Several hundred low income and homeless guests are expected at the Mission at Kern County, where they will be treated to a Christmas Eve meal. It’s not only a day early, but also early in the day, starting at 11am. Organizer Jamie Atkinson says that’s the usual time of the big meal, so guests are used to it. The menu, though, is something special…

Everyone also gets a wrapped gift to take with them. Atkinson says they will still be serving their normal three meals a day on Christmas Day.

–gf