Latest News – Page 69 – Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries

A recent news story revealed that more senior citizens than ever are showing up at soup kitchens across the country. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports an increase of 81 percent last year in the number of seniors living alone who sought help from food pantries, compared to two years earlier. Catholic Charities USA, which helps the needy, noted a 54 percent rise in requests from seniors for food and services in the third quarter of this year, compared to the same period in 2008.

So what does this all mean? Naturally, much of the blame can be placed on the current recession. Retirement funds and nest eggs are drying up. Health care is in flux, making it necessary for seniors to choose between buying medication or food and causing them to skip medical appointments. Social Security and small pensions are not enough to keep up with mortgage or rent payments and utility bills. It’s hard to buy food when the prices keep rising and you are on a fixed income.

At the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we have a special place in our hearts for the elderly who are suffering through tough times. We do what we can by offering food, shelter, clothing, medical and dental care, and companionship at a time when they need it most — in their golden years. Life can be very lonely when you are aged with inadequate finances or no family and friends around. Many of our senior citizens are too proud and too private to seek help. After all, they survived through the Great Depression and other economic downturns in our history, so they may feel that they can make it now too. But that’s not always possible.

We must respect our older citizens. They have come through a lot and continue to go through a lot today. Check on your elderly neighbors and relatives. Make sure they are eating right and have access to enough food. Spend some time sitting and talking with seniors. We owe it to them.

Homeless for the Holidays

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

November
23

As we enter the joyous holiday season, I implore all of you who are reading this to include the homeless and disadvantaged in your thoughts and prayers. Imagine what it is like not to have family and friends to spend the holidays with, or a warm house to call your own. Tens of thousands of people are in that situation around the country. They don’t know where their next meal is coming from, and they live a lonely existence on city streets.

Why not reach out during the holidays and touch those hurting souls by donating food or clothing, volunteering at local shelters and other agencies that assist the poor, or providing your expertise and skills at no cost to help the needy. In today’s struggling economy, there are more people hurting than ever before. It could be your neighbor, your colleague at work, or a relative who needs a helping hand.

At the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we guide thousands of men and women as they embark on the journey to a brand-new life. We provide food, shelter, clothing, and job skills, and introduce them to the miracle of God’s love. This fall and winter we expect to see thousands of hungry men, women and children come to the Mission, as the cold weather and bitter economic conditions drive them to seek help. In fact, we anticipate that our shelters will be busting at the seams with people who are cold, exhausted and brokenhearted.

The holidays are a time for happiness, family, and togetherness. While you are enjoying this special season, I hope that you will find a way to bring joy and comfort to a hurting soul and help change a life in the process.

A New Beginning

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

September
21

This summer, I was proud to witness a “New Beginning” for nearly 400 people graduating from the recovery programs at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM). And what a celebration it was! The graduates were formerly homeless, addicted or disadvantaged and had remained drug- and alcohol-free for at least 90 days. Some of the graduates completed DRMM’s transitional housing program or obtained a GED. Our educational partners, such as Wayne County Community College District, helped the graduates gain a variety of skills in areas such as computer hardware and software, culinary arts, residential wiring, customer service, Web and graphic design, video production and landscaping.

A particularly emotional highlight of this year’s ceremony was the presentation of a car to DRMM graduate Stephen Day. Stephen was moved to tears as I presented him with keys to a 1995 Chrysler LeBaron convertible that had been donated to the Rescue Mission. The crowd joined in Stephen’s joy and excitement by rising to their feet in thunderous applause. Stephen received the automobile as a reward for making such a tremendous change in his life.

Let me tell you about Stephen’s amazing story. As a teenager, he was an alcoholic and later a crack cocaine addict. Despite his addictions, he graduated from high school, attended trade schools, and held jobs as a machinist and truck driver. But his life fell apart when began to experience blackouts and DUI arrests. He lost his truck driver job and became homeless. Repeated attempts at sobriety failed until Stephen came to the Detroit Rescue Mission last year. His transformation began with substance abuse treatment at our Christian Guidance Center (CGC). Today, Stephen has completed a year of college, made the dean’s list, and received an invitation to join Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. He works full-time as a resident specialist at a DRMM facility and has paid off outstanding tickets in order to get his driver’s license reinstated. Stephen is pursuing a degree in mental health services.

Isn’t this proof that everyone deserves a New Beginning?

Free to Choose?

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

July
19

Over time, the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) has been subjected to attack for many reasons. First, because we believe in God and secondly, because of our success helping people in our community. The third reason is because we don’t ask people in our programs for anything in return, except that they become good citizens and productive members of the community. The fourth is that we have succeeded for over 100 years, as evidenced by the testimonies of those we have helped. We have seen that what works best for many people in a bad situation (whether they are homeless, addicted, in a violent domestic situation or engaged in criminal behavior) is to have something in their lives to look forward to that we call God, in addition to surrounding them with a very good support system that we call a church, without forcing anything on them.

DRMM, in its 100 years of service of helping people in the community, has provided food, shelter, housing, substance abuse treatment, health services, prevention and intervention programs for youth, permanent housing, job training, educational opportunities ranging from GED completion to college diplomas, résumé building, employment placement, summer camping, and on-the-job training.

We have helped men and women, children and youth, seniors and infants, people of all races and ages, literally from cradle to grave. Some have been only temporarily homeless due to circumstances while others have been chronically homeless. Among them have been military veterans, regular citizens, the mentally ill, substance abusers, alcoholics and prostitutes. All of them have been worthy of our best efforts.

