CROSSROADS. Blessing it forward: continuing the cycle of hope and transformation EVENTS

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1 On page one A message of hope and love From Herb Smith On page four Signs of Hope By Dr. Roxanne Jordan On page five Living in God s mercy and grace An ADC student shares her story MARCH 2016 LosAngelesMission.org News from the Los Angeles Mission I started crying because I realized my grandmother was actually helping me and she didn t know it. DERRICK ROBINSON MISSION ALUM EVENTS Find out what s coming up at the Mission PAGE 1 Blessing it forward: continuing the cycle of hope and transformation Derrick Robinson s grandmother blessed him in finding hope and a new life, and now he gets to do the same for others. PAGE 2 A TIME TO BLESS SOULS AND SOLES Food, fun and etnies make our Easter street event a special day for our community PAGE 3 HELP CHANGE LIVES THIS EASTER Help all year long and become a monthly donor today PAGE 5

2 MY VIEW A message of hope and love The Easter message is one of hope. Sharing this important message is what helps instill the hope that comes from that first meal at the Mission. God is there to help us if we allow ourselves to acknowledge where we re at and ask for guidance. In some cases, this is a new message. For others, this is a long-lost message of forgiveness. At this special time of year, we get the chance to deeply reflect on the areas where we need renewal and change in our lives. For our students, we encourage them to take ownership of their past, and then we provide counseling, prayer and help for holistic healing and recovery in their lives. The Gospel in our Christian tradition is the good news that God loves you. I see this Gospel lived out in the faces and lives of those who are in our programs when they achieve milestones of sobriety, independence and restoration with families. As we see in the Easter season and at the Mission each day, all things are possible through Christ s love! Thank you for all your support in making this a season of hope and transformation for our friends and neighbors living on Skid Row. Please join us at our Easter street event on March 25th. It s a time of joy and great blessings for all, and we would love to see you there! Blessings, Herb Smith, President/CEO I see this Gospel lived out in the faces and lives of those who are in our programs when they achieve milestones of sobriety, independence and restoration with families. EVENTS Volunteer Orientation: March 5th and April 2nd, 9-11 a.m. Anyone who would like to volunteer must first attend an orientation session at the Mission. To register for the upcoming orientation, please visit us online at LosAngelesMission.org/act. Come join us! Easter Street Event: March 25th Our Easter street event is right around the corner! Join us to celebrate with our friends and neighbors on Skid Row. We ll be giving away Easter baskets, toys and many other items. It s one of the best events of the year and you won t want to miss it! Mission Possible 5k/10k: May 14th Join us for our Mission Possible 5k/10K Run/Walk at Elysian Park! Proceeds will benefit the Los Angeles Mission. For more information, see page 5. To learn more and register, visit MissionPossibleRun.com. Did you know? During this Easter season, the Los Angeles Mission will provide 68,390 meals the important first step to healing and hope for someone in need. Thanks for your support to make hope and transformation possible! STAY CONNECTED Keep track of the latest Mission news, make safe online donations and more. Donate online: donate.losangelesmission.org Become a fan on Facebook: facebook.com/losangelesmission Follow us on Subscribe to our video channel: youtube.com/ilovelamission Many thanks to The Goldwin Foundation, the Johnny Carson Foundation, City National Bank, Wells Fargo Bank and LATLC (LA Trial Lawyers Charities) for sponsoring our 79th Gala. 1 Check out our photos on News from the Los Angeles Mission

3 Blessing it forward: continuing the cycle of hope and transformation Before coming to the Mission, I had a very severe drug addiction. I was living a bad life and I needed some kind of help. I tried many different drugs, but ended up on crack and that one really took over. I was an addict off and on for 10 years. I had tried several times to stop, but I relapsed about six months before coming to the Mission and became homeless. I knew I needed help when I received my tax return and spent all of it on drugs. It was a couple of thousand dollars, and at the end of that I was totally devastated. Sick. I was willing to do whatever it took to get help at that point. A breath of fresh air When I was in my addiction, I came to the Mission a couple of times for food. A pastor friend of my mom s told me about the program. The first couple of days in Jump Start, I think I was really rebellious. But I began going to Bible study and the word of God started to get inside me it was like a breath of fresh air. I was really grateful to God for a place like this that offers food and the Word. I would always see my grandmother sending money to the Mission as I was growing up. She passed away and I ended up being a recipient of my grandmother s giving I was one of the ones that needed the Mission. At the time, I didn t know why she did that. But my grandmother always had a good heart. She loved people. One day I was in the chapel and I suddenly remembered she used to give to the Mission. I had forgotten all about it until that moment. Easter is a wonderful time at the Mission and it s a very special time for me. Since graduating I have volunteered at the Easter event the past two years. ~DERRICK ROBINSON MISSION ALUM I started crying because I realized my grandmother was actually helping me and she didn t know it. Bringing hope to others Easter is a wonderful time at the Mission and it s a very special time for me. Since graduating, I have volunteered at the Easter event the past two years. I pray for the opportunity to help someone in the same way I was helped. It feels good to share my story with someone or maybe to help someone through the program. I try to encourage them to hang in there it s what somebody did for me and it feels good to be able to give that back in return. The Mission has brought hope to my life. God gave me the opportunity for a new life, and the Mission provides that. It s an atmosphere where God, and all, are welcome. I think that s a good environment for a person to have positive change in their life. I always see myself Now, I m working with AmeriCorps. This is my third year working there and I get to help people find housing. I help the most vulnerable, chronically homeless people living on Skid Row get into some type of permanent housing. I always see myself in the people I get to help, and I think that s what helps me stay focused. It s like I m helping myself, really. I m actually there for other people, but I get blessed too. It s a privilege. To the donors, thank you so much. You are truly appreciated and you are helping change lives. Please be encouraged that what you re doing is making a difference. 2

