YOUNGSTOWN — Jason Mathews needed a place to go on Christmas day.

“My family lives really far away so really, it’s just me on Christmas,” he said.

With family out of state, Mathews was one of many individuals to visit Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley on Monday for its annual Christmas Day dinner.

“It’s great,” Mathews said. “I could cook my own meal, but since they provide it, why not come out? Sometimes I talk to the people around. I think it’s pretty good for the community.”

Mathews enjoyed a book spread open on his table while his tray was filled with ham, bread, sweet potatoes, apple sauce and corn. He sipped on hot coffee and cold Pepsi.

Jacob Sholtes, who works in food services at the Rescue Mission, said Mathews is one of nearly 200 people who stopped in for a meal between 1 and 5 p.m. Christmas Day.

He said the entire meal served Monday had been donated to the mission.

The organization serves plenty of food throughout the course of its Christmas dinner.

“We go through over a dozen hams, dozens and dozens of pounds of corn and sweet potatoes,” Sholtes said.

One of several volunteers helping serve food was Linda Martin of Austintown.

“It means a lot to me because I was homeless at one time,” Martin said. “I like to give back.”

Martin said she frequently volunteers at the Rescue Mission. She said she comes with her home congregation, Smith Corners Community Church of Austintown.

“We always come back for the open houses,” Martin said. “They have an excellent program here. I also did little treat bags of candy for the kids that live here.”

Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley seeks to promote accountability and seeks to provide food and emergency shelter to men, women and children experiencing hunger and homelessness, according to its website.

The organization provided more than 44,000 total overnight stays in 2023, according to its website.

Sholtes said those working or volunteering at the Rescue Mission do it as an act of service to provide hope to the community.

“This is a Christ-centered organization, so that’s what we do,” Sholtes said. “We try to come in here and just love people, love on people, and just try to serve.”

For people like Mathews, the Rescue Mission provided that care in a tangible and palpable way on Christmas Day.

“It’s a nice way to show they care,” he said.