DRMM is an organization of choice that never neglects anybody and does not turn anybody away because of race, religion, color, creed, gender, origin, weight, political beliefs or sexual preference. No matter what their situation is, DRMM has been there to address their needs and stands by them to help them become a productive citizen in our community.

We have grown over the years from being a small shelter and soup kitchen to becoming one of the largest social service organizations of its kind. We grew from helping maybe ten people a day in 1909 to helping almost 1,300 people a day in 2009. This does not even include hundreds of others who were helped by the distribution of food boxes, clothes and furniture.

Eventually, DRMM had to go in all directions to secure funds to be able to support the growing needs of the people who come to our doors. For this reason, the budget has grown from hundreds of dollars a year in 1909 to $18 million in 2009. In the beginning, we relied only on the generosity of certain individuals. Today we rely on the generosity of tens of thousands of people, as well as money allocated by our government for specific social services, which was made possible because of constitutional protection supporting freedom of speech and religion.

The most recent threat to the work we have been blessed to do has come to us from an organization by the name of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. There was a recent news release saying that because DRMM is a Christian organization, we should not be funded by the government.

Ignoring all the good DRMM has accomplished through our 100 years of existence, they have also ignored all the facts that we do not discriminate against anybody because of religion or other factors. We do not force religion on people or use government funds to purchase or pay for any religious activities. We are very proud of being a faith-based organization. As a matter of fact, we believe God is the secret to our success and is definitely the motivation for our service.

We are not dropping our faith for the Americans United for Separation of Church and State. We plan to continue for as long as possible to provide social services using government funds under the protection of the Constitution of the United States which grants equal rights to all citizens of this country.

DRMM has never and will never force religion on anybody. As a matter of fact, we don’t believe that you should. Jesus Christ spoke the truth, but left the decision as to whether to believe His claims to the individual. Religion must be an individual personal choice. DRMM’s role is to make the choice available to them and support them. We thank God who continues to bring our way faithful individual donors as well as corporations and foundations who allow us to use their money to teach people about God without tapping into any government funding.

My challenge today for people like the Americans United for Separation of Church and State is, “What have you done to help people? What have you done to protect them from their own wrongdoing? What solutions do you bring to the table to meet the needs of people in need? Are you just there to stop organizations with a proven success record of showing love and compassion and preserving the dignity and respect of others?”

Know this, we will continue to do our work, confident in our ability and understanding that the Constitution, laws and federal guidelines permit us to do so. Because we believe in God, we are loyal people and good stewards of all the money coming to our hands. We are accountable because God taught us to be so. You don’t have to worry about us. But we do worry about you. We worry about your intentions and goals and motivation.

But, by God’s grace we will be blessed to do what God wants us to do and, definitely, you will be in our prayers.

Have you Thanked a Soldier Today?

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

June
5

Every year around Memorial Day when our country salutes its armed forces, I think about the unfortunate struggles that many war veterans face upon returning from duty. Especially with the recent economic downturn, veterans in need of assistance are in a more precarious position than before.

Recently, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and state lawmakers cut funding by 25 percent for groups that help war veterans get through the paperwork and bureaucracy when applying for federal disability and pension benefits. The budget cuts are forcing these organizations to eliminate jobs. The same situation is occurring in other states including Ohio, Illinois and South Carolina.

Here at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), we bestow the utmost respect for all nation’s war heroes, and especially those who seek our services. The Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology reports that 33 percent of returning soldiers, marines and their families are likely to have significant bouts with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. Twenty percent will suffer from traumatic brain injuries. These psychological problems can often lead to substance abuse and homelessness.

Service organizations like ours are greatly needed to help returning war veterans get medical care, benefits, and other assistance. DRMM’s Veterans Independence Project provides transitional housing, job training, social and medical services, and educational programs to homeless men and women who have served our country. The Detroit field office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is our partner in these efforts to reintegrate the veterans into society.

We salute our brave men and women of the U.S. military!

Helping Each Other

Posted in: From Dr. Chad Audi

May
22

Here in Detroit, we’re doing something unique and innovative. And I believe it can work in any city or town. The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) has partnered with another local non-profit organization, Think Detroit PAL (Police Athletic League), to help each other —and the City of Detroit — this summer.

Think Detroit PAL is a youth sports program that attracts 12,000 Detroit-area children each year. The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries is a non-profit that provides shelter, food, treatment, clothing, job training and other services for thousands of homeless, addicted and disadvantaged individuals and families. Together, we are having a huge impact on the community.

DRMM’s vocational training programs include a class on lawn service and landscaping. Clients enrolled in this course learn valuable skills that can help them earn a living or become an entrepreneur. Local businesses have helped us secure lawn mowers and other equipment to enable the men to learn the trade. The course includes hands-on mowing lessons on the grounds of DRMM’s facilities.

The Think Detroit PAL partnership takes the training program to the next level. Earlier this month, we began cutting grass and cleaning up at five parks owned by the city and used by the kids in the Think Detroit program. We will continue to provide this service throughout the summer at no cost to the City of Detroit, which has not been able to keep the parks maintained due to the severe budget crunch we are facing in Detroit.

So in the end, everyone benefits. The city parks look better. Kids are able to enjoy playing outdoor sports in the parks. Detroit Rescue Mission clients gain confidence and self-esteem from their newly-learned job skills, and they get a good feeling about what they are doing to help the kids enjoy the summer. And the City of Detroit gets free lawn service during this depressed economy.

See what’s possible when we help each other out?