October
4

My heart breaks for people who will have no family to share the joy of Thanksgiving with . . . people like John.

John has never known a loving gathering of family and friends at the holidays. He has never sat down to a Thanksgiving meal prepared by loved ones, joined hands, and given thanks.

His childhood was filled with terrible abuse at the hands of his family members as he was passed around over and over—unwanted—from his grandmother to uncles to aunts.

Yet John found it in his heart to forgive, and he was the one who took care of his grandmother throughout the illness that would eventually take her life. Once she was gone, John felt more alone and without hope than ever before in his difficult life.

John found the nourishing food, shelter, spiritual guidance, and the tools to begin again—job training, educational assistance, counseling, and more, here at DRMM . . . and it all started with a $1.95 meal provided by a caring friend like you.

Imagine John’s surprise at that first meal, when we all sat down as a family, joined hands, and gave thanks to God!

Since that day, John has worked hard to find work, rebuild his life, and restore his relationships. And now, he gives back each weekend to help others who are held captive by drugs, alcohol, and trauma from the past.

He says, “When guys say, ‘I need to go get a drink,’ I say, ‘Come on, let’s go talk.’ I don’t know how many guys I’ve helped to not touch alcohol.”

John has the great gift of compassion to share with others, in large part because of the compassion he has been shown by caring friends and donors like you . . . beginning with that first meal on Thanksgiving day.

For the sake of so many other lost and broken souls like John—who will turn to us in great need this Thanksgiving season—will you share your blessings and give today?

Every $1.95 you give will provide a delicious Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings to someone who is hungry . . . and hungry for a fresh start in life.

Thank you for providing good food and new beginnings to people in need!

 

 

September
9

The gift of a meal is a gift of hope this Thanksgiving season . . .
especially to someone like Terrell.

Terrell never saw it coming, but one of life’s perfect storms slammed into him and wiped him out completely.

He’d been between jobs, so Terrell suddenly found himself homeless, with no savings, and nowhere to turn for help!

He said, “Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) gave me meals, a safe place to sleep. They kept me off the streets and I’m just happy to be here, because being homeless fills me with hopelessness and despair.

Then he dropped this bombshell—“If not for DRMM, I believe I would’ve thrown myself off of a bridge.”

I thank God that instead of ending it all, Terrell turned to DRMM and found a new beginning in life. Here at the Mission, he’s strengthened his faith in God, and is receiving the job and educational counseling that will help him find and keep a good job so he can live independently again soon.

“Lots of people are just one paycheck away from homelessness. But DRMM is a family-oriented community, and there are people here who genuinely care,” Terrell says. “I’m thankful for volunteers and people who donate, because there is so much need. You’re like a ray of sunlight.”

On behalf of struggling neighbors like Terrell, please partner with us again today, so we can say “yes” when someone is in urgent need of emergency services and help in their transition to a life of independence and productivity . . .

By making a special Thanksgiving gift now, you’ll help feed the huge number of hungry families and individuals who will turn to us in the weeks ahead. This is so important because between now and Thanksgiving we expect to serve nearly 300,000 meals!

Please make a gift now to provide as many $1.95 meals as you possibly can.

Thank you for sharing your blessings with those among us who are hungry, hurting, and in need of the love and mercy of Christ, because no one should be hungry and alone at Thanksgiving.

 

September
4

It’s 11am and you get that priceless phone call from HR that says YOU ARE HIRED. Woohoo!

You feel on top of the world, and eagerly break the good news to friends and family. Being in your best of moods, you want to start work without delay, and make all the outcome and impact you can.

You imagine how exciting and rewarding the work will be, how understanding and supportive your colleagues would be, how encouraging and empathetic your boss would be.

And if you are the very ambitious type, you also imagine how nice it would feel becoming the boss someday.

Then months, even years pass, and you are still at the job but instead of enjoying it and contributing your best, you are grinding your teeth, and taking advantage of every spare time to shop around for another job. You think bad of colleagues and dislike your boss. And at every turn, you criticize everyone.

Everybody gets on your nerves. Everybody is trying to hurt you. Everybody does not appreciate your work. Everybody is wrong but you are right. So, you think – unfortunately.

Well … let’s just say you are not alone. Many in the workplace feel that way. I know because I lead a big nonprofit organization in metro Detroit, I talk with other CEOs around the globe, and I read a lot about what’s going on at the workplace – be it nonprofit, business or government.

Feeling concerned, and wanting to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to make the most of their work, I recently penned a quick-read titled 7 Keys To Enjoying Your Work Again (https://www.amazon.com/Keys-Enjoying-Your-Work-Again/dp/0978837266).

Highly endorsed and written in a conversational style, you get very useful tips on how to overcome disinterestedness at work.

