Changing Lives Newsletter July 2011

119 Years of Service

www.DenverRescueMission.org

July 2011

Meeting

. . . your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

Matthew 6:32b (NLT)

R

ising temperatures often signal falling donations at the Mission. While it may seem the homeless struggle less

during warmer months, their need for basic necessities is just as great.

Please use the enclosed coupon to help the Mission provide life-saving services and programs to those who need them most this summer.

Meeting the of Denver’ s Poor & Homeless

T

he Mission knows reclaiming a life derailed by addiction, unemployment or tragedy is impossible without first meeting basic needs. That’s why for nearly 120 years, we’ve been providing the poor and homeless with food, clothing, hygiene products, and household items needed to rebuild shattered lives. Thank you for helping us fulfill the growing needs of those who are without.

Furniture

Margie

Margie found herself unable to furnish her apartment after losing her job as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Thankfully, she was able to find a table, dresser, and some chairs during a recent trip to the Mission’s Client Services center. “This is such a great help because I can’t afford much on unemployment, and I’m barely making ends meet,” Margie explains. “I really thank you guys and everyone who donates!”

Hygiene Items

Matthew

Matthew and canine companion Tiny Dancer depend on the Mission to keep clean while living under a nearby bridge. “You can’t get into the shelters with a dog, so we’ve been camping out,” Matthew explains. “I use the hygiene items I get here to shower at a recreation center a few times a week. The guys who work here are so awesome; they’ve never turned us away.”

Food Boxes

Frankie

After losing both her husband and daughter several years ago, Frankie has encountered homelessness, frostbite and hunger. Though she found housing last year, she struggles to maintain an adequate food supply and is a monthly recipient of a Mission food box.

“The fact that when you’re hungry you can come here and get a food box, even if it’s only once a month, is so nice,” Frankie explains. “It’s definitely a good start when you don’t have anything.”

Diapers

Bianca (not pictured)

After getting laid off from an assembly and production company, Bianca and her husband are struggling to make ends meet. “I have a four- and a six-year-old, so I come here to try and find diapers and clothes for them,” Bianca says gratefully. “It’s really hard right now, so getting these things helps us to be more economical; it definitely helps out.”

Clothing

Ernest

After a tumultuous year that included time at a halfway house, Ernest (pictured below) is trying to piece his life back together. “I try to dress nice, and I came to try and find some clothes for work,” he says.

“I feel better being able to get some things here, but I still have a lot to accomplish. I’m just trying to take it one step at a time.”

Sherri

Sherri (pictured above) visits Client Services monthly to help clothe her growing family, including a 14-yearold son who already stands well over six feet. “There are seven of us, including three grandchildren, so it’s difficult to find clothes that fit everyone, with my husband on disability,” Sherri explains. “This place has been extremely helpful on a limited income, and everyone here is so nice. The Mission itself has just been fantastic.”

Ashley, a mother of two- and threeyear-old daughters, is grateful to receive a portion of over 30,000 diapers given away by the Mission this fiscal year.

With economic woes still looming, thousands of individuals and families in our community are struggling to meet basic needs. Please help the Mission provide for those who are hurting by mailing in your donation today.

From the CEO Dear Friends, As many of you know, I recently spent nine days and eight nights bicycling 475 miles with my son Gus—and 900 others—in the annual Biking Across Kansas (BAK) ride. My purpose was to raise money to help feed the hundreds of folks who come to the Mission each day for a nutritious meal.

From a fundraising standpoint, the ride was wildly successful! We exceeded the goal of 10,000 meals, raising enough money to provide 10,159 meals for the homeless and needy. Since our meal price is $1.92, that’s a total of $19,505.28!

I just want to take this opportunity to say thank you. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the financial support raised for the Denver Rescue Mission! Knowing that you were there supporting me in this ride was such an encouragement.

Friends of the Mission not only encouraged me with prayer and financial gifts, but with a kind word, a special e-mail, or by just “checking in” on me. For those of you who read my blog and prayed for me, thank you. We certainly felt protected and looked after!

I would also like to thank some other special folks. To the BAK organizers, who have been doing this for 35 years—what a great job you did! A special thank you to the other riders who Gus and I formed pace lines with, and who helped us complete each day faster. Thanks also to the members of my staff who made the logistics run so smoothly—it truly took a team to put it all together.

And thank you, Gus, for being willing to spend nine days with your dad as we rode all the way across Kansas! Thanks to your daily support, we were able to do something for a cause bigger than ourselves, something that may change people’s lives forever.

For our readers, I hope this adventure has been an inspiration to do something for someone who can do nothing for you. It doesn’t have to be a ride across Kansas, but just a kind word or encouragement. We all so desperately need this. I am reminded of the words of Jesus when he said, “This is my commandment . . . that you love one another even as I have loved you.”

Thank you and God bless!

Brad Meuli

Congratulations, Graduates!

