MORE THAN A MISSION
“Together, we are making a difference that will echo for generations.”
Dear Friends,
Since 1907, Muskegon Rescue Mission has faithfully demonstrated God’s love and the message of the Gospel by providing meals, shelter and hope to the hungry and homeless in West Michigan. While these services remain central to our work, our mission has grown into something so much more. As we step into a new year, we proudly celebrate being “More Than A Mission.”
This past year has shown the profound impact of programs that extend beyond meeting immediate needs. Through strategic partnerships, our Community Resource Center has helped individuals access essential services, paving the way toward stability and independence. Meanwhile, Bright Futures Daycare & Preschool has provided children with a safe and nurturing space to learn and grow.
These efforts reflect the deeper, transformative work that defines
Roger Doctor, President
Bryan Betten, Secretary
Valerie Williams
Muskegon Rescue Mission. By addressing both spiritual and physical needs, we’re fostering true and lasting change, bringing dignity, hope and restoration to every life we touch.
None of this would be possible without you. Your generous support, whether through financial gifts, volunteering or donations, makes this life-changing work a reality. It takes a community to create this kind of impact, and we are profoundly grateful for your partnership.
Thank you for being an essential part of our mission. Together, we are making a difference that will echo for generations.
Serving Together,
Dan Skoglund Executive Director
Rick
Ebeling, Vice President
Dave Barham
Wittkopp BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chris Thompson, Treasurer
Dan McKinnon
Patrick
FINANCIALS
INDIVIDUALS
Muskegon Rescue Mission is privately funded and receives no government assistance or funding.
MISSION, VISION & MINISTRIES PROVIDED
Why We Exist
Muskegon Rescue Mission is one of the oldest ministries in West Michigan serving individuals and families since 1907. We exist to demonstrate and proclaim God’s love to the less fortunate and homeless people of West Michigan.
Our objective is to help individuals and families escape poverty, spiritually, emotionally, and financially. We achieve this by
More Than A Mission
Emergency Shelter
Providing safe, welcoming housing for men, women and children in crisis, along with meals, clothing and compassionate support to help them rebuild their lives.
Community Resource Center
Connecting individuals and families to essential services, resources and guidance, helping them move toward stability and independence.
MRM Thrift Stores
Turning donated items into hope by funding vital programs and offering affordable goods to the community.
Bright Futures Daycare & Preschool
Offering children a safe, nurturing environment to learn, grow and thrive, breaking the cycle of poverty through early education and care.
Community Pantry
Providing groceries and household essentials to struggling individuals and families, ensuring no one in our community goes hungry.
175 Found Housing
157,814 Meals Served
734
Job Training Hours
59 Decisions for Christ
32,587 Bible Study Hours
3,464 Families Served (Pantry)
193 Started New Jobs
33,537 Nights of Shelter
46 Children in Daycare
27,330 Chapel Attendance
4,868 Jayhawk & Baker Pantries
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS:
A Unified Approach
At Muskegon Rescue Mission, we believe collaboration drives lasting change. The success of our Community Resource Center (CRC) showcases how partnerships with local organizations amplify our impact. By uniting strengths, we provide the vital connections guests need to begin their journey toward stability. We are proud to highlight several strategic partnerships at our Community Resource Center, each playing a vital role in helping individuals and families overcome obstacles and rebuild their lives.
Muskegon County Clerk & Secretary of State Mobile Office
Through this collaboration, we’re providing access to essential services like birth certificates, state IDs, and driver’s licenses. These documents are critical first steps toward securing housing, employment, and long-term stability. By removing barriers and offering these services on-site, we’re empowering individuals to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
Muskegon County Parole
This partnership hosts weekly recovery groups at the CRC, with over 300 individuals participating in 2024. A particularly inspiring aspect of this collaboration is Jenna, a former MRM guest who spent years homeless and on the streets. Now a partner, she serves the very community she once struggled in, offering hope and guidance to others. This Fall, Jenna shared her powerful testimony of redemption and recovery at our annual Gala.
Innovative Education
Assisting community members in obtaining their GEDs and diplomas, this partnership saw over 200 individuals participate in 2024, providing them with the education needed to move toward stability and self-sufficiency.
TrueNorth Community Services
Through their Housing Resource Center, TrueNorth works to keep families and individuals in safe, affordable housing while promoting self-sufficiency. In 2024 alone, over 1,000 individuals were assisted with housing services at the CRC.
Pantry Partnerships
Through collaborations with the MCC Jayhawk Pantry, Baker College Pantry, and Innovative Adult Education Pantry, we help keep local college campus and community pantries stocked. These efforts support an often-hidden group of young adults struggling with food insecurity, ensuring they have the resources to succeed academically and personally.
Your support makes these partnerships possible. Together, we’re breaking down barriers, fostering hope and creating pathways to independence and stability.
3,557 Community Navigator Hours
1,222 Guests Referred
4,265 Partner Classroom Hours
IT TAKES A COMMUNITY
Donors, Volunteers, Churches, Businesses
It Takes A Community
The heart of Muskegon Rescue Mission’s work lies in the incredible community of donors, volunteers, churches and businesses who stand with us. Their generosity, time and resources make it possible to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and offer hope to those in need. Together, we are creating lasting change and building a stronger community. Thank you for being an essential part of this life-changing mission!
Volunteers
Volunteers are the faces behind our programs, events and services, giving their time and talents to serve others and bring our community together.
