DRMM Acquires Lighthouse Outreach Center and Expands its Emergency Food Services to Macomb County

Posted in: In the News, Latest News

August
25

The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) is expanding its reach to feed the homeless and hungry in Macomb County. The faith-based, Detroit non-profit inked a deal today to take over the building and operations of the Lighthouse Outreach Center, located at 28571 Gratiot Avenue in Roseville.  Effective immediately, DRMM will continue to operate the center as Macomb County’s largest food pantry and emergency food distribution site for people in need.

“The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries has been serving Wayne County since the organization’s start in 1909.  We are extremely excited that we are now able to enlarge our footprint to assist with the emergency needs of hundreds of people in Macomb County,” said Dr. Chad Audi, DRMM president & CEO.  “We will provide the area’s homeless and low-income with the same services that the Lighthouse Outreach Center offered, but on an even larger scale.  Plus, in the future, we will offer specialized services for homeless military veterans in Macomb County.”

The Lighthouse Outreach Center was established in 1984 and became one of the largest and most well-known non-profit charity organizations in Macomb County.  In addition to food, the center offers a variety of social and human services programs for low-income families and individuals.

The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries is one of the country’s largest providers in the fight against homelessness and substance abuse. Each year, DRMM serves one million meals to the homeless and hungry at eight facilities in Detroit and Highland Park.  The organization also operates the 240-acre Wildwood Ranch in Howell, Michigan as a recreation and camp site for inner city youth.

About Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries
Founded in 1909, the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) provides services ranging from emergency shelter to job training. Every day, more than 1,600 men, women and children receive services from DRMM. Every year, one million meals are served to the homeless and hungry at DRMM’s facilities in Detroit and Highland Park. The non-profit organization is focused on rebuilding lives one at a time with the help of partners, donors, volunteers and community groups. For more information, visit www.drmm.org.

DRMM to give free back-to-school supplies, food boxes

Posted in: In the News, Latest News

August
25

The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries will be holding an event to help those in need in the community on Friday, August 29, 2014!
As schools reopen for the 2014-2015 school year, DRMM be giving away school supplies and food boxes, including a fresh turkey, to metro Detroit school kids and their families in need.
Last year, DRMM was able to help more than 100 families in need with back-to-school supplies! This year we hope to be able to help the same amount, if not more!
What: Giveaway of back-to-school supplies (like new backpacks) and food boxes, including turkey.
When: 11am Friday, August 29, 2014 (until supplies run out).
Where: The Tab, 138 Stimson Street, Detroit, MI.
Who: School kids and their parents (low-income families and homeless persons).
Please note: In solidarity with school children affected by the deadly ebola virus in West African countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone, we are asking kids and their parents to dress in white t-shirt, and to join us for three (3) minutes of prayer/silence.
Also, proof of low income/eligibility for public assistance, and proof of guardianship of a child may be required to receive the giveaways.
Many thanks and God bless.

For more information, please call DRMM at 313-993-4700!25

Homelessness in America Tweetfest, Aug 22 – 28

Posted in: In the News, Latest News

August
22

Worried about homelessness in America?

Of course, you are!

So, what if, in addition to the opportunity to win $250 cash prize if your tweet is selected as the best, you lend your very valuable voice to the important issue of adequately addressing homelessness across America?
 
What: Twitter campaign against homelessness in America – lend your powerful voice, get the chance to win small cash prize.
How: Simply complete this tweet on Twitter:  #no2homelessness. No one should be #homeless in #USA because…
Duration: 12 midnight (EST) Friday, August 22 to 12 noon Thursday, August 28.
 
Eligibility: Board, management and staff of Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) and their family members are not eligible. Clients in various DRMM facilities in metro Detroit can participate in the Tweetfest. Every other person duly allowed on Twitter is eligible to participate. Remember, a Twitter post is only 140 characters.
 
Prize: $250 (provided by Randall Pentiuk of Pentiuk, Couvreur & Kobiljak, P.C. Wyandotte, Michigan).
 
The winner will be announced Friday, August 29.
 
How about a #TweetOrDonate Challenge? 
You can also take the bold step of throwing a challenge to someone on Twitter using the hashtag #TweetOrDonate to tweet against homelessness by August 28 or donate $50 to Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries. To donate, simply click here.
Everybody on Twitter – including board, management and DRMM staff and their families – is eligible to participate in the #TweetOrDonate challenge.

Sample tweet challenge:  @wolfblitzer #tweetordonate Tweet against #homelessness in America by Aug 28 or donate $50 at https://drmm.org .