Now, I must state clearly that I don’t have all the answers. Nobody does. But what I am doing in this lovely little book is sharing the ones I have – because they have worked for me, and I have seen them work for others at different times in their career.

Why not?

We are family. We are community. We are humanity.

August
30

Homeless and desperate – a 26-year-old mother of three young children reaches out for help and gets a response she never would have imagined.

“We will give it to her today – she can actually come and sleep in it tonight,” said Chad Audi, director of Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.

Alboney Siebert gets a first look at her new home – a place for her and her three young children to lay their heads and to call their own.

It’s a gift, rent-free for two years from Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, the 110-year-old organization – that helps the homeless.

“I was just sending out emails – crying out for help because I know I don’t have an income –  and I have my babies,” she said. “I know I’m never going to be out of this situation without a job, no money – I just want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

The tears come from a place of happiness and relief after months of desperation, Alboney Siebert was nine months pregnant with baby Kilyn when she and her daughters were evicted from their home. Even though she had paid her rent, she fled to North Carolina to be with her brother – but her car was stolen there.

She and her children have been in shelters, on the streets – but about a week ago, her email found its way to Terra Defoe – a senior advisor to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

“I’m glad that I was there to receive the email and understand and to reach out to her and point her in the right direction,” Defoe said.

Defoe reached out to Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries – their goal – to get the family stabilized – help
Alboney find a job – so she can get eventually get her own place.

“The house is totally furnished – totally stocked with food – and she can actually live today in the house and she doesn’t have to worry about a place called home anymore,” Audi said.

Audi says it was meant to be. It turns out Alboney’s 7-year-old daughter was just enrolled in second grade in a school that happens to be nearby. She’s at her first day – but will be coming home to a big surprise.

“She’s about to be blown away – she’s going to be excited,” she said.

Little 2-year-old Riah already made herself right at home while Alboney was just grateful her cries for help were finally heard and she’s ready to get back on track.

“I’m just ready to work – take care of my kids and show them the life,” she said.

Originally posted on Fox 2 News Detroit

August
21

Do you know the kind of power a $1.95 meal can have for someone who is suffering, beaten down, and without hope? Eric does . . .

He had been living in his car for some time. Each night, he drank himself to sleep, hoping to drown out the fear, pain, and emptiness that had taken over his life after the loss of those dearest to him.

Hungry and hurting but ready to get his life back on track, Eric finally turned to Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM).

Eric had tears in his eyes as we prayed together over a plate of food. He was very moved to learn his meal had been provided by the Mission’s caring friends and donors.

Later he shared THAT was the moment he committed to a new beginning in life.

“I knew this was the best place to get myself back together,” Eric says. “Everyone’s been very helpful. They’ve helped me face my fears.”

Today, Eric is sober, working, and very busy rebuilding his life—and his relationship with God. “My mother had faith, and she planted a seed of faith in me,” he says. “She also had faith in me and expected me to hang in there and never give up, no matter what.”

Deeply thankful for the meals, help, and hope he has received, Eric asked me to share his gratitude with you. He says, “Your support is helping people like me—thank you. Please don’t stop giving because we need you.”

 Eric is correct, the Mission does need you now—more than ever!

We’re facing an incredible challenge right now that threatens our ability to provide meals to everyone who is turning to us for help. You see, the incredible needs of so many neighbors this summer have stretched our resources to the limit!

It will take support from every caring friend to stock the pantry shelves, so we can continue to provide lifesaving, life-changing meals to those among us who are hungry and in great need.

Will you make a gift now to help stock the pantry shelves?

 

August
2

Summer heat drove huge numbers of desperate families and individuals to seek help and hope from DRMM! Food and cool shelter were a great comfort to people in our community who are struggling with joblessness, homelessness, or the pain of addiction. And hundreds of at-risk boys and girls participated in our vital youth programs and summer camp.

All of us at DRMM are grateful to our many caring friends and donors who gave generously to ensure lifesaving resources and life-changing programs were available to everyone who came through the Mission doors this summer!

“I had the best time at camp! It was a great time! I’ve been coming since I was 10 years old and loved the counselors so much that now I am one! I love learning about the kids and getting to know them better.”  —Shauna

“I had an emergency and needed a place to live. Now, I know I’m going in the right direction. I’m humbled and have a lot to be thankful for.”  —Jerry*

“I love everything about camp. Especially the time with God. We pray and sing. They encourage us to try new things and I learned a lot about being safe in the water from the lifeguards.”  —Molly

More than 600 boys and girls were able to stay Safe Over Summer at DRMM’s summer camp, a safe place to have fun and make friends while learning about God. Thank you, donors!

Soaring temperatures can be deadly for senior citizens and the homeless, but your compassion made a huge difference in a great many lives!

 Thank you for partnering with DRMM to provide shelter, meals, and a helping hand to your neighbors in need!
 

 

*Name changed