519 Volunteers
7,884 Volunteers Hours
“I love volunteering here at the CRC because I get to see Jesus. I see His love for the people coming through the doors and His love and care displayed through the staff and service providers using the facility. It’s refreshing to be here!” - Keith Kirksey
Donors
Donors are the backbone of Muskegon Rescue Mission, providing the essential support that makes our services and lifechanging programs possible.
Hundreds of our donors gathered for our annual Gala.
Keith & Renee Kirksey, MRM volunteers, serving in the parking lots at Unity Christian Music Festival.
Churches
80
WHY I GIVE
Churches Actively Support 181
Partnering with us in prayer, service and giving, local churches extend their love and support to help transform lives and meet spiritual and physical needs.
“Muskegon Rescue Mission serves as a vital hub for our neighbors in need, offering spiritual and physical resources that help individuals regain stability. We are blessed to partner with the Mission and welcome many into our faith community, where they find lasting relationships and become part of our family.”
- Muskegon First Wesleyan Church
Businesses
Through aid drives, donations, sponsorships and job opportunities, businesses play an active role in meeting community needs, often sparking a ripple effect that inspires others to get involved.
Businesses Donated
Thank you to area businesses and churches who partnered with us to help collect items for Thanksgiving.
Volunteers from area churches help lead daily chapel services and Bible study courses.
MORE THAN A MISSION:
Real Lives, Real Change
At the heart of Muskegon Rescue Mission is a singular purpose—seeing lives transformed through the hope we have in Christ. Over the past year, we’ve been blessed to witness numerous stories of change. Each one reflects the hope, dignity and transformation made possible by your unwavering support and partnership.
“Partnering with the Community Resource Center since its opening, I’ve had the privilege of helping hundreds of community members access their high school transcripts and take steps toward earning their GED or advancing their education. The CRC provides a unique, central hub where collaboration with other partners creates a supportive environment. It’s a safe space for individuals to study, take tests, and work toward their personal goals, and I’ve witnessed the incredible impact it has on our community.”
- Angie, Orchard View’s Innovative Learning Center
“Partnering with the Community Resource Center over the past six months has been an incredible experience. As a recovery coach and community health worker with Hackley Community Care, I’ve been able to connect individuals with vital services like medical care, dental care, mental health support, and substance abuse treatment. One story that stands out is helping a man who came in with nothing, struggling with addiction. Together, we helped him get clean, find housing and employment, and rebuild his relationship with his daughter. This partnership is not only transforming lives but also deepening my own journey. I’m excited to continue working with MRM and exploring new ways to contribute.”
- John, Hackley Community Care
Phil, a recent guest at Muskegon Rescue Mission’s men’s shelter, has experienced a profound transformation. After a lifetime of battling addiction and legal troubles, Phil encountered Christ, which he says changed everything. Reflecting on his journey, he shared, “I probably wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for some of the staff members at MRM. They gave me hope and showed me that God has a purpose for my life.” Overcoming shame and guilt from his past, Phil is now looking forward to finding a job, securing housing, and embracing what God has planned for him. He is eager to give back and dreams of volunteering at MRM to show others the same love and compassion that changed his life.
Don is a recent graduate of MRM’s Man of Integrity Residential Program. After years of service to the local church, Don became burnt out and distanced himself from God. Recently, after suffering a heart attack and facing overwhelming medical bills, he came to Muskegon Rescue Mission seeking help. Initially unaware of what MRM offered, he found a bed, a warm meal, and a safe place to rest. A chapel message encouraging him to ‘change’ inspired him to join the Men’s Residential Program, where he spent the last year.
Don admits he entered the program arrogant and stubborn, but through God’s grace, he experienced deep heart change. “I’ve learned humility, servanthood, how to be a better man, a better dad, a better friend, and how to love more,” he shared. Don is grateful for the staff and volunteers who supported him throughout his journey. Upon graduating, he moved into a new home and started a new job!
Vicki is grateful for Muskegon Rescue Mission, knowing that without it, she would be living on the streets. When she first arrived, she had nowhere to live and no family to support her. Now, she has a good job and is saving money for her own home. The structure at MRM has helped her stay on track and strengthened her faith in God. She is ready for a new life!
DONATE. SHOP. GIVE HOPE.
Shelter guests and community members facing hardship receive certificates to shop for free for clothing that suits their style. This thoughtful approach preserves their dignity and provides a positive shopping experience.
Affordable prices found at MRM’s thrift stores enable shoppers to meet their family’s needs while maximizing tight budgets.
Shelter guests transitioning into homes and newcomers to our community receive a 50% discount to help furnish their new residences.
Ways To Give
MONTHLY GIVING
By becoming a monthly sustainer, you provide ongoing support and resources needed to transform lives in our community. It is secure, easy to set up and offers consistent provision.
IRA REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION
If you are 72 or older, you may be able to make a life-changing gift from your IRA account to Muskegon Rescue Mission and possibly save on your taxes.*
LEGACY GIVING
A bequest provision can be included in your will, trust, or life insurance policy. It provides flexibility and control should your circumstances change, as well as realizing some tax and estate planning advantages.*
GIFT-IN-KIND
*Be sure to consult with your estate or tax advisor.
DONATE
Your donation goes beyond providing a meal. Whether it’s a financial gift, an in-kind contribution, or a thrift store donation, every gift helps deliver essential services and life-changing programs to those in need in our community.
VOLUNTEER
Want to make a difference and be changed? Volunteers are the heart of our programs and services. Discover how you can get involved and create a lasting impact today.
PRAY
Become part of our community-wide Prayer Team and join us in praying for the mission’s needs as they arise. There’s power in prayer, and we need you!
