As someone who uses social media for my job at Phoenix Rescue Mission, I am often asked, “What’s the point?” I usually respond by talking about building community and making connections with people… to which they politely smile and nod.
This is just one story of what the “point” really is for us at the Mission.
One of our clients, John, recently became certified in respiratory therapy. He was excited to begin, but needed a set of scrubs and a lab coat in order to start. I know we have a generous online family, so I posted a status update on Facebook:
“We’re so proud of our client, John who just received his Respiratory Therapist Certificate! He needs scrubs and a lab coat to get started. Email me prm@phoenixrescuemission.org if you can help. -Debra”
In less than twenty minutes, I had an email from our Fan, Mark, saying he wanted to help. When I told him the sizes needed he responded, “I’m in.” It turns out Mark works near a store that sells scrubs at Arizona Mills and he was willing to get whatever John needed. I was blown away at how quickly it all came together.
Our staff made arrangements for John and Mark to meet at our Frozen Turkey Sunday Open House. Mark ended up bringing not one, but three sets of scrubs and a beautiful white lab coat. He and John took some time shaking hands, talking and then saying a prayer together before Mark had to go.
John was over the moon, the smile literally did not leave his face. He kept telling me how amazing it was to have somebody take the time to get him what he needed and to come to meet him. He tried on the lab coat and the smile got even bigger.
“Now all I need is a stethoscope, but I think that will come too,” he told me as he posed for a few pictures.
Thanks to your gifts, Phoenix Rescue Mission was able to provide these life changing services in October:
23,560 – Meals for homeless men, women and children
6,350 – Bottles of water for homeless on the street
4,824 – Food Boxes for families in need
3,627 – Bed nights of shelter for homeless men
3,469 – Showers
179 – Pairs of shoes
You can make a difference this November by providing Thanksgiving Meals at the Mission, donating Frozen Turkeys and making Holiday Food Boxes for local families.
Visit http://www.phoenixrescuemission.org to get involved this month.
There’s still time to help Phoenix Rescue Mission collect over 3,000 frozen turkeys for local families this holiday season.
Drop off your bird this Sunday, November 15th from noon to 3:00pm to help us kick off the Frozen Turkey Sunday festivities. Everyone stopping by with a turkey donation will be treated to a barbeque lunch, live music and tours of the Mission.
Phoenix Rescue Mission
1801 S. 35th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85009
(South of Buckeye on 35th Ave)
Can’t make it to the Mission? Stop by a church near you from 8:00am to 11:00am to leave your donation:
Bethany Bible Church
6060 N. 7th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85013
Community Church of Joy
21000 N. 75th Ave.
Glendale, AZ 85308
Laveen Baptist
5036 W. Dobbins Rd.
Laveen, AZ 85339
North Phoenix Baptist Church
5757 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85012
*Canned goods accepted at this location too.
Tempe Vineyard Church
1835 E Eliot
Tempe, AZ 85284
For more information contact Marlena at 602.272.4663 or email mpadron@phoenirescuemission.org. Visit www.phoenixrescuemission.org for more ways to help this Thanksgiving and holiday season.
Active Duty National Guard Soldiers served homeless for Veterans Day
Sergeant Crystal Reidy describes moving from abandoned buildings to dilapidated houses to living in a van with straightforward coolness. Unfortunately, she was not describing her latest deployment in Iraq, but her life as a homeless child.
Sergeant Reidy and members from the 123rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment with the Arizona National Guard served dinner at the Phoenix Rescue Mission for Veterans Day yesterday. The 123rd just returned from Ealad, Iraq in August.
For Reidy, serving a meal at a homeless shelter is personal.
“Because of the National Guard, I was able to break the cycle of homelessness,” said Reidy, who joined the Guard right after high school graduation. “Without the Guard I would have started out my life as a homeless person. It is nice to be able to give back.”
At its annual Veterans Day Dinner, Veterans were pinned with a patriotic ribbon and served by active duty personnel. The Phoenix Rescue Mission shelters between 16 and 22 homeless Veterans nightly. Many more Veterans living on the streets come to the Mission daily for hot meals. Mission staff believe 85 homeless individuals who once donned a military uniform attended the Veterans Day Dinner. According to the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients, Veterans account for 23 percent of all homeless people.
Reidy’s message for helping the homeless is simple – treat all people with dignity and respect.
“My family was homeless most of my childhood. I always remember the little moments - a stranger who made me feel like I mattered,” said Reidy. “Those little moments are the reason I am standing behind the serving line this Veterans Day instead of in it.”
-Nicole Peña, Director of Public Relations, Phoenix Rescue Mission.
3:16 Promise by Max Lucado
Max Lucado shares in The 3:16 Promise:
“One sentence, softly spoken nearly two thousand years ago, is just as relevant today as when it was first uttered. If you know nothing of the Bible, start here. If you know everything in the Bible, return here.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” -John 3:16″
This book is our free gift to you for the entire month of November. Click here to request your free copy today or call (602) 346-3336. Please include your name and mailing address when making your request.
