Downtown Rescue Mission July 2017 Newsletter

MISSIONM MENTS July 2017

Freedom F R OM T H E PA I N

FREEDOM THROUGH FAITH Celebrating our dependence on God

KEITH OVERHOLT, MBA

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President/CEO

n the Fourth of July, we celebrated our freedom and independence as Americans. It is truly wonderful to be an American.

God has blessed us with so much that we should lift up our prayers of thanksgiving and praises to Him, not just on Independence Day, but every day. Many have died to give us our freedoms and I want to give a special thanks to them and the service men and women who have served and are continuing to serve our great country with valor, honor and courage.

As Americans, we will celebrate our independence,

but as Christians we should be celebrating our dependence on God. I am proud and very thankful that our forefathers built our country on the framework of Godinspired principles. Those Biblical principles guide our country and have been tested over the years and been found to be steadfast and everlasting. Our dependence on God allows us to be better Americans. If we truly believe the Word of God, we will first “love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and might” and then second, we will “love our neighbor as ourselves”. I believe our Christian values have benefited America to be the greatest country in the history of man and that our country has helped to make the whole world a better place.

Depending on God has helped us to reach out with His love to those who may not always be lovable. It allows us to follow

Hydrate THE HOMELESS

YOUR DONATION OFFERS RELIEF AND GIVES HOPE! The next time you are at the grocery store consider purchasing an extra case of bottled water to donate to the homeless we care for at DRM. All Donations: 1400 Evangel Drive NW, Huntsville, AL 35816

MISSIONMOMENTS | July 2017

Christ’s teaching on ministering to the “least of these”. Year after year Americans rank far above other country’s citizens as philanthropic and charitable. We see the same great American spirit of giving here at the Downtown Rescue Mission through the donations given throughout North Alabama and Southern Tennessee.

Even during these last few years with a tough economy, people from our community have given of their time and volunteered, donated and shopped at our thrift stores and given monetary donations to help those who are in need. Your gifts to us during this slow Summer season will help us to reach out with the love of Christ to our neighbors who need more than just a hand out, when what they need is a helping hand up.

Freedom

“THE LORD BROUGHT ME TO THE END OF MYSELF SO THAT I WOULD RETURN MY FOCUS TO HIM.”

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y name is Margaret Gaines, and I arrived at the Mission in June 2016. Having endured chronic pain for decades, I have had multiple spinal fusions and have taken prescription narcotics for pain relief.

Although I had done well with the help of narcotics and other modalities for many years, I recognized my dependency on narcotics two years ago, when I found myself slowly increasing my dosage in hopes of achieving my idea of adequate pain relief. My misguided belief was that I could somehow devise a method of controlling both my pain and dependency.

I was making the common but unfortunate mistake of relying on my own power – my own self-sufficiency.

I came from an upper middle class family, and I am the youngest of nine children. No one in my family suffered from addiction. I was led to Christ as a child, but became the prodigal daughter during adulthood.

I suffered sexual abuse as a child, and when I became an adult, I replaced that abuser with other men who

F R OM T H E PA I N were abusive. My self-worth was nonexistent. I felt undeserving of a happy life. My perception involved inflating others and deflating myself. God’s hands have always remained on my life, and He rescued me from those relationships.

The Lord brought me to the end of myself so that I would return my focus to Him. God allowed me to overcome my addiction and I stopped taking narcotics altogether. However, I still had issues with employment, transportation, and did not have a home of my own. After living with family and friends, I arrived at the Mission. I was frankly terrified of living in a homeless shelter but was also tired of being a burden on the people I loved most.

I was blessed to enter the discipleship program shortly after my arrival. Although this ministry deals with addiction issues, it also addresses the other causes of homelessness by encouraging us to return to the only One who is capable of truly solving all of our problems – Jesus Christ. When I graduate the program this month (July), I recognize there will be problems on the road ahead, but I now focus on God’s presence in the storms, rather than my inability to control them.

MISSIONMOMENTS | July 2017

Mission IN MY WORDS

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ne of our biggest missions at Whole Foods Market is our Green Mission and it goes way beyond offering paper bags instead of plastic bags.

Sustainability and community support are two big driving factors as well. Whole Foods Market Huntsville is proud to partner with Knoxville-based Food Donation Connection, to ensure that their

“WHOLE FOODS MARKET HAS BEEN DONATING TO THE DOWNTOWN RESCUE MISSION SINCE OPENING IN NOVEMBER 2015.” stores’ edible food that has reached its sell-by date is donated to community members in-need.

In the south region, which consists of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, Whole Foods Market donates to over 94 food rescue agencies across 36 stores. All of Whole Foods Market’s agency partners are nonprofit organizations directly serving the community. All partnering agencies receive training from Food Donation Connection on safe food handling and transportation.

