Denver Rescue Mission October Newsletter

119 Years of Service

www.DenverRescueMission.org

October 2011

One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody.

Mother Teresa

Together, we can be somebody to the homeless.

“The hardest thing about being homeless is people looking at you like you’re nothing. I’m not nothing.”

~Junior

homeless since 2009

Helping the Homeless Emergency Services

Meeting the basic needs of the poor and homeless is the first step toward helping them rebuild their lives. Each day, we serve over 1,500 meals, shelter nearly 900 and offer acute medical care through our clinic at the Lawrence Street Shelter. In addition to these services, we also distribute an average of 25,000 pounds of clothing each month, while giving over 200 food boxes to needy individuals and families.

Rehabilitation

For men and women committed to lifelong transformation, we provide an opportunity to enroll in our New Life Program. Located at The Crossing, Harvest Farm and Champa House, this rehabilitation program offers counseling, GED coursework, advanced education, life skills training, job skills through work therapy, and spiritual guidance.

Participants are given 14 to 27 months to complete the program, which graduated a record 76 men and women last fiscal year.

Family Services

Homeless families wishing to regain stability can receive help through Family Services. At The Crossing, the STAR Transitional Program provides families with temporary shelter as they learn efficient budgeting, life skills training and longterm planning. Displaced families may also receive assistance through the Family and Senior Homeless Initiative (FSHI). Families in this program receive first month’s rent and deposit, and are paired with a faith community mentor team who helps guide them toward achieving sustainable permanent housing.

“Being homeless is like being stuck

in a trap you can’t get out of,” James says

unashamedly. “There were times I thought things would never change.”

For 11 long years, things didn’t change for James.

Chronically unemployed and without family support, he became a frequent guest of the Lawrence Street Shelter, often helping set up overflow cots in the winter months. Last April, at the insistence of Mission employees who saw his potential, the army veteran made the life-altering decision to join the New Life Program.

“I joined programs at other shelters, but this one gives you so many more opportunities,” James explains.

James

Being There For

Now in his fifth month at The Crossing, the Phase One resident is soaking up everything the program has to offer. Employment courses have rejuvenated James’ dream of pursuing a career in business, while his work therapy duties at the Mission’s warehouse and kitchen at The Crossing have given him a long-awaited sense of purpose.

“Work therapy has done a world of good for me, and I’ve gotten some of my kitchen skills back,” the former cook says. “Tutorials have helped me the most. By giving me an education, the Mission is giving me an opportunity.”

Reflecting on the uncertainty that plagued him on the streets, James says one thing remained constant—his faith. Now in a place of stability, he is expanding his spiritual knowledge in engrossing Bible studies with Chaplain Steve Gonzales. “Chaplain Gonzales has opened so many spiritual avenues for me,” James says excitedly. “If you want to stop being homeless, start with the Bible.”

With each new opportunity, James says he is moving beyond the pain of the last eleven years, and is hopeful his story will encourage others to see the homeless in a new light.

To post a note of encouragement for James on the Mission̕ s Facebook fan page, visit http://on.fb.me/b3v4bf.

“Homeless people aren’t useless, they just need a new start,” James emphasizes. “This program gives people a choice to do positive things, and keeps them moving in a positive direction; [it’s] definitely working for me.”

From the CEO Dear Friends, I would like to do something a little different for this month’s letter and share an email I recently sent to my staff: Last night I had the wonderful opportunity, along with several staff members, to accept on behalf of the Denver Rescue Mission the 2011 ColoradoBiz Top Company Award in the Nonprofit Category. I wanted to offer my congratulations to each of you for your efforts in making this possible! It is always exciting when the Denver Rescue Mission is recognized by our peers for its value in the community. This is an award we have been nominated for the last four years, and this year we were blessed to receive it!

