On Tuesday, July 3, Orlando Union Rescue Mission will be hosting an Independence Day Banquet Outreach to provide 600-800 meals to homeless men, women and children. Orlando City has teamed up with the Mission to serve meals to the homeless in the community, making a positive impact in the Orlando area one meal at a time.

Orlando Rescue Mission (ORM) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit Christian organization that provides food, shelter, clothing and more for people in the Central Florida area.

Once admitted into the Mission, the first two weeks are spent in classes learning an overview of the bible. Those in the program then transition to completing and earning their high school diploma or seeking full-time employment. The individual can also obtain IT certification thanks to the shelter’s new computer lab, or even be trained in the culinary arts with a year-long program that’ll be established later this year.

ORM has a total of 178 beds, which is currently at full capacity. They are able to help women, women with children and families in need. ORM serves three meals a day, with around 150-170 plates per breakfast, lunch and dinner going out to the people currently living at the shelter.

On top of daily meals, the Mission holds four banquets every year that are open to the entire community. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and Fourth of July pack the shelter, which expects around 600-800 homeless men women and families for the Fourth of July.

Yadira Elrod, community relations coordinator of Orlando Rescue Mission, said this year 4Rivers Smokehouse will be providing the food for what is one of the busiest times of the year for the Mission. “We might have more than 800 show up,” Elrod said laughing.

Orlando City players and staff, along with 60 volunteers, will be on hand for the event on the 3rd. “We’re really excited to have Orlando City out helping us,” she said. “It’ll be a big help for the amount of people we expect to attend.”

For more information on ORC and their July 4th banquet, visit www.ourm.org.