Changing Lives Newsletter November 2014

122 Years of Service

DenverRescueMission.org

November 2014

The Castro family receives a turkey and a Thanksgiving food box.

…so that the grace that is

reaching more and more people may cause

thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. II Corinthians 4:15

(NIV)

From the CEO Dear Friends, Do you know what we see more of during the holiday season than anything else?

Gratitude. That’s right, gratitude from the men, women and children we serve for the generosity provided to them from donors, volunteers and staff members. These hurting guests of ours are thankful for you—for providing meals, for clothing, for a warm place to stay, for a Thanksgiving food box, for a chance at a new life…for the opportunity to change things!

They do not usually get to thank you in person, but they tell our staff and they let me know just how much your gifts mean to them. Sometimes it is tearful and their words do not come easy, but you can see the joy in their eyes. Frankly, it is very humbling for me. If you are like me, it is hard to be thanked for anything; it’s even a little embarrassing. I would rather do the thanking.

But on your behalf, I accept their praise and appreciation for what you have helped us do.

I have never personally experienced homelessness. I can only imagine how hopeless and desperate this must make a person feel. What I have experienced—and not just during the holidays—is the gratitude of those we are blessed to be able to help. In my mind, there is nothing better than sharing the love of Jesus, a love he calls us to share, with our brothers and sisters who are in need.

Thank you for coming alongside us and making this Thanksgiving and Christmas a holiday season to be thankful for. I am grateful for you.

God Bless,

Brad Meuli President/CEO

You Can Help with Thanksgiving Meals You can contribute to a Thanksgiving feast for Denver’s homeless and hungry. With your food donations, we can together bring happiness and hope throughout the holiday season to men, women and children in need: Frozen Turkeys (12 lbs. or more) Boxed Mashed Potatoes Stuffing Canned Fruit Canned Vegetables Canned Yams Please bring your donations to one of these locations: Lawrence Street Shelter 1130 Park Avenue West Ministry Outreach Center 5725 East 39th Avenue For directions, visit DenverRescueMission.org/locations or call 303.297.1815 for more information.

Save the Date for Colorado Gives Day Mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 9th!

Donations made to the Mission on Colorado Gives Day through the Giving First website will go to our organization, and donations will be increased through the Colorado Gives Day Incentive Fund.

Visit our profile at GivingFirst.org/DenverRescueMission.

With your support the Mission will feed, shelter and care for thousands of people during the holiday season. Any donation you make will be gratefully accepted—especially now.

Remember, it only takes

$1.92 to provide a hot, hearty meal!

We are already thanking God for the food—

and for people like you who will supply it.

Thanksgiving Banquet-in-a-Box

Free Long-distance Phone Calls

On Tuesday, November 25th, the Mission will distribute 1,000 food boxes filled with turkey, potatoes, stuffing, green beans, and more to hungry families across our city. Thanks to your continued support, thousands will have full stomachs this holiday season.

CenturyLink will donate free long-distance phone calls this holiday season so the poor and homeless will be able to reconnect with loved ones, allowing broken relationships to be restored.

Thank you, CenturyLink!

“

”

This is the best thing you could have done for me.

- Cathryn

“ I was able to call my sister. She wants me

to do right, to stop doing drugs and being in abusive relationships. I want to do right. Denver Rescue Mission is my family. They check up on me and get on me when I’m doing bad. Although we have other services around here—there is nothing like the Mission.

- Olivia

”

“ I’m thankful for the kindness of

people like the Mission. I stayed at the Mission last night and was looking forward to this warm Thanksgiving meal.

”

- Ron

Great Thanksgiving Banquet Hundreds of hungry people will gather around our table to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal on Wednesday, November 26th. With your donations the Mission will serve a Thanksgiving feast complete with pumpkin pie and a caring environment. Guests will also leave with gifts of hats, gloves and scarves.

There was a point in time when Eddie didn’t want to live. “I was standing on the verge of death,” he says.

Eddie moved to Colorado shortly after graduating from high school. “I was a victim of the streets ever since I left home. I had so many long, lost and lonely nights,” he explains. “Then I started selling drugs. I had all this popularity—everyone loved Eddie, and I was somebody.” He got several misdemeanors, got into bar brawls, and according to him became “the world’s biggest drunk.” This cycle went on well into his 20s.