I was allowed to say a few words and wanted you to know that I thanked not only ColoradoBiz Magazine for the award, but you all, our volunteers and our community who is so compassionate about helping the poor and needy. I also said I think I have the greatest job in the world working alongside committed people like each of you. My hope, as we have received this special acknowledgement, is that God may be glorified, and that we will somehow have the opportunity to do more for Jesus because of it!

This past year we also won the Better Business Bureau’s highest award, the Torch Award, for integrity in the marketplace. Both of these awards reflect well on Christ’s work through us here, and I believe indicate the high standard we strive every day to achieve. I am also reminded and challenged that we must continue to work humbly to be worthy of such awards and recognition.

Lastly, although I enjoyed representing the Denver Rescue Mission last night at this award ceremony, I was reminded of how fleeting honors and recognition are in this world. I think what makes working at the Mission so special for me is that our work is for eternity. What we do matters forever. And can there really be a better boss to work for than the God of the universe? ☺ Therefore my beloved brethren [and sisters], be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor. 15:58 (NASB) Congratulations, and thank you for all you do!

And if you are reading this today, thank you! We could not accomplish our work without you!

God bless,

Brad Meuli

5th Annual Turkey Chase Work up an appetite Thanksgiving morning by participating in the Turkey Chase 10k and family fun run! The race will kick off at 9 a.m. at West Woods Golf Club in Arvada. All proceeds will help provide holiday meals for men, women and children in need. Please visit RunningGuru. com/Event/TurkeyChase to register.

For more information, please contact Breanne at 303.313.2415 or bgabel@denrescue.org.

To register, use your smart phone to scan this code.

The Ninth Annual Harvest Farm Fall Festival and Corn Maze will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from September 10th through October 30th.

Visitors of all ages can participate in familyfriendly attractions including a 10-acre corn maze, pumpkin smash, petting zoo, hay rides, concessions, and much more!

Open Sept. 10th through Oct. 30th 4240 East County Road 66 Wellington, Colorado (Exit 287 from I-25) www.HarvestFarm.net / 970.568.9488

Fall Festival Prices Adult (13 and up): $15.00 Child (4 -12): $10.00 Age 3 and under: Free Seniors (60+): $10.00

Statistics

Mission Events Evening of Exploration Thursday, October 13th The Wildlife Experience Featuring special guest speaker Mike Yankoski, author of Under the Overpass 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 May @ 303.313.2462.

On September 16th, nearly 300 members of the community joined together at The Brown Palace Hotel for our 3rd annual Women Who’ve Changed the Heart of the City tea.

During this event, Denver Rescue Mission honored Janet Elway, Betty Lehman, Frances Owens, and Emily Howell Warner for their hard work, dedication and positive influence in our community.

Through their efforts, each of these women has undoubtedly shaped the heart of our city. We are tremendously grateful to all of our generous sponsors, hosts and friends for making this celebration such a wonderful success!

Margret Pahl Stewart Foundation

Circle of Love

Triple B

Circle of Caring

McDonald Automotive Group

Table Sponsors

Autism Society of Colorado Jane Buckley Janet Elway Scott & Nancy Harris PCL Construction Dave & Deb Phipps SynapseConnecting Synergy Services Wells Fargo

August 45,087 served Meals 19,541 Beds ance 6,573 attend l Chape 84 Food boxes distributed holds) 135 (house ure Furnit 15,856 Clothing (lbs.)

17 ractic Chirop 112 Dental 754 al Medic 193 Optical

YTD 347,658 131,681 56,556 740 741 146,226 201 1,060 3,664 1,522

Our Outreaches

Women Who’ve Changed the Heart of the City

Presenting Sponsor

How You Help

Benefactor Sponsors

Arc Thrift Stores Denver Hospice

Gift-in-Kind Sponsors

5280 Magazine Colorado Party Rentals Annie Harmon— Harmony Design, LLC Barbara W. Lepke-Sims— Professional Harpist Gloria Merritt— Professional Pianist The Plum Gallery

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.

Family Services Transitional housing; 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: Kirstin Hamrick • Writer: Nicole Vaiana

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

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