DRMM opens doors as warming center during bitter cold weather

Posted in: In the News, Latest News

March
14

DRMM has been chosen by the City of Detroit as one of its preferred providers for warming center assistance for Detroit residents who are in need of a break from the winter chill.

DRMM’s emergency shelter, located at 3535 Third St. Detroit, MI 48201, will now also act as a warming center, and will provide extended hours when weather forecasts call for low temperatures.

This winter, the bitterly cold temperatures have affected many who are without shelter. DRMM wants those in need to know their doors are always open!

Currently, the facility provides shelter for about 100 individuals and provides human services to men only. Services are open to the public 7 p.m. – 7 a.m., and during inclement weather, daytime hours are included. Services are offered every day of the week, throughout the entire year.

All individuals seeking warming center assistance can contact DRMM at the following number:

  • Michael Dukes: 313-993-6703 or mdukes@drmm.org

Upon entering the warming center, clients are expected to complete the intake process for admission.

All individuals are supervised at all times to ensure the safety of all concerned. They are also provided with two hot meals, counseling, showering and sleeping accommodations.

For women and women with children seeking emergency or temporary shelter, assistance can be provided by contacting the following number:

  • Marlene Brown-Colbert: 313-331-8990

DRMM welcomes Detroit Tigers’ Chaplain

Posted in: In the News, Latest News

March
11

DRMM will host its first-ever Spring Prayer Breakfast, featuring the Detroit Tigers’ Chaplain, Jeff Totten.

The breakfast, which is open to all members of the public, is a opportunity for DRMM and its partner churches to come together, receive fellowship, and get an update on what is happening at DRMM. The event will host a delicious breakfast, an inspiring message, and an opportunity for networking.

A $10 donation is suggested to attend the event.

Event Details:

Spring Prayer Breakfast
Featuring, Jeff Totten – Detroit Tigers Chaplain and founder of SCORE Ministries

When:      April 3, 2014
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Where:    DRMM Banquet Hall
3606 E. Forest
Detroit, MI 48206
RSVP:      Kindly by March 23, 2014
Email: RWilliams@drmm.org
Call: 313-993-4700 ext. 4715

Saluting Those who Have Made a Difference

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

February
25

As we celebrate Black History Month, our minds turn to the African-American men and women who have enriched all of our lives with their accomplishments and contributions.

They include the well-known — like Rosa Parks, Booker T. Washington, Sojourner Truth, and George Washington Carver — and the lesser known.

Dr. Charles F. Whitten falls in the latter category. You may not know his name, but here in Detroit he was responsible for launching the successful careers of 400 minority doctors. Dr. Whitten created the Post Baccalaureate Program at Wayne State University (WSU) for minority students who had been denied admission to medical school based on their prior academic performance. After successfully completing the intensive one-year program, the students are guaranteed admission to WSU’s School of Medicine.

In addition, Dr. Whitten was largely responsible for bringing sickle cell disease to the attention of the public, healthcare providers, legislators and policymakers. He established the Sickle Cell Detection & Information Center in Detroit in 1971 — the first facility of its kind in the country.

Although we lost Dr. Whitten in 2008, he will forever be remembered as an African-American trailblazer for his groundbreaking work in the research and treatment of sickle cell disease and his commitment to increasing diversity in the medical profession. He truly made a difference in the lives of many people.

Today, many of those physicians of color who received their start because of Dr. Whitten’s foresight spend time giving back to others less fortunate. They know better than anyone what happens when an individual is denied access to opportunities. So, they have dedicated their lives to helping others — following in the footsteps of the man who helped them: Dr. Charles Whitten.

That’s truly a great story for the history books.

Caught in Winter’s Grip

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

February
3

Winter is making history. Record-breaking snow and subzero temperatures and wind chills are affecting much of the country, including the South.

All of us who have been caught in the grip of the wintry weather know how uncomfortable the biting cold feels. Your fingers and toes can begin to freeze in a matter of minutes. Most of us are able to retreat into a heated house and warm up before the onset of frostbite or hypothermia. But for those with nowhere to live, these wintry conditions are extremely dangerous and can be life threatening. Imagine the plight of our nation’s homeless. It’s unimaginable to think of living outside and sleeping in this weather, isn’t it?