This Thursday, November 5th, is Phoenix Rescue Mission Night as the Phoenix Coyotes face off against the Chicago Blackhawks at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale.
Discounted Coyotes tickets are still available with $5 of your ticket purchase going directly to help people at the Mission.
For $30 you get an Upper-level seat, hot dog & soda ($8 Value) or for $40 you get a Lower-level seat, hot dog & soda ($8 Value).
To get your ticket TODAY and help out Phoenix Rescue Mission, call Brian Goodheart at (623) 772-3277 or email Brian at brian.goodheart@phoenixcoyotes.com. **The deadline to order is November 4th at 5:00 P.M.
Henry is a native Arizonan who was raised by his single mother after his father left when he was only three years old. His mother did her best to raise Henry and his siblings right. However, in his formative years, his male role models were his uncles, who all had drinking problems.
Henry married young and before he knew it, he was the father of three children. It’s at this point that Henry’s drinking problem surfaced. While he kept a job and provided physically for his family, Henry was not always there emotionally for them.
After eight years of marriage, he and his wife were divorced. That’s when Henry went from just drinking to also using drugs. He became involved with the wrong people and ended up in and out of jail for several years. Then he was in a bad accident, but didn’t end up in jail even though there were already three DUI’s on his record. As he roamed the streets, he was filled with guilt. He prayed for forgiveness and God’s help in his life. Just a few minutes later, another man on the streets told him about the Men’s Addiction Recovery Program at the Mission.
Henry entered the program without realizing everything he would go through in the next year. He had to learn to submit to authority and how to deal with his anger and pride. He had built up a great deal of resentment toward his father and learned that he had to forgive his father and himself. There were many times that he wanted to leave and run away from his problems, but the staff kept encouraging him. “God broke me of many things, humbling me for my growth and His will,” Henry said.
Henry graduated from the program in July and is searching for a job. He also has received a grant to attend Rio Salado college to pursue a Chemical Dependency degree. His ultimate goal is to be certified as a Chemical Dependency counselor to help others.
“I can see now that God’s been with me through it all.” He wants you to know, “When you give to the Mission, you’re not just giving to people, but you’re giving to God’s work.”
Thank you for making it possible for Henry and many others to be touched and changed by the Lord!
-Selected from Phoenix Rescue Mission’s Quarterly Newsletter. Request a copy to be mailed to you by emailing Debra at prm@phoenixrescuemission.org.
How would you like to help Phoenix Rescue Mission serve hundreds of homeless and hungry people this holiday season? If golf is your game, our Classic 100 Golf Marathon is your chance to do just that.
The Hope for the Holidays Marathon, at Encanto Park this December, is a fun day to raise much needed funding for all the Mission’s holidays programs. For duffers and pros alike, this is your chance to play on a golf course, almost by yourself and to get the equivalent of year’s worth of golf in one day!
All you have to do is sign up, sponsor yourself at $1, $2, $5 per hole, have your family and friends match your gift and then play 100 holes of golf on December 4th.
If you’d like to play or have any questions about this great event, contact Stephanie Farwig at farwig@phoenixrescuemission.org or call 602.346.3321.
Hope to see you on the links!
October’s Free Book for friends, fans and followers of Phoenix Rescue Mission is “If My People…” by Jack Countryman.
This 40 day prayer guide is dedicated to healing our Nation and seemed appropriate given the difficult challenges and uncertainty our country is facing now.
Each day offers a Bible verse and a prayer:
Day 7: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” -John15: 7-8
“Lord,
We as a people have become self-absorbed and busy with activities that bring temporal value. Help us turn our hearts back to You and Your Word … Strengthen us with the power of Your Spirit in our inner being as we strive to abide in You and continue in faith that You will do more for us than we could ever imagine.”
This book is free upon request, just click here to request yours or call (602) 346-3336 today.
**Please remember to include your mailing address.
Hey Coyotes Fans, here’s your chance to get discounted game tickets for your favorite team and contribute to the Phoenix Rescue Mission!
Thursday, November 5th, is “Phoenix Rescue Mission Night” as the Phoenix Coyotes face off against the Chicago Blackhawks at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale. The Coyotes invite you to take advantage of the following offers with $5 of your ticket purchase going directly to the Mission:
Just $30 scores you…
Upper-level seat
Hot Dog & Soda ($8 Value)
Just $40 scores you…
Lower-level seat
Hot Dog & Soda ($8 Value)
To order your ticket by phone today, call Brian Goodheart at (623) 772-3277 or email Brian at brian.goodheart@phoenixcoyotes.com. **The deadline to order is November 4th at 5:00 P.M.
The Phoenix Coyotes are long time supporters of the Mission, so drop by their Facebook and Twitter pages to thank them for helping the homeless in Phoenix!
