Downtown Rescue Mission December 2016 Newsletter

December 2016 downtownrescuemission.org

REASON FOR THE SEASON Page 2

COAT DRIVE

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WE NEED YOUR HELP

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CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES Flap

CARTS4HEARTS

GOD IS FOR US Page 3

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Reason For the Season

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he Mission is happy to partner with Burlington Stores, K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers, and Good Morning America to receive donations of coats for those we care for each day! The 10th Annual Warm Coats and Warm Hearts Coat Drive runs from November 14, 2016 to January 23, 2017. You can bless the Mission by donating your coats at the Burlington Store located at 6125 University Drive NW, Huntsville, AL. Thank you for providing hope through a warm coat this Christmas season!

Merry Christmas

hristmas for many is a joyous time of having parties, fellowshipping with family and friends and giving gifts to people we care for. But Christmas has become so commercialized that many have forgotten the real reason for the season.

Retail stores and communities have even banned manger scenes and the phrase Merry Christmas.

At the Mission we teach and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas that God gave the greatest gift, His Son, to be born and eventually die as a sacrifice for man’s sin.

During the next few weeks we will have parties, events and gift giving with our guests to celebrate Christmas, but we never lose focus that it is all about Christ! Many of the men, women and children that stay at the Mission have never experience a Christ centered Christmas before. It is refreshing to see the joy in the eyes of all of our folks as we celebrate what might be the first real CHRISTmas!

As you gather with your friends and family please remember the Downtown Rescue Mission as we minister to the needy and hurting people of our community. Without your prayers and support we could not continue sharing the Gospel to a lost and dying world. It may not be politically correct anymore, but I would like to wish you a very “Merry Christmas!!”

We’re Running Very Low & Need Your Help We have a big need for the following items:

CHILDREN • Baby Shampoo • Baby Lotion • Kids Shampoo • Kids Conditioner • Kids Body wash • Diapers • Wipes • Pull-ups

ADULT • Shampoo (small and large sizes) • Conditioner (small and large sizes) • Body Wash (Women and Men) • Shaving Cream (Women and Men) • Razors • Deodorant (Women and Men) • Lotion

Keith Overholt, MBA President/CEO

MISSION MOMENTS

Bless Those We Serve

By Donating Coats

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• Toothpaste • Toothbrushes • Non-alcoholic mouthwash • Dental Floss • Chapstick • Hairbrushes / Combs • Q-tips • Bar Soap • Hand soap • Tampons • Pads/ Pantliners • Hands Sanitizers • Band-aids

OTHER • Pony tail Holders • Hair Dye • Towels • Wash Cloths • Hand towels • Pillow Cases • Twin size Sheets

The drop off location is 1400 Evangel Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35816. Thank you for your help!

God is For Us

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his summer we traveled from the West Virginia/ Pennsylvania area to Oklahoma City not on a well planned summer vacation but to find a solution to my husband’s alcohol addiction and escape the pain of our miscarriage over the July 4th holiday. We were only in Oklahoma City for two weeks when my husband’s “supposed friend” offered him a job and shelter in Pensacola, Florida.

Within a few days, we arrived in Pensacola with a fresh start on the horizon or at least we thought.

Maybe this past summer wasn’t just about seeking help for my husband, but to enable me to become the woman God created me to be.

Over the next week my husband’s friend’s story began to unravel. There was really no job or shelter for our family. It was an empty promise, a dead end street. We searched for a place to stay to find out that the only shelter within a seven county radius was full. I had once worked at a rescue mission so I began searching on the internet for the missions nearest to us and stumbled across Downtown Rescue Mission in Huntsville. We used our remaining dollars to come here and I’m so glad that we did. Aside from our basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter, the Mission provides classes to give me the skills to get back on my feet while my husband is getting treatment.

When we set out on this journey this summer, never in my wildest dreams did I expect to end up in Huntsville.

Looking back now I realize we are exactly where God wants us to be. Maybe this past summer wasn’t just about seeking help for my husband, but to enable me to become the woman God created me to be. For the first time in a long while, I am excited to see what the future holds, and so grateful for the Downtown Rescue Mission. As you reflect on the coming of Christ this Christmas, may you taste and see that the Lord is good and that He truly is Emmanuel, God with us!

Jennifer Bean

EVENTS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9:

23rd Annual Spirit of the Season Christmas Concert, 6:30 p.m. at Lakewood Baptist Church

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23:

Christmas Candlelight Service 10:00 a.m. in our Chapel

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25: Christmas Day Banquet 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24:

DRM Graduation in our gym 4:30 p.m. dinner and 5:00 p.m. ceremony

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11: 2nd Annual Carts 4 Hearts Adventure 5k, 9:00 a.m.

STAY CONNECTED Donate Online at: downtownrescuemission.org/ donate Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter: DowntownRes.Mission @GivePeopleHope Using your app, take a picture of the QR code to easily go to our website on your phone or tablet!

CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES DECEMBER 17, 8:00 A.M. – NOON *Volunteers assist with our Nativity House and Toy Giveaway event where area families who cannot afford toys experience the real Christmas story before getting their children’s toy bags

DECEMBER 23, 10:00 A.M. Christmas Candlelight Service, 10:00 a.m. in our Chapel, all are welcome!

DECEMBER 25, 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. *Volunteers serve Mission residents & guests a banquet meal like they’re at a restaurant

*Volunteers must sign up in advance by emailing Corey at corey@downtownrescuemission.org

WHAT IS CARTS4HEARTS? FEBRUARY 11TH, 2017—A loose parody of a famous Alaska dog sled race, we take the format and mix it up. Replace the dogs with people (you and your friends) and the sleds with shopping carts, add in team themes, costumes, contests, fundraising and food drives… and we get the Carts4Hearts adventure race.

Hundreds of women, men, teenagers, superheroes, rock bands, Greeks, elephants, tigers, volunteers, and excited philanthropists gather to create this amazingly unique costumed charity shopping cart race of epic proportions — Carts4Hearts. Here’s what the event consists of: 30 teams of 6 heavily-costumed humanoids, raising Food and Funds for the purpose of changing lives of the homeless and hurting in Huntsville, all while racing tricked-out shopping carts through the frigid streets of downtown Huntsville. There’s no event like this anywhere in the South.

If you like road races, adventures and costumes, you’ll love the Carts4Hearts. For more information contact Tonia.Beverly@downtownrescuemission.org or go to www.carts4hearts.tk

3-2-1 GO! 2017 goals are: 30 teams, $20,000 raised and 10,000 pounds of food!

Teams = 30 $$ = $20,000 Per Team $666 / 333lbs Per Person $111 / 55.5lbs

Food = 10,000 lbs

HELPING CHANGE LIVES EVERY DAY!

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Statistics for October 2016 Meals Served – 31,430 Lodging – 6,848 Food Boxes – 740 Spiritual Decisions – 6 Into Permanent Housing – 9

YES!

I will help the Downtown Rescue Mission care for the homeless/hurting people of our community!

Here’s my gift of: n $50 n $100 n $250 n $_____________

To give a gift by credit card, visit us online at www.downtownrescuemission.org or call 256-536-2441.

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@ EMAIL The Downtown Rescue Mission is fully financially accountable and invites anyone to inspect our financial records during business hours.

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Send with check to: Downtown Rescue Mission 1400 Evangel Drive, Huntsville, AL 35816