"Hope Will Arise" - April '20 Mission Moments

APRIL 2020

Hope

WILL ARISE

Joy VS HAPPINESS A

KEITH OVERHOLT, MBA President/CEO

“MAY THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING, SO THAT BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT YOU MAY ABOUND IN HOPE.” ROMANS 15:13

few weeks back I was walking the halls of the men’s building at the Downtown Rescue Mission campus when I saw a man approaching me from a long way down the hall. His steps were hurried and he seemed to be light on his feet. His eyes were fixed on me with great intent. As he approached, I saw his infectious smile get bigger and bigger. He politely asked to speak to me, “Mr. Overholt can I tell you something great that happened to me today?!” He was so excited he almost couldn’t wait for my reply when he said, “I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior today and I wanted to let you know!” Immediately we both hugged and had tears of joy in our eyes.

Jody had recently joined our program and had attended the Mission’s chapel service where he gave his life to Jesus. He told me he felt like a new man, like something he had not experienced before. Jody

had lived his life searching for things to make him happy, but things are fleeting and the happiness is only temporary. In fact, happiness is usually short lived, but joy can last forever especially when we put our trust and hope in Jesus Christ.

I love that we get to see lives transformed through Jesus’ love every day at the Downtown Rescue Mission, and I am passionate about keeping it that way. We receive no Federal, State or local government funding that might hinder the preaching of the Gospel. Thank you for partnering with us to make it possible that we can help people physically, but more importantly spiritually. During this Easter season please remember us in your prayers and with financial support. God is good!

The Impact

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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his Easter season is unlike so many before it. Each of us has been impacted by the coronavirus. Here at the Mission, extra monetary support is needed to provide essentials such as meals and clean facilities for the hundreds of people in our care. Many of our food donation sources, such as area restaurants and grocery stores, are not able to supply a substantial quantity of donations. Meanwhile, we are providing more meals than usual since our school age children have been here throughout

the day and a greater amount of people from our community are coming for food assistance. Cleaning supplies are being used and purchased more frequently to maintain clean, safe facilities. Program graduates who haven’t transitioned away from us are facing possible layoffs and if so, will be more reliant on the Mission. Thank you in advance for any additional help you can provide! We know the Lord is going to take care of us and will use His people to meet so many of our needs.

MISSIONMOMENTS | April 2020

“DO NOT NEGLECT TO DO GOOD AND TO SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE, FOR SUCH SACRIFICES ARE PLEASING TO GOD.” HEBREWS 13:16

Hope WILL ARISE “CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD, AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME.” PSALM 51:10

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he transformation that is occurring in my life all started out when I finally got sick and tired of the miserable life I was living. It all began when I was molested from the ages of 7 – 9. That traumatic experience destroyed my innocent thinking so badly that I identified love as equivalent to sex, and as I grew older I indulged in a homosexual lifestyle. I grew up in a household without a father, and when I finally did meet him, I was instantly rejected. I couldn’t understand what I could have done so wrong that my own dad didn’t want me. Growing up poor, we all wore a lot of hand-me-down shoes and clothes, but we always had a hot meal on the table to eat. I also

want to express how I always had a seat in my family’s church. A seed was planted about Jesus within me at a very early age and that is what has begun to grow tremendously while at the Mission.

Any and every situation or circumstance that has occurred in my life all circulated back to Christcentered experiences. Today, I am so happy to be able to express how much hope, joy, and peace God has given me since I decided to recommit my life to Jesus Christ here at the Mission. I still struggle with a lot of hurt and pain, but I can truly say that it’s getting better day by day as I’m aligned to God and His will for my life. The most effective and productive decision that I have made in my entire life is coming here. It was only by the grace of God that He’s allowed this change in my life. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me when I didn’t even love myself.

—Alexander Canty

donate.downtownrescuemission.org

MI S S ION IN M Y WOR DS

MARY MUSE

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y first experience volunteering at the Downtown Rescue Mission was in 2017 with my Yulista Project Team. We had a team of around 20 volunteers, about half women and men. The ladies split off and headed over to the ladies dining hall, where we helped prepare lunch for the residents and waited for them to arrive so we could serve them. I’ve done charity events in the past and helped raise money for different organizations but this was my first real hands-on experience. I got to interact with the people we were helping, and it was an amazing experience. When the ladies came in and saw us, their eyes lit up. I think they

“THE RESIDENTS AT THE MISSION TOUCHED OUR HEARTS IN SUCH A BIG WAY…” were excited to see some new faces. After everyone had been served, we had time to come out of the kitchen and socialize with the residents. There were a couple infants and toddlers there with their mothers. Playing with the children and having a chance to talk to their mothers and the other ladies was a blessing. As a single mother with no family in the area, I have been in a place where if things had gone just a little differently I may have found myself in the same position as the

ladies we were talking with. It really touched me, to the point that I have been back several times and brought my kids as well.

Since then, I have become more involved with volunteering at the Mission. Last year we visited several times to serve in the ladies’ dining hall, sort clothes in the Agape Shop, help with landscaping, and organize the nonperishable food storage room.

