What Would Dr. King Think?

Posted in: Stories, Testimonials

February
24

As the nation pauses this month to honor the birthday of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I can’t help but wonder how Dr. King would feel about the current state of this world if he were alive today.

For example, what would he think about the condition of the civil rights movement?
How would he feel about the way justice is being delivered in this nation?
What would he think about the large number of people in this country who are homeless and poor?

Here at Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we are honoring King’s legacy, life and compassion with a call to service.

We cannot let Dr. King’s dream die.

His birthday is more than a holiday. It’s a time when we all should ask ourselves what we can do to make this world more like Dr. King’s dream — one where no one is judged by the color of their skin, but rather by the content of their character. And a world where, as Dr. King said, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

In honor of Dr. King and to demonstrate the compassion he possessed and preached about, the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries helped two of our formerly homeless clients get a step closer to achieving their dreams. We surprised them both —presenting one woman with a car and the other with a house for her family.

We took the beliefs of Dr. King and transferred them into a generous, life-changing action that deeply touched two deserving individuals.

Now that’s something I’m sure he would have liked to witness had he been alive today.
DRMM is indeed guided by the inspirational sayings of Dr. King, especially this quote: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’

Ask yourself that question today.

106 Years of Helping the Homeless

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

February
16

Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) celebrated its 106th anniversary over the weekend. We spent it doing what we do best — helping the homeless. The frigid temperatures in the Detroit-area made it dangerous for anyone to spend time outside, so DRMM staff and volunteers were out on the street looking for the homeless who were trying to survive on the streets. In addition to looking for the homeless on the streets, we asked the public to call us if they saw anyone in need of a warm place to go.

Ironically, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries was founded on Valentine’s Day — a day traditionally set aside to show acts of love and caring. And, that’s what we did. We presented a universal sign of love – the rose – to the homeless individuals to show that we cared and were concerned about them. This act of kindness made the homeless feel appreciated and made it easier to initiate a conversation with them. We were able to take them off the cold streets and transport them to our shelters.

Our flagship facility on Third Street in Detroit was overflowing with men seeking an escape from the below-zero wind chill and craving a hot cup of coffee or cocoa. Although our shelter has about 70 beds, we had to make accommodations for more than 100 men who came in out of the cold.

The Detroit Rescue Mission has always been a place of refuge for the homeless and hopeless. The mission opened in 1909 as a place where the disadvantaged could receive food and fellowship. It was the brainchild of David C. Stucky, a minister who saw to it that the hungry were fed and those new to Detroit had shelter, jobs and clothing.

Over the years, we have grown to offer services that meet the changing needs of the community, whether it’s substance abuse treatment, rebuilding career skills or having a place to live while working or attending school. Every day, more than 1,400 people are serviced through DRMM, and 3,500 meals are served to the hungry.

We are a faith-based agency devoted to meeting the basic needs of humanity, while motivating individuals to rebuild their lives.

Today, I want to thank the many DRMM volunteers and workers who braved the cold to let the homeless know that someone cared about them on this Valentine’s Day 2015 — the 106th birthday of Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.

Winter’s Impact on the Homeless

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

January
28

Well, it was just a matter of time. We knew the wintry weather was coming, and now it’s here. A crippling blizzard just hit the East Coast and bitter cold temperatures have spread across the entire country over the past month.

This kind of weather sends the nation’s homeless on a desperate search for shelter and a hot meal. And, who can blame them? Men, women and children are flooding homeless shelters throughout the country — filling them to capacity. Ironically, New York City’s annual homeless census had to be postponed because of the historic storm that was forecast for that region.

For organizations like ours, the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), It’s important that we not only provide the homeless with a warm respite from the deadly winter weather, but that we also provide them with an opportunity to permanently change their circumstances and get on the road to a new life. Simply giving them a place to warm up and then eventually sending them back out into the cold is counterproductive to their growth and success as valuable citizens.

