It seemed wherever I went, problems just followed me.

Transcription

1 Winter 2018 Volume 54 Issue 1 ROCKFORD RESCUE MISSION Paul was kicked out of school partied too much and had trouble with the law. It seemed wherever I went, problems just followed me. On Page 5, read how the Mission, friends like you and a Works! Center partner gave Paul hope and a second chance. P.O. Box West State St. Rockford, IL (815) rockfordrescuemission.org info@rockfordrescuemission.org Rockford Rescue Mission shares hope and help in Jesus name to move people from homelessness and despair toward personal and spiritual wholeness.

2 Reflections FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear Friend, It s terrible to feel like you re out of chances in life. And that s exactly why those who come to Rockford Rescue Mission are often frustrated, disheartened and even frightened. All other options are gone. There s no one and nowhere to turn for help. They come here with heavy hearts and often without hope that new life is possible. Praise God for the good news of Easter that new life is possible through Jesus! It s an Easter message of hope we share all year long: Because He lives, there are no last chances. Christ loves us through second, third and all the extra chances we need. Your support helps share that grace-filled approach with those who are homeless, hungry, abused and addicted: Loving them where they re at so they feel safe. Giving them grace so they feel valued. Restoring their dignity so they can hold their heads high. That s what new life in Christ looks like here at Rockford Rescue Mission! Thank you for creating a refuge of help and hope this Easter and beyond for individuals like Paul (read his story on Page 5). Partners in Hope, Sherry Pitney Executive Director Mothers and children at Pitney Place honored Executive Director Sherry Pitney with a handmade thank you card in appreciation for the Mission s dedication to bringing hope to their lives. Thrift Store Offers Ministry and Merchandise Known community-wide as a resource for gently used clothing, furniture and household items, many customers also rely on the Mission s Thrift Store for fellowship and friendship. There s a family feeling here, says Rich, a retired Lutheran school teacher and principal who has worked at the store for four years. While Rich is officially assigned to oversee the men s department and also serves as a cashier, his most important role may be minister. He often leads daily devotions for those working in the store, which includes the prayer requests left by customers in a special box. They ll ask us to pray for a child who is going through a rough time or a friend diagnosed with cancer or that a surgery goes well, Rich says. He and the staff also develop personal relationships with customers while helping to meet their special needs. We ve had families who have lost their homes to fire come in for clothing, Rich says. Many donate the belongings of loved ones who have passed, knowing the items will be put to good use. Then there are those often lonely senior citizens who simply long for someone to talk to. They come in once a week, or even once a day, without fail, Rich says. I get the feeling this is an important place where somebody knows them by name. Your material donations and purchases allow the Mission to offer this important outreach. Please visit us at th Street in Rockford! How Your Gifts Changed Hearts and Lives in 2017 Food Shelter Medical Care Spiritual Guidance Counseling & Case Management Clothing & Personal Hygiene Education & Career Assistance 132,916 meals served 49,506 nights of lodging 3,510 clinic appointments 2,652 spiritual decisions 7,543 total sessions 201,516 items distributed 258 Works! Center participants 2 Financial support from individuals, churches, businesses and organizations make our programs and services possible. Your continued generosity truly blesses our ministry and those we serve.

3 How the Mission Offers Hope through your financial gifts & prayer Community Meals A hot, nutritious breakfast, lunch and dinner are offered every day, free of charge, for any hungry man, woman or child in the community. Nearly 400 meals are served daily. Men s & Women s Crisis Centers Short-term housing, food and clothing are provided for homeless men, women and children facing emergency situations, along with advocacy, community resources and medical services to assist them getting back on their feet. I came in a mess. The Mission picked me up and gave me the tools to restart my life. Mikhail Life Recovery Program For individuals experiencing substance abuse, domestic violence and other destructive challenges, this longterm residential program offers Bible classes, recovery and relapse prevention, life skills training, physical fitness and mentoring. Men, women and mothers with children receive food, shelter and other essentials as they are empowered to rebuild healthy and stable lives. If it weren t for the Mission providing these classes giving me the knowledge I need to move through life I don t know where I d be. Glenda Hope Clinic Free medical, dental and chiropractic care is provided for Mission guests and residents, as well as to uninsured or underinsured members of the community. This service is made possible through a network of professionals who volunteer their time and expertise, and through partnerships with other local healthcare providers. Works! Center This outreach brings together local employers and education partners to deliver soft-skills training, adult literacy courses, career readiness and advocacy assistance to provide Mission graduates and underprepared job seekers with a structured path to meaningful employment. 3