4 We re looking forward to celebrating the joy of Easter with our friends and neighbors on Good Friday, March 25th. Thanks to the help of numerous volunteers and donors like you, we ll be serving 3,000 warm, nutritious meals to people in need. Not only will there be rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, honey-glazed carrots and pecan pie, but children will receive Easter baskets too! Seeing children get chocolate Easter bunnies is always a treat. The sheer pleasure and delight a little chocolate brings to these lives that are frequently food and housing insecure is a priceless gift, says Herb Smith, Los Angeles Mission President and CEO. Along with the delicious food and tradition of washing the feet of our guests, the Los Angeles Mission is fortunate to be partnering with our faithful friends at etnies, who have provided thousands and thousands of free pairs of shoes over the years to the men, women and children living on Skid Row. Socks and shoes are some of the most basic needs for hurting and homeless people in our community. Many wear shoes that are old and worn out, or some don t have shoes at all. We are so grateful to etnies for blessing our community in this way, as they have every year since You can make a difference this Easter! There s a way that you can bless the Mission too on this special day. For an extra gift of just $10, you can provide all the Easter goodies for a child s Easter basket. This is such a memorable day for the children living on Skid Row please consider blessing their Easter celebration in this way. We are so grateful for all you do! Each year, our friends at etnies provide free pairs of shoes one of the most basic needs of our neighbors living on Skid Row. A time to bless souls and soles Seeing children get chocolate Easter bunnies is always a treat. ~HERB SMITH LOS ANGELES MISSION PRESIDENT/CEO Sponsor an Easter basket today just $10 A step toward hope Gregory Seger knows what a good pair of shoes can do for your feet. He shared his story of putting someone else s needs before his own and showing God s love to someone in need. We had an event and my chaplain gave all of us a pair of shoes. Later, I met a guest in the lobby and he needed a pair of shoes. He was a middle-aged guy like me. I told him to wait where he was, and I brought him my shoes. The Bible says to be kind, caring and loving, so that s what I was doing. I just wanted to help someone in need. I saw a staff member in the stairwell and he asked me where my shoes were. I told him I gave them away. When I told him the shoes went to a guest who needed them, he found me another pair. They are black. I love black shoes. They are the shoes I m wearing right now. Thank you to the Los Angeles Mission and etnies for your generosity and service. I love my shoes they are comfortable and lightweight. I truly appreciate it and hope all future students get the same opportunities I have received. We have the opportunity to bless the children in our community by distributing Easter baskets at our street event but we need your help to fill them! Your extra gift of just $10 will help provide all the goodies and treats to make Easter a special day for a child in need. Bless a child today by sponsoring an Easter basket for our street event. Please use the attached coupon. God bless you! 3

