MISSION 3:18 IMPACT STORY
Through Mission 3:18, Big League Impact connects professional baseball players with nonprofit partners serving neighbors across the country. San Diego Rescue Mission shared this story about Geraldine, whose path from homelessness to lasting care began with an outreach worker who recognized that she needed someone to advocate for her.
One cold morning in March, Carla, director of the Mission’s outreach team, found Geraldine curled up in the corner of an apartment complex. She was shivering, alone, and in soiled clothing.
Carla helped her into a clean blanket and brought her to the Mission’s emergency shelter, where she could shower and rest in a warm bed.
But as Geraldine settled in, Carla noticed something concerning. Geraldine repeatedly walked off the property, then returned. After the third time, Carla felt God nudging her heart: Geraldine needed more than a place to stay. She needed someone to help her navigate what came next.
Carla began working alongside her, one step at a time.
Together, they retrieved Geraldine’s birth certificate, visited the DMV for an ID, and secured replacement Social Security and EBT cards. Each document helped restore access to resources Geraldine needed, including food and medical care.
With those essentials in place, the team helped Geraldine see a doctor. Multiple appointments and assessments revealed an underlying challenge: early-stage dementia.
That diagnosis helped explain why finding shelter alone had not been enough. Geraldine needed ongoing, specialized care, and the Mission’s team continued working to help her receive it.
They helped her apply for long-term support and advocated for placement in a skilled nursing facility. The process took months of appointments, paperwork, and follow-through.
Eventually, Geraldine moved into a permanent home where trained clinicians could care for her. She now has a safe place to rest and the support to live with dignity.
Her story reflects the patient work that can begin with an emergency shelter visit and continue long afterward. For Geraldine, it meant having someone beside her through every step, until she reached a place where she could stay.
The baseball community lends a hand
During the 2026 season, players from the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Washington Nationals served with San Diego Rescue Mission through Mission 3:18.
Players distributed meals and hygiene items to people experiencing homelessness near Petco Park, connecting with neighbors just outside the ballpark.
These visits support an organization whose work continues year-round, helping people like Geraldine find safety, care, and someone to walk alongside them.
Impact story provided by San Diego Rescue Mission; adapted for length and clarity.