Durham Rescue Mission Offers Early Christmas Gift To Families

One Triangle charity gave about 1,500 needy families an early Christmas present.

The

Durham Rescue Mission

started frying up turkeys at 5 a.m. They cooked 117 turkeys with all the fixings.

The cooks are not only volunteers, but some have faced homelessness themselves and were helped by the Mission.

"They saved my life and now I have a chance to give back to the children," said Dennis Petraline, of the Durham Rescue Mission.

In addition to providing a Christmas feast, needy children will each receive a free toy. The Mission has collected 3,000 new and used toys.