In addition, all Whole Foods Market team members receive training on what can be donated, and how to properly and safely package the food for donation. This is important,

because this food donation program goes beyond the usual grocery and produce items. All departments in the stores participate, including dairy, eggs, meat and seafood. This ensures that those in need receive well balanced food options. In Huntsville, our team members have especially enjoyed hearing how the Downtown Rescue Mission is able to use the diverse products that are donated with their chef training program.

Food Donation Connection coordinates the pickup schedule for all partnering agencies, aiming for 6-7 days per week pick up in each store. The donations can vary by day, from 5 lbs to 500 lbs of food. Partner agencies must be able to pick up all items the store has for donation, to avoid items being left in the stores.

Since Whole Foods Market started tracking local food donations through Food Donation Connection in 2013, the south region has donated over 7.5 million pounds of food through six states. Whole Foods is proud to provide the highest quality natural and organic food to the most vulnerable community members.

In the Huntsville community, Whole Foods Market has been donating to the Downtown Rescue Mission since opening in November 2015. Since opening, the store has donated tens of thousands of pounds of food and it’s just the beginning for this partnership!

MISSIONMOMENTS | July 2017

Don’t Run But Still Want to Participate?

ILLUMINATING HOPE AT THE RUN TO RESCUE 5K GLOW EDITION

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he Run to Rescue 5k has gone dark! We are very excited about this year’s Glow Edition, which takes place in Big Spring Park! All proceeds from the race will help us shine a light on the homeless and hurting by providing meals, care and hope to everyone who comes to us.

The race is scheduled for Saturday, August 5, 2017. Prerace festivities begin at 7:00 p.m. and the race begins at 8:00 p.m. The registration fees vary based on age, options, and date. There will be no race day registration. Packet pick up is at the Mission during office hours on Friday, August 4, as well as on race day starting at 7:00 p.m. Age groups will be in 5 year increments and 70+.

Volunteers are crucial to the success of this event. We need many race day volunteers to help with set up, directing runners on the course, and tear down. If you are interested in just lending a helping hand or acquiring needed service hours, please contact corey@downtownrescuemission.org to sign up.

Luminaries will line the entire race route in honor/ memory/celebrating those who have been affected by addiction and in support of the participants and the Mission. You may purchase luminaries for $5 to shine a light on addiction and homelessness in our community.

Participants may also sell luminaries to support the mission.

Sample luminary verses: ­­­­(name) is a proud supporter of DRM; Celebrating Sobriety (name/years); Don’t Give up, ­­­­(name)! In Memory of (name); Keep Going, ­­­­(name)!

To register, purchase luminaries and for more information, go to www.run2rescue5k.tk or contact Tonia at tonia@downtownrescuemission.org.

HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL FOR LESS

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labama will hold its 12th annual sales tax holiday from July 21 – 23, but don’t wait until then to shop for your back to school needs! Our thrift stores are tax-free 365 days a year and offer great savings for clothes and other items. We have seven, convenient locations throughout North Alabama to serve you and your family.

For more info or a Google map to the store nearest you, please go to https://www.downtownrescuemission.org/thrift-stores.

MISSIONMOMENTS | July 2017

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im LaFleur of Replicate Ministries will be guiding REBUILT, a weekend men’s conference geared toward building discipleship.

The goal is equip the church with tools for biblical multiplication. Mark your calendars for Friday night and Saturday, August 25-26, 2017, at the Downtown Rescue Mission. the conference. The cost is $45.00 per person and includes your conference fees and a copy of the book Growing Up: How to Be a Disciple Who Makes Disciples.

Sponsorships are also available. For more information, please contact Tonia at 256-713-4343 or tonia@downtownrescuemission.org. To register and for more information go to https://rebuiltconference.wixsite.com.

CALLING ALL GUN SPORT ENTHUSIASTS

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f spending the morning in the woods, shooting clays is your idea of a good time, then you will LOVE the Shoot4Shelter sporting clay tournament!

When: Friday, October 20, 2017 at 8:00 a.m.

Where: Limestone Hunting Preserve, 27393 Old Schoolhouse Road, Ardmore, AL 35739 What: The 3rd Annual Shoot4Shelter Clay Shoot Info/Registration: http://shoot4shelter.wixsite.com/ clayshoot

HELPING CHANGE LIVES EVERY DAY! Statistics for May 2017 Meals Served Lodging

20,669 5,979 933

Food Boxes

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Spiritual Decisions

FALL FESTIVAL IS BACK!

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fter a year break, we are super pumped to offer Fall Festival 2017 to our community as a free, safe alternative to trick-or-treating! Mark your calendars for Friday, October 27, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at DRM. To sponsor a booth or volunteer, please contact Corey or Tonia.

WAYS YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

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Downtown Rescue Mission 1400 Evangel Drive Huntsville, AL 35816

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1400 Evangel Drive, Huntsville, AL 35816 256-536-2441

www.downtownrescuemission.org