Organizations like ours — the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) — give the homeless refuge from the snow and subzero temperatures. We do not turn anyone anyway at DRMM. The beds in our emergency shelters have been filled to capacity several times already this winter. So we provide chairs and place mattresses on the floor to accommodate the overflow. Just being in warm surroundings and eating a hot meal make a world of a difference to the homeless.

During this cold weather, we keep our doors open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We also allow our homeless clients to remain in our emergency shelters for a longer period if the temperature is below 32 degrees. We also use this as an opportunity to extend additional help to those who have come to our door. Our case managers talk with our clients and try to determine the root cause of their homelessness. We offer them a chance to get medical treatment, counseling and transitional housing.

Unfortunately, the chronic homeless usually don’t take advantage of our assistance. However, we remain hopeful and inspired by the many lives that we are able to save and transform.

As you sit in your warm house looking out of the window at the snow and listening to the howling winds, remember those who are trying to brave the elements. Support your local shelters with donations such as coats, blankets, food, and money so that we can help the homeless survive this extremely harsh winter.

Dr. King’s Dream

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

January
18

As the nation prepares to celebrate what would have been the 85th birthday of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I can’t help but wonder, “What would Dr. King think about our world today?”

Dr. King’s sermons and speeches centered on his dream for equal rights for all. He envisioned a future where all human beings were treated with respect, dignity, and integrity. Dr. King preached about social justice, empowerment, and peace. He also waged war against poverty, labelling it a major challenge similar to racism. In his last major speech before his assassination, Dr. King addressed the issue of poverty, saying “If a man doesn’t have a job or an income, he has neither life nor liberty nor the possibility for the pursuit of happiness. He merely exists.”

Unfortunately, Dr. King would be disappointed to know that today the number of Americans living below the poverty line exceeds the number who lived in poverty throughout his lifetime. Poverty and homelessness certainly remain two of this country’s most pressing issues.

Here at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we embrace the same beliefs and teachings as Dr. King. We treat our clients with dignity and respect. It doesn’t matter what circumstances led them to seek us out. Human decency entitles them to the same opportunities and treatment as anyone else. We teach our clients job and life skills that enable them to rebuild their lives and become productive citizens in the community.

Martin Luther King Junior Day gives all Americans an opportunity to continue the fight against income inequality and social injustices. The federal holiday is celebrated as a National Day of Service where people volunteer to help those less fortunate and work to solve our nation’s problems.

That’s what Dr. King believed in — making this country a better place. As we honor his life and legacy, I ask you — “What are you doing for others?”

Paying it Forward

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

December
24

Recently, while reading a newspaper column about the importance of paying it forward, I was reminded of the following Bible verse:  “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed.”  – Proverbs, 19:17
This verse is particularly meaningful at this time of the year. As families celebrate Christmas with gifts and food and welcome in the New Year with parties, it is important that we do not forget those who are less fortunate.

When you give to non-profit agencies that assist the homeless, hungry, unemployed and disadvantaged — like the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) — you enable us to share the hope and love of God with those who need to know that all is not lost. The number of people turning to us for help has risen to an all-time high. Imagine if the same situation is occurring at rescue missions and shelters in cities across the country! We cannot imagine having to turn away frightened mothers and children or hungry seniors or men lost in their addictions. These are the people in need of real help and real hope this holiday season.

DRMM is thankful for faithful friends and supporters whose hearts are full of compassion for the poor. Their gifts can mean the difference between a homeless man shivering on the streets or being able to eat dinner and sleep in our heated shelter. When you help those in need, you will reap the rewards of knowing that you have made a tremendous difference in someone’s life. This scripture from the Book of Proverbs says that giving to the poor is like lending to God Himself, and He will reimburse those who honor those created in His image.

That is a pretty powerful metaphor, isn’t it?  Are you paying forward your good fortune to help others? When you’re making your New Year’s resolutions on how to increase your finances in 2014, one of the best investment decisions you can make is to help the poor. Because God pays back with interest and blessings.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!