Through Yulista CARES, we donated 100 backpacks with school supplies for the school age kids and raised 1,000 cans of corn and 1,000 packs of gravy for the Thanksgiving Food Drive. We helped run booths at the 2019 Glow Run, and just last weekend we had a team run in the Carts4Hearts 5k. The residents at the Mission touched our hearts in such a big way that we decided to put our funds toward being the title sponsor for the 2020 Glow Run. I truly appreciate the opportunity to serve those at the Mission today, and in the future.

Mary Muse, Yulista Aviation, Inc.

MISSIONMOMENTS | April 2020

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SUPPORT MOMS IN NEED!

here is an opportunity to help mothers and their children in need in the Tennessee Valley just in time for Mother’s Day. Movers For Moms® is TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®’s Annual Spring Campaign. First launched in 2007 by TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, the Movers For Moms® program seeks to recognize moms in crisis on Mother’s Day by arranging delivery of gifts to women living in local shelters on the holiday weekend.

This year, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Huntsville is partnering with the Downtown Rescue Mission.

They will be collecting essential items for DRM’s women and children’s shelter, Owen’s House. Many of the women and children living in local shelters, like Owen’s House, are fleeing from domestic violence, homelessness and drug abuse. The theme color of the Movers For Moms® program is purple, the same color of domestic violence awareness. Many items placed on the wish-list by the shelter are necessary essentials like vitamins, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, women and children’s underwear and socks, diapers and more; items the women may not have had time to grab as they sought help at the shelter.

Movers For Moms® collection boxes will be placed in businesses, organizations, churches and schools around the Tennessee Valley for donations. The

campaign will run from March 26–May 8. At the end of the collection drive, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® will gather all the donations and gift them to the shelter as a Big Mother’s Day present!

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®’s Movers For Moms® program seeks to help make Mother’s Day 2020 a happier day for mothers in need across North Alabama.

More information on the Movers For Moms® program, such as drop off sites or how to contact TMT Huntsville, visit www.moversformoms.com or email TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Huntsville’s Marketing Director, Taylor Wilkerson at taylor.wilkerson@ twomen.com.

THRIFT STORE CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DATES & LOCATIONS

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ustomer Appreciation days are coming to a DRM Thrift Store nearest you! Join us for free hotdogs, hamburgers, and store-wide savings.

The food will be served from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. but the savings will last all day.

STAY TUNED IN TO EACH STORE’S FACEBOOK PAGE FOR UPCOMING DATES AND LOCATIONS! MISSIONMOMENTS | April 2020

NEW CLUB, NEW CHALLENGE May 4, 2020 • 8 AM • Canebrake Club

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his year’s tournament will be hosted at Canebrake Club. Also new this year is the Club Cup Challenge!

The golf club that sends the most players will take home the Club Cup to defend next year, so invite your golfing buddies to join you at DRM Golf Classic.

By participating in our 14th annual golf tournament, you help to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the men, women, and children serviced by Downtown Rescue Mission.

Come and enjoy the shotgun start, games, prizes, continental breakfast, and catered lunch. Your friends, clients, or staff will be happy you invited them to play in this year’s classic! Register today at DRMGolfClassic.org.

CHARLOTTE BRODOWSKI TO CHAIR DOWNTOWN RESCUE MISSION 45TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Celebrating a Journey of Hope in the Tennessee Valley

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owntown Rescue Mission announces Charlotte Brodowski, of Brodowski, McCurry, Maynor & Miller, will be the event Chairwoman at its 45th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday June 25, 2020, 6:00pm at Asbury Church on Hughes Road in Madison.

Charlotte, who is known for her philanthropic endeavors, has chosen to lead this event to help celebrate the growth and success of the Mission. Her passion for inspiring hope and serving others made her the natural choice for Downtown Rescue Mission’s 45th Anniversary Chairwoman.

Brodowski will lead the committee, consisting of business leaders throughout our community, including subcommittee chairs; Fred Fagan, White Space Innovations;

Fred Coffey, Lanier Ford; Stephanie Schrimsher, DSLD Homes – Alabama; Angela Hollingsworth, Two Men and a Truck; Brett Bentley Maxey, Bentley Automotive; and Heather Edstrom, Edstrom Photography.

The evening will include dinner, music, silent and live auctions, and celebrate the 45 year journey of hope the Downtown Rescue Mission has taken.

For sponsorship information, to purchase tickets, or to donate, please contact Tonia Camardella at 256.713.4343 or tonia@downtownrescuemission.org.

To register for this event, visit DRM45.org.

LIVES YOU HAVE TOUCHED FEBRUARY 2020

Meals Served

22,911

Volunteer Hours

Lodging

7,599

Sack Lunches Provided

Clothing Provided

5,860

Bibles Distributed

is a proud member of

2,219 925 21 ®

82060

1400 Evangel Drive | Huntsville, AL 35816 | 256-536-2441 | downtownrescuemission.org