DRMM is doing what we can to save and rehabilitate lives. We have been around for 106 years. We know how to help the homeless, and we know how to serve them. Shelters, substance abuse treatment, mental health programs, and career training are all very important components in a homeless person’s journey from hopelessness to hope.

We don’t turn anyone away at DRMM, even if we have to put mattresses and blankets on the floor or set up extra chairs so that the homeless can rest and sleep.

For the homeless, winter is all about survival.
For us, it’s always about saving — and changing — lives!

What Would Dr. King Think?

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

January
20

As the nation pauses this month to honor the birthday of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I can’t help but wonder how Dr. King would feel about the current state of this world if he were alive today.

For example, what would he think about the condition of the civil rights movement?
How would he feel about the way justice is being delivered in this nation?
What would he think about the large number of people in this country who are homeless and poor?

Here at Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we are honoring King’s legacy, life and compassion with a call to service.

We cannot let Dr. King’s dream die.

His birthday is more than a holiday. It’s a time when we all should ask ourselves what we can do to make this world more like Dr. King’s dream — one where no one is judged by the color of their skin, but rather by the content of their character. And a world where, as Dr. King said, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

In honor of Dr. King and to demonstrate the compassion he possessed and preached about, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries helped two of our formerly homeless clients get a step closer to achieving their dreams. We surprised them both —presenting one woman with a car and the other with a house for her family.

We took the beliefs of Dr. King and transferred them into a generous, life-changing action that deeply touched two deserving individuals.

Now that’s something I’m sure he would have liked to witness had he been alive today.
DRMM is indeed guided by the inspirational sayings of Dr. King, especially this quote: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’

Ask yourself that question today.

A New Start in the New Year

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

December
23

This is a joyous time of the year. We are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and preparing to renew our spirit and hope for the New Year.

Unfortunately, not everyone is anticipating the arrival of 2015. For the nation’s homeless, January simply means it’s time to go deep into survival mode until the arrival of warmer temperatures and budding flowers.

Make no mistake, the homeless are very thankful for the special holiday meals and donated gifts they receive this time of the year. However, as the New Year arrives, they must face the prospect of another year of despair.

That’s why charitable organizations like the one I lead — Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) — depend so much upon the generous, year-end donations from our supporters, which enable us to offer our life-changing programs and services into the New Year without interruption.

The men, women and children in DRMM’s emergency shelters, treatment centers, transitional and permanent housing, and career training programs are in need of love, mercy, and hope. Our mission is to help the homeless find the strength and learn the skills to turnaround their lives and never end up on the streets again.

Every man, woman and child on this Earth is deserving of God’s grace, not only at Christmas, but throughout the year.

Make this a joyous time for the homeless. Let’s give them the opportunity for a new start in the New Year.

DRMM to distribute toys, winter clothes at Christmas party Friday

Posted in: In the News, Latest News

December
10

When Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM, https://drmm.org) draws business and civic leaders to its Banquet Hall at 3606 East Forest Street, Detroit this Friday, December 12, it would be to inspire hope and spread the joy of the season by distributing toys, winter hats, gloves, scarves, coats and socks to needy children at its Christmas party sponsored by Ford Motor Company.

The 11am to 2pm free admission event will feature local artist Al Bettis known for his “It is beautiful” album, DRMM Choir led by Carl Riggis, Mr and Ms Santa Claus, fun activities for children and free lunch.

“The Detroit Rescue Mission is there for our neighbors in need year round, providing support during the most difficult times,” said Janet Lawson, director, Ford Volunteer Corps. “To be able to help them lift spirits and spread the joy of the holiday season is a very special and humbling experience for Ford volunteers.”

In thanking the 20 Ford staff members that will volunteer at the event, DRMM president and CEO, Dr. Chad Audi, noted that “we couldn’t have given the hope and help we gave to thousands of people this year – the homeless, the hungry and the hurting – without our remarkable volunteers that number over 11, 000, and funding partners like Ford Motor Company that support our life-changing work.”