November was an exciting and eventful month — full of challenges as well as victories!Last month, hundreds of people found refuge at Springs Rescue Mission to escape the winter cold, eat a hearty meal and sleep in a warm bed — all thanks to your generous support. On Nov. 27, we hosted our annual “Great Thanksgiving Banquet” and are now preparing for our “Christmas For All Banquet.” We also released our annual Impact Report and released some moving video advertisements depicting some of the people we serve.Scroll down to read more highlights from November, plus read Kharisa’s story of finding help and hope at the Mission!

Record numbers served during early winter storms

There were several nights of winter weather — ice, snow and freezing temperatures — in November, which drove record numbers of guests to Springs Rescue Mission. On days when the weather was particularly bad, our resource center extended its hours to accommodate for additional daytime shelter. Our shelters also extended their hours to reduce guests’ exposure. Throughout the month we provided 10,289 bed nights to 871 unique clients and 125 unique veterans. In the Resource Center, we averaged 181 morning guests and provided over 2,000 showers and loads of personal laundry.

SRM hosts annual “Great Thanksgiving Banquet”

On Wednesday, Nov. 27 — the day before Thanksgiving — nearly 100 volunteers and almost 700 of our hungry neighbors receiveddelicious holiday meals at Springs Rescue Mission’s annual Great Thanksgiving Banquet at City Auditorium. During the event, guests visited with their neighbors at community dining tables. They also received important cold-weather clothing and free vaccinations for influenza and hepatitis.

Charles graduates the New Life Program

Earlier this month, Charles graduated the New Life Program (residential men’s addiction recovery). His friends and co-residents spoke of how impressed they were with his commitment to overcome addiction and genuinely change his life. Charles is now living in a sober-living house and working in construction, after graduating HBA (Housing and Building Association) training while in the program. Charles chose Psalm 51:10-12 as his graduation verse: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

The 2019 SRM Impact Report is now available!

Springs Rescue Mission released its 2019 Impact Report in November, and it’s now available in a must-read PDF. The reporthighlights this year’s accomplishments, as well as heartwarming and hopeful stories of people who have worked hard to break the cycles of homelessness, poverty, hunger and addiction in their lives. For informational and inspiring content about the Mission and the people we serve, look no further!Click here to explore the report!

Love Bigger video advertisements now live!

At Springs Rescue Mission, our focus is to Love Bigger. That means meeting people where they are and giving them the tools they need to escape homelessness, hunger, poverty and addiction. To illustrate this, we made a series of video ads earlier this year that we’d love to share with you now. Please enjoy!

Kharisa’s story of finding help and hope at the Mission

Kharisa was a phlebotomist and a government contractor before losing her job and her home. She has been at Springs Rescue Mission since … and admits that it was hard for her to regain hope and patience in the process. But through the help of kind staff members and staying busy in work engagement — she works in the resource center — she is feeling good about the future and hopes 2020 is a banner year in her recovery. “My hopes and goals are to get financially stable, to get my own place and to continue to give back to Springs Rescue Mission,” she said. “I want to stay connected to God and keep myself around positive people — that’s a big thing. Being connected with the community, I think, is really going to help me get through this.”Subscribe to our blog to learn more about Springs Rescue Mission and the people we serve — people who have seen tough times but are committed to breaking the cycles of homelessness, hunger and addiction in their lives. We see stories of hope and transformation lived out every day, and we’d love to share them with you.