mission. 

Almost 450 people from the Kansas City area came to City Union Mission to donate food and take tours of the Men's Center.  Many families and church groups make it a holiday tradition.  One youth group, Lord of Life Lutheran Church from Overland Park, KS, brought 210 turkeys alone.

These donations, plus financial donations, enable City Union Mission to continue caring for those in need. 

"Traditionally, City Union Mission raises about 50 percent of our income from donations in October, November and December," said Dan Doty, Executive Director of City Union Mission.  "Clearly, compassionate people are having to make critical choices about their charitable spending this fall." 

Last year's tsunami, recent hurricanes, and other national and world events combined with increased gas prices and other economical factors have caused a decline in giving to City Union Mission.  "When our income is affected to this extent it makes it difficult to maintain our most basic emergency relief services for homeless men, women and children, as well as the recovery programs we offer," Doty said.

The Mission is currently in the midst of its CELEBRATE HOPE CAMPAIGN - Reach Out to KC's Poor and Homeless, with a goal of raising $2.9 million dollars by January 15, 2006--about half of its projected budget for the coming year.  To date, the campaign has raised $733,000, which is about $18,000 behind schedule.

"I can't stress how critical this is," Doty said.  "Giving always drops after the holiday season, so if we don't raise our goal by the 15th, we will have to cut back on some regular relief and recovery services."

Services for the homeless and near-homeless that may suffer under cutbacks include shelter capacity, free medical care, addiction recovery, food distributions, and purchasing of staple goods.

"We've served the homeless since 1924 and we'll continue to shelter, feed and care for them and for those at risk of becoming homeless," said Doty.  "We understand folks have many choices about where their giving goes.  We also want to urge our community not to forget local agencies who depend on private support.  All tax-deductible gifts are greatly needed and appreciated."