4 Your Support of Mission Enterprises Provides Vital Workplace Experience While enjoying freshly brewed coffee and delicious pastries or a tasty lunch selection, patrons of our Cafe are also giving Mission residents the opportunity to hone their culinary and customer service skills while earning their Safe Food Handler s Certificate. 625 W. State Street in Rockford Hours: Mon - Fri, 7:30am - 2pm (Drive Thru opens at 6:30am) Women in our Life Recovery Program build self-esteem and uncover artistic talent as they remake Thrift Store items into beautiful pieces of art, furniture and home decor. Remade provides a showcase where their unique items are sold to friends like you to fund the Mission s outreach. Sales of gently used clothing, household items and other goods purchased by shoppers generate more than 20 percent of the Mission s revenue. Just as important, the store serves as a vocational training ground for residents to develop retail, merchandising and other marketable skills th Street in Rockford Hours: Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm; Sat, 9am - 5pm Remade Is New with Every Visit 611 W. State Street in Rockford Hours: Thurs, 10am - 6pm; Fri & Sat, 10am - 4pm (every other weekend) More than 50 excited shoppers attended the grand opening of our Remade store on Friday, September 22. Yet while the initial celebration is over, customers will continue to enjoy a fresh, new experience every time they step through the door. Remade is open only every other weekend Thursday, Friday and Saturday allowing time for the shelves to be regularly restocked with newly remade creations. Visit our website for store hours and details. I ll help bring hope to those who are hurting and homeless this Easter. m $25 to provide one night of shelter, hot meals and life essentials m $60 to provide one day of healing through your Life Recovery Program m $75 to provide education and life skills training m $ to help as much as possible m CHECK ENCLOSED m BILL MY CREDIT CARD m m m m CREDIT CARD # EXP. DATE PHONE # DONATE NOW! CIV/SEC# rockfordrescuemission.org (815) NAME ADDRESS CITY / STATE / ZIP Rockford Rescue Mission P.O. Box 1958 Rockford, IL WIN18

5 After Years of Going Nowhere The Mission helped me tremendously as far as pointing me in the right direction. I m a firm believer God brought me to where I am today, and the Mission was part of His plan. Paul was a talented hockey player and the apple of his father s eye. But when he was injured and no longer a star, his dad lost interest in him. Heartbroken by his father s rejection, he fell in with the wrong crowd. I started partying, smoking weed and just carrying on, he shares. He was expelled from school. His substance abuse escalated. And he continually crossed the line between right and wrong. I got a bad reputation that followed me wherever I went, he explains for nearly 30 years. Finally, by 2016, he d had enough of going nowhere. His pastor whom he d met during time spent in jail suggested he come to Rockford Rescue Mission. Paul had tried and failed other treatment programs, but believed our faith-based approach might be different. I thought it couldn t hurt to try, he says. And I m glad I did! In our Life Recovery Program, he experienced firsthand our staff s dedication to serving our guests physical, spiritual and emotional needs. My health is back to where it should be, he says. And they taught me how to deal with my emotions and to be free through Jesus Christ it s a wonderful thing! As he prepared to graduate, he entered our Works! Center program (see Page 3) where he earned his GED. When we connected him with Tom Busse, President of Rockford Toolcraft Inc., a Works! Center business partner, Paul interviewed and was hired for a full-time job! Paul had some experience, but better than that, he had the right attitude, Tom says. His commitment to being here every day is what makes him a very desirable employee. Paul is grateful for the second chance made possible by the Mission s advocacy, your support and Tom s trust. Most important to his success, he says, is his relationship with the Lord: The biggest thing was getting close to God and knowing that He will guide me the right way. And I ve had nothing but proof of that! 5 Your gift this Easter season and your continued compassion and generosity give people like Paul the help and hope they need to turn their lives around. God bless you.

6 Share Your Time Skills and Love Share a Gift That Keeps On Giving MARK YOUR CALENDAR! r r February 28 March 28 April 25 Wednesday March 13 Tuesday emade rockford 517 Volunteers from Our Savior s Lutheran Church bless our ministry with their service. Volunteering at Rockford Rescue Mission offers many great opportunities to touch lives in very personal and meaningful ways. Our most urgent needs include individuals to sort donations in our Thrift Store, to help prepare meals for our guests, to tutor participants in our Works! Center and to help during check-in at our Women s Crisis Center. To learn more about these and other volunteer positions, contact Heather Hanson at (815) , ext. 151, or heatherhanson@rockfordrescuemission.org. Visit rockfordrescuemission.org for the latest information on these and other upcoming events. Executive Director Tour and Lunch 11am Rockford Rescue Mission 715 West State Street To reserve your place or for more details, call (815) Restoration Celebration 7pm Rockford Rescue Mission 715 West State Street GET 10% OFF ONE REMADE ITEM VISIT OUR NEW LOCATION! 611 W. State Street Rockford, IL Open every other Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Visit rockfordrescuemission.org for details including store hours. Cannot be combined with other offers Offer expires 4/30/18 Partners in our Bread & Life Circle make monthly contributions to help the Mission provide food, shelter and life-changing guidance for men, women and children who are homeless and struggling. It s as easy as A, B, C to provide this critical, ongoing care: It s Automatic We ll set up your recurring monthly gift; no remembering dates required. It s a Blessing Our administrative costs are reduced by your automatic giving, blessing more Mission guests with every dollar you donate. It s Convenient Control how much you give through our secure giving platform. You can change or cancel at any time. To become a Bread & Life Circle monthly partner today, contact Ted at (815) , ext. 106, or tedtomita@rockfordrescuemission.org. Why we became Bread & Life Circle partners We first connected with the Mission by serving at a Christmas dinner a few years ago. We were so impressed by what the Mission does and by seeing all the people in need, we decided to support the Mission on a regular basis. Friends of Rockford Rescue Mission