Want more info? Call Paschal at 313-993-4700 ext 4707.

Helping Your Neighbor

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

August
18

Recently, the Midwest and Northeast were hit with record-breaking rainstorms that dumped more than 6 inches of rain in one day on parts of southeastern Michigan and more than 13 inches on Long Island, New York.

Freeways flooded and left hundreds of drivers stranded. Most had to abandon their cars in water so high that it swallowed up the vehicles. Basements were flooded, causing frustrated homeowners to throw out possessions that were soaked and a total loss.

The historic flooding also affected the homeless who had to abandon their makeshift living situations under freeways and on city streets. Here at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), our facilities were filled past capacity as homeless men and women sought shelter from the driving rain. We could not — and would never — turn anyone away, so we accommodated them the best we could. They were able to change out of their soaking wet clothing, eat and sleep on dry bedding.

This was unprecedented for our organization. We are used to an overflow of people in the winter when it is extremely cold. But this was the first time that we had this many people in our shelters in the summertime. We even got calls from people looking for a place to stay because their homes were flooded.

Make no mistake about it; the massive flooding took a human, emotional and financial toll.
But through it all, people were helping people. Just as DRMM opened its doors to an overflow of homeless individuals and homeowners who were flooded out, we heard countless stories of firefighters and other emergency personnel rescuing stranded motorists. There were stories of neighbors using their fishing boats to check on the safety of the elderly in their communities. And, there were stories of residents helping others clean up their flooded basements.

In the midst of what was a harrowing ordeal, I am glad that so many people were still reminded of Jesus’ great commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31).

And, in this age of wars and other conflicts, that gives me inspiration and hope.

Life’s Lessons for our Children

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

July
30

Often, we may think that our children are too preoccupied with the latest technology, toys and clothing to pay attention to what is happening in the communities around them. But that isn’t always the case.

Take for instance 16-year-old Vivian Obia. She’s the high school student here in Detroit who started a movement of creating “blessing bags” for the city’s homeless. Vivian and several other teens from area churches stuff large Ziploc-type bags with items such as a small bottle of water, snacks, toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, toiletries, and a scripture or inspirational quote. The bags are distributed through local Catholic parishes.

Twelve-year-old Robby Eimers is another example of a child who does not take his blessings for granted. Every weekend, the Michigan boy and his grandmother gather clothing, toiletries, backpacks, and food to take to the homeless in Detroit. Robby pays for many of the items himself, but his efforts have gotten a lot of attention and donations are flooding in from individuals and companies.

These are the kinds of stories I like to hear. Children and teens are being moved to action by what they see every day on the streets of urban America. Here at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), I am always pleased to see entire families volunteer to serve our homeless clients or renovate our shelter facilities. It’s an important lesson for our children — a lesson about humility and selflessness.

Blessed are the children who are making a difference in this world!

Hiring our Military Veterans

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

July
16

There’s a new move afoot to hire our nation’s military veterans. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s “Hiring our Heroes” initiative helps veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find meaningful employment opportunities. NBC News joined the campaign; you may have seen their television PSAs promoting job fairs across the country. And, some companies have developed their own initiatives aimed at hiring our nation’s heroes.

An estimated 722,000 U.S. veterans were unemployed last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s out of a total of 21.4 million veterans in this country. Regrettably, my home state of Michigan had the second highest unemployment rate for veterans at 10.6%.

So, why are so many of our veterans struggling to find employment?

There are numerous reasons. Sometimes, prospective employers don’t fully understand how the veteran’s military experiences can be applied to the open positions in their companies. Or, the veterans can’t talk about their multi-faceted work in the service because it was classified. Or, the veterans are hesitant to talk about themselves and sell an employer on their qualities. Or, in some cases, the veterans don’t have the up-to-date skills needed for today’s job market.

Of course, the expertise acquired in the military by these men and women is extraordinary — in both a professional and personal sense. But, they need assistance seeing how they can apply those skill sets to a career, plus learn new ones.

That’s why the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries recently partnered with the Detroit Training Center to provide our veterans with the training they need to land good-paying jobs. The veterans that we are helping in our joint program found themselves homeless and unsuccessful at making — and sustaining — a living.

We help reintegrate them back into civilian life and into the workforce. Our program offers training in blight removal, deconstruction, heavy equipment operation, facilities maintenance, and construction. We even help them find jobs after they complete the training.

I’m calling on all companies to do the right thing. Give a veteran a job.