On Friday, June 3rd, the Mission celebrated the hardearned achievements of graduates who successfully completed academic and New Life Program requirements.

Thanks to your faithful support, we are happy to announce there were 22 New Life Program Phase Three graduates, one Phase Five graduate, as well as 17 program participants who earned their GEDs and 58 participants who completed their LifeSkills, Education and Career requirements. Congratulations also to the eight program participants graduating from our STAR Transitional Housing Program at The Crossing.

We commend all of our graduates for their hard work and dedication, and wish them well as they embark on their new lives!

Summer of Hope Hygiene Drive From August 1-21, Mix 100, Kool 105 and 92.5 The Wolf are partnering with Walgreens and the Denver Rescue Mission to collect hygiene items for the homeless! Please visit any Metro Denver Walgreens store and help those in need by filling up Hope Tote bins! Items needed include toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors, shaving cream, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, and diapers. Please visit www.DenverRescueMission.org for more information on how you can help.

VIP Dinner at The Melting Pot Enjoy a delicious dinner and help those in need! On Friday, July 29th, you’re invited to join 92.5 The Wolf DJs Jonathan and Mudflap for a special dinner at The Melting Pot in Littleton. Tickets for the four-course meal are $100 per person, with all proceeds benefitting the Mission. The Littleton and Louisville Melting Pot locations will also feature a special Denver Rescue Mission/92.5 The Wolf menu through the months of July and August, and will donate a portion of all sales from this menu to the Mission. Tickets for the VIP dinner can be purchased at www.DenverRescueMission.org. For more information, please call Alexxa at 303.313.2427.

Statistics

Mission Events Denver Rescue Mission Golf Tournament

Broadlands Golf Course Friday, September 9th 7:30 a.m. Shotgun Start Come out and hit a hole in one for the hungry and homeless! The cost is only $90 per person and includes registration, cart and a delicious lunch. For more information, please call Lisette @ 303.313.2414.

Women Who’ve Changed the Heart of the City

The Brown Palace Thursday, September 16th 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Honorees: Janet Elway, Betty Lehman, Frances Owens, Emily Howell Warner.

To purchase tickets, please visit blacktie-colorado.com/RSVP, and enter the event code HeartofCity. For more information on table and corporate sponsorships, please call May @ 303.313.2462.

Evening of Exploration

The Wildlife Experience Featuring guest speaker Mike Yankoski, author of Under the Overpass Thursday, October 13th 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Silent Auction & Reception 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Dinner, Program & Speaker To purchase tickets, please visit blacktie-colorado.com/RSVP, and enter the event code Exploration2011. For more information on table and corporate sponsorships, please call 303.313.2462.

Greatest Needs Champa House: inexpensive wrist watches; swimming floaties for children; children’s water bottles; can openers; dish soap; journals for program participants; Bible books for children; feminine bedding (twin size comforters and sheets); and baby blankets. For more information, please call Amy @ 303.294.9961.

Clinic: Dentists, oral surgeons and dental assistants; over-the-counter medications such as Advil, Tylenol and cough drops; new reading glasses; new eyeglass frames; eyeglass cases. For more information, please call Melanie @ 303.294.0157 x2103.

LifeSkills, Education and Career Center: Half- and one-inch three-ring binders; spiral notebooks. For more information, please call Mark @ 303.953.3918.

Family Services: Mentors for teens at The Crossing. For more information, please call Tom @ 303.953.3939. Mentor teams for homeless families and seniors moving into housing in Aurora and South Denver. For more information, please call Shawn @ 303.300.7999.

How You Help

May 43,098 Meals served 13,560 Beds 8,493 Chapel attendance 72 Food boxes distributed 38 Furniture (households) 18,595 Clothing (lbs.)

34 Chiropractic 135 Dental 511 Medical 217 Optical

YTD 214,987 74,618 36,622 486 434 88,642 127 733 1,783 977

Our Outreaches Lawrence Street Shelter Emergency care: meals, overnight shelter, free health care, food box and clothing distribution.

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

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

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

Ministry Outreach Center Administrative and warehouse facilities; food, clothing, and household goods distribution.

Harvest Farm: Men’s coats, boots, gloves, and coveralls. For more information, please call Michael @ 970.568.9803.

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

Client Services: Diapers sizes 4, 5, 6 and pull-ups; baby formula; men’s clothing; men’s underwear. Client Services is also in need of gently-used furniture. For more information, please call Rick @ 303.313.2497.

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

Vehicle Donations: Cars—running or not! For more information, please call Debbie @ 303.313.2483.

Changing Lives is the monthly news publication of Denver Rescue Mission

Publications Manager: Christine Gallamore • Designer: Kirstin Hamrick • Writer: Nicole Vaiana

P.O. Box 5164 • Denver, CO 80217 • 303.297.1815 www.DenverRescueMission.org

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