Latest News – Page 55 – Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries

Easter signals the start of a season of renewal. Renewed hope and renewed joy. Jesus’ resurrection is the reason for the season, but we all can use it as a time to start over in our own lives. It is the perfect time to find your direction and meaning in life.

Most of the people that we service here at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) have lost their way in life. Regardless of the circumstances — job loss, drugs, alcohol, low wages, divorce — that brought them here, they too have the resurrection power to change their lives.

So many of our clients blossom right before our eyes. They use the tools and resources that DRMM provides to lift themselves out of despair and hopelessness.

We feed them physically and spiritually. They regain their strength, confidence and faith.

And, we instill in them the power to resist going back to their old ways and to look forward to a future filled with hope, love and victory.

Now that Easter Sunday has come and gone, the signs of the renewal it brings are all around us. For example, despite our long and harsh winter, the daffodils and tulips are popping up from the ground. It’s a sign of spring and new life.

Likewise, the joyful news that Jesus has risen gives us hope and confidence that we too can rise above the trials, troubles and tribulations of our lives.

DRMM Prayer Breakfast Highlights

Posted in: In the News, Latest News

April
11

The DRMM Spring Prayer Breakfast, held on April 3, 2014, was a huge success!

We thank everyone who attended the event, as well as our guest speaker – Jeff Totten – chaplain to the Detroit Tigers – for delivering such a beautiful message about charity, commitment and the importance of connecting with those around us!

In addition to Jeff’s incredible message, we heard from the DRMM Choir, as well as a new men’s acapella group from our Christian Guidance Center!

The event was so much fun, and it was nice to be able to share an intimate time with many of our church partners and volunteers!

The breakfast that was prepared for our guests was made by our Culinary Arts Program, which is generously funded by our friends at the PNC Foundation, Ford Motor Company, and HUD.

We hope those of you who couldn’t join are able to join us for our next event! You can also check out our Facebook page for pictures and videos of the event!

Caring for our Veterans

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

April
8

Have you thanked a veteran today? In this busy, “hurry-up” world that we live in, people may not take the time to regularly acknowledge the sacrifices of our military veterans who put their lives on the line for our country. Of course, there’s Memorial Day in May and Veteran’s Day in November that are set aside for this purpose. But, our veterans deserve recognition every day.

A recent study by the non-profit Rand Corporation shows there are more than 1.1 million Americans who are attentive to veterans’ needs every day. They are the caregivers who are caring for veterans who were injured or disabled since the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. These caregivers are wives, husbands, parents and friends. They assist the veterans with bathing, eating, managing finances, making medical appointments, and many other tasks that you and I take for granted each day.

In addition to physical injuries, veterans may struggle with emotional and behavioral problems or mental health issues. Others are living on the street with no home or job.

Here at Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we have teamed up with the Detroit Training Center to offer job training to homeless veterans so that they can get on the road to financial growth and independence. The veterans are enrolled in our “Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.” Under this new collaboration, they can receive free training in a variety of construction-related careers, such as asbestos abatement contractor or supervisor, forklift operator, and aerial lift operator. Upon successful completion of the program, we will assist the veterans in finding jobs.

It’s only right that we service those who served us.

DRMM receives 4-star rating from Charity Navigator

Posted in: In the News, Latest News

April
2

Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities, has awarded the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries with the prestigious 4-star rating for good governance, sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

Charity Navigator works to help charitable givers make intelligent giving decisions by providing information on more than five thousand charities nationwide and by evaluating their financial health. It calculates each charity’s score based upon several broad criteria, including how much is spent per dollar raised, what percentage of funds goes to programs vs. administrative and fund-raising expenses, and the organization’s long-term financial health. It then assigns a rating from one to four, with four being the best rating.

DRMM is very excited and honored to receive this rating!

To view Charity Navigator’s review of DRMM click here!

Staples Foundation awards DRMM funds to support Teen Moms

Posted in: In the News, Latest News

March
26

The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries received funding from the Staples Foundation to support its Teen Mothers program.

The grant, which was awarded earlier this winter, will help support continued program operations, as well as help continue the provision of services that our teen mothers and their children receive.

DRMM’s Teen Mothers program aims to provide quality transitional housing for teen mothers (pre- or post-natal) from ages 14-19 years old. Additionally, DRMM provides quality education services to ensure each teen receives, at minimum, a high school degree or G.E.D. certificate, as well as life skills workshops to provide each teen with the resources and materials to obtain employment within 90 days, quality staff to assist each teen with pre-natal and post-natal care, childcare, counseling, case management and guidance, support to assist each teen with budgeting and personal finance, and a safe and nurturing environment for each teen and their baby(ies).

The grant from the Staples Foundation was provided to DRMM as part of its 2 Million & Change program – a program supported by the Staples Foundation, which is designed to give $2 million per year to non-profit organizations that support the Foundation’s mission and are nominated by Staples associates.

DRMM is very excited for this new partnership, and is incredibly thankful for the Staples Foundation!

The Plight of Homeless Children

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

March
17

Often, when people think of homelessness, they forget about the impact it has on children. The number of homeless students in this country is growing. According to the National Center for Homeless Education, homeless student enrollment has risen steadily since the recession hit in 2007. As of the 2011-12 school year, the number of homeless schoolchildren reached an all-time high of 1.2 million. That is an unbelievable number!

Of course, there are many reasons for the increase — most of which can be attributed to the lingering economic downturn, such as layoffs, a lack of affordable housing, income inequality, and home foreclosures.

What makes matters worse is that even though the homeless numbers have increased, federal funding designated for homeless students has decreased. As a result, local and state social service agencies don’t have the money to provide adequate resources for the growing number of children and families seeking help.

Here at Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we are servicing more families in need every day. Families make up 49% of the homeless persons in our city each year. They come to us for emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing, food, clothing, recreational activities, and academic support. We, like other similar organizations, have been impacted by cuts in federal, state and local funding. Often, we have to depend upon the generosity of our donors in order to provide resources for families.

Under the federal McKinney-Vento Education Act, school districts receive funding to help provide support to homeless students and their families. Districts are required to enroll homeless children — even though they don’t have a permanent address — and transport them to and from school. If the children are already enrolled in a school, they must be allowed to remain there.

Homeless students face different kinds of issues in the classroom. Children living in a crowded shelter or “doubled up” with relatives or friends are more likely to not get enough sleep. That makes it difficult for them to concentrate on their lessons. Some children may only get nutritious meals when they go to school. And, budget cuts have reduced the number of social workers available to counsel homeless students in school.

Perhaps the saddest realization of all is that these children are innocent victims. They can’t change their circumstances. No child should ever be homeless.