5 Signs of Hope By Dr. Roxanne Jordan, VP of women and family program at the Anne Douglas Center Christ s power, promise and passion to help transform lives is the message of Easter it s the message of hope that gives students the courage to endure and set new goals in life. The power of the message of Easter encourages students to believe that if they fall down, it s possible to get up again with the love of Christ and the support of a caring community. Often the men and women who are at the Mission have experienced death or loss in various forms and they dream of a better life. When students have faith in Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead, they begin to take steps to overcome the issues of their past they begin to think, live and respond differently. As I think about Easter at the Mission, one of my fondest memories involves watching a mother share her story with a donor who was volunteering at our Easter street event. Out of that conversation, the mother received a referral and a connection to someone that could help her seek employment. At the same time, her daughter enjoyed the crafts, treats and festivities on that day. That chance for community and hope for a new life is what Easter is all about! For our students and guests, Easter instills hope in the hearts and minds of those who believe that, even in the face of difficult circumstances, all things are possible. The message is hope and faith that is put into action. For our students and guests, Easter instills hope in the hearts and minds of those who believe that, even in the face of difficult circumstances, all things are possible. Thank you for putting your hope and faith into action for those in our community who need it most. Your generosity shows our students and guests the hope of the Easter season and beyond. God bless you for all you do! A life drastically changed Michael Benanti came to the Mission looking for the most basic of needs a shower and a meal. He shared the story of his life being forever changed by the Fresh Start program. At the Mission, everyone truly cares about you and your success before and after graduating from the program. The Mission equipped me with the tools I need to achieve the goals in my life. When I came to the Mission, I had just been released after a few years in prison. I needed a shower, a meal and a place to sleep. The Mission provided all that and so much more. With all the counseling and spiritual guidance I received, I became a more humble person. At graduation day, it was a blessing to give my testimony to hundreds of people while feeling the love from everyone in the room. 4 I am so thankful to the donors for what you provide to the Mission. ~ MICHAEL BENANTI MISSION ALUM I am so thankful to the donors for what you provide to the Mission. I know the impact it has, and that s why I am a donor to the Los Angeles Mission now too. It feels good to give back. Thank you for changing the lives of so many like Michael through your generous support. God bless you!

6 Living in God s mercy and grace MaryRobin Smallwood is a mother of four from Long Beach. She shares her story of restoration and her hope for a new life after coming to the Anne Douglas Center. I had a positive childhood, but I got involved in the wrong activities after college. I m 9 units short of a degree in business management. I ve always wanted to have my own floral business. God s love and Chaplain Bridget Wilson (left) have been an encouragement to the transformation of MaryRobin. I could never find an opportunity to get into the floral industry, so I lost hope and began to sell drugs. It got too dangerous, and I ended up being homeless. Then I fell into a methamphetamine addiction. I heard a powerful message about God s love from one of the female chaplains here, and I came to this program so that I could learn from her. God showed mercy and grace on me by bringing me to the Anne Douglas Center the doors were wide open. Thank you to the donors from the bottom of my heart. Whether you give money, your time or encouraging words, it all means so much to me. Run for fun and to help the Mission! There s still time to register for this year s Mission Possible Run! Join us at Elysian Park on Saturday, May 14th for a 5K or 10K walk/run. All proceeds will benefit the Los Angeles Mission and hurting and homeless people in our community. All participants will receive a t-shirt, a medal and a goody bag. There will be music, food and activities for kids too. Hope to see you there! Register online at MissionPossibleRun.com Help change lives this Easter and all year long At the Mission, generous donors like you make the Easter message of hope and transformation possible for our students and guests. A M E A L S M O N T H Your faith put into action for the least of these makes an impact on the lives of so many, but right now the Mission is especially in need of more donors that can commit to giving on a monthly basis. Monthly donations are a way to help us impact more lives each month. When you become a Meals a Month partner, you help provide a predictable source of income that allows us to budget more effectively for our many programs and save on our administrative costs. Most importantly, you help us provide healing and hope to more neighbors in need living on Skid Row. If you haven t signed up to be a Meals a Month partner, please prayerfully consider becoming a monthly donor today and deepening your impact on our community. It s easy to sign up simply fill out the form below, or go online to our website: LosAngelesMission.org/give Or if you prefer, call Nuria Mora at (213) , ext Thank you! Yes, Herb. I want to provide meals and care for hurting and hungry people living on Skid Row. Here s my gift: m $25 m $50 m $150 m $ m I would like to become a Meals a Month partner and give a monthly gift of $. (Please check the box in the Giving Options section.) m I would also like to sponsor Easter baskets for just $10 each. I have enclosed an extra gift of $. NAME To give a gift by credit card, please fill out the information below or call (213) , ext m Please charge my gift to my credit card. Giving Options: m One-time gift m Monthly gift m EFT (include voided check) m VISA m MasterCard m American Express m Discover 303 E. 5th Street Los Angeles, CA losangelesmission.org ADDRESS APT ACCOUNT NUMBER CID/CVV CITY STATE Please make your check payable to: Los Angeles Mission and mail to: P.O. Box 60127, Los Angeles, CA THANK YOU! AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE 5 EXP. DATE Double or triple your gift! Visit our matching gift page to find out if your employer has a corporate matching gift program. losangelesmission.org/give/matching-gifts A receipt for your tax-deductible gift will be sent to you shortly. N163