The night before Eddie joined the New Life Program, he drank nearly a gallon of whiskey and woke up on the sidewalk outside Jesus Saves at 4:30 a.m., in sub-zero weather, with no money and no idea where he was. He had never been there before and still to this day doesn’t know how he got there.

That was the day he entered the program. “Something made me come alive that day,” he exclaims.

Chaplain Chuck Lortie helped him realize he was angry and had a lot of hate in his heart. “Chaplain Chuck would say, ‘Eddie, you know what, drugs and alcohol might not be your greatest problem—your problem just might be you.’ “ “I’ve lived by that ever since.”

While in the program, Eddie allowed God to change his heart.

Now, ten years later, he is employed full time in a laboratory warehouse and does odd jobs such as landscaping.

He still keeps in touch with Chaplain Lortie and Chaplain Steve Swihart and says that without supporters like you, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

Our hearts overflow with gratitude that you are willing to help Eddie—and other people like him—allow God to make a lasting change their life!

Look for Eddie’s story on the Mission’s Facebook page: Facebook.com/DenverRescue. Share his inspirational words and life change!

Mission Events

Statistics

(Fiscal Year) How You Help

8th Annual Turkey Chase 5K

SEPTEMBER

YTD

Meals served

39,987

114,983

Bed nights

18,942

57,447

Chapel attendance

3,264

9,968

Clothing (lbs.)

17,032

37,410

Medical services

1,567

3,523

Apex Field House 5724 Oak St. Arvada, CO 80002 Thursday, November 27th 8 a.m. Registration 9 a.m. Race Kick-off Register at DenverRescueMission.org/turkeychase2014.

10th Annual Last Waltz – Revisited The Fillmore Auditorium 1510 Clarkson St, Denver, CO 80218 Wednesday, November 26th at 8 p.m.

Bring ten canned food items to the concert and receive a commemorative poster.

Our Outreaches Lawrence Street Shelter: Emergency care: meals, overnight shelter, free health care.

Fort Collins Rescue Mission: Emergency care: meals, overnight shelter; and transitional program.

For more information contact Alexxa at AGagner@DenRescue.org.

Champa House: Residential facility offering long-term help toward self-sufficiency to single mothers with dependent children.

Thank you to JHL Constructors for their support in sponsoring Sporting Clay Shoot 2014!

Harvest Farm: Long-term New Life rehabilitation program, farming and ranching operation, food and clothing distribution, and Fall Festival.

Workplace Giving Workplace giving campaigns allow you to make a donation to the Mission by setting up an automatic deduction from your paycheck.

These deductions, scheduled at your choosing, allow you to make an impact through consistent, manageable amounts. Please ask your employer about the campaigns below to see how you can make a difference today!

For more information, please contact Susan at 303.313.2481 or SBond@DenRescue.org.

Colorado Combined Campaign (CCC): Colorado government employees

Denver Employees Combined Campaign (DECC): Denver

can support the Mission through the CCC by selecting the following code number: 1821.

government employees can support the Mission through the DECC by selecting the following code number: 0521.

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC): Federal government employees and

Partnership for Colorado Campaign: Local businesses and their

members of the U.S. Military can support the Mission through the CFC by selecting the following code number: 28056.

employees can support the Mission through the Partnership for Colorado Campaign by going to PartnershipForColorado.org, clicking on the Caring Connections tab and selecting the code number: 1021.

The Crossing: Long-term New Life rehabilitation program, transitional program for New Life graduates and homeless families, temporary housing for interns and visitors.

Ministry Outreach Center: Warehouse facilities; food, clothing and household goods distribution.

Family Services: Transitional program; assistance for permanent housing; mentoring for homeless working families, seniors and refugee families.

Global Ministry Outreach: Consultation, resources and support to city/rescue missions around the world.

Changing Lives is the monthly news publication of Denver Rescue Mission.

Director of Communications: Christine Gallamore Designer: Rachel Vigil Writer: Alexxa Gagner P.O. Box 5164 • Denver, CO 80217 • 303.297.1815

blog.DenverRescueMission.com