YOUR DONATIONS ALLOWED US TO SERVE OVER 85,000 MEALS IN 2014 .............. 1 WE’ RE MOVING THIS YEAR AND EXCITED TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT! .................... 2 2014 brought its share of trials along with blessings. Our Bliss Street properties are squarely in the midst of MGM’s casino footprint. Massachusetts voters allowed the casino to go forward in November 2014. We continue to faithfully provide services to the hungry, homeless, addicted and poor, knowing all is in God’s hands and resting in that fact. At the beginning of 2014, our staff was hit hard when three employees, including our Executive Director Ron Willoughby, were out with serious illnesses. God is faithful and restored our staff so we can continue to provide essential life services to those who come to the Springfield Rescue Mission. Thank you donors! Last year your donations allowed us to reach deep into the community with great blessing, providing vital assistance to over 7,000 of our county’s hungry, homeless, addicted and poor with food, clothing, shelter, rehabilitation and hope! Summer was a time when we saw donations dip, but with your help we rebounded in the fall and continued our services to the homeless - thank you! In 2014, we served over 85,000 meals, provide nearly 19,000 safe, shelter beds and distribute over 150,000 pounds of clothing - thank you! This Thanksgiving and Christmas we served 1,960 meals to men, women and children who came to the Rescue Mission looking for a nutritious and home-style, holiday meal, served to them with love and caring by our faithful volunteers - thank you! Thank you volunteers! Your help in delivering services to the poor is priceless. Volunteers are the lifeline of the Springfield Rescue Mission. With over 49,000 hours of volunteer time donated in 2014, you’ve loved those who are thought of as society’s castaways, ministered to those who have lost hope for a better future and fed and cared for our hungry neighbors who have hit rock bottom. You have provided hope, love and tender care for those Jesus called “the least of these”. Thank you for giving of yourselves and enriching the lives of others all year long! YOUR GENEROSITY PROVIDED OVER 19,000 SAFE, SHELTER BEDS IN 2014 ................ 2 www.hope4springfield.org January 2015
Transcript
YOUR DONATIONS ALLOWED
US TO SERVE OVER 85,000
MEALS IN 2014 .............. 1
WE’RE MOVING THIS YEAR
AND EXCITED TO TELL YOU
ABOUT IT! .................... 2
2014 brought its share of trials along with blessings. Our Bliss Street properties are
squarely in the midst of MGM’s casino footprint. Massachusetts voters allowed the casino
to go forward in November 2014. We continue to faithfully provide services to the hungry,
homeless, addicted and poor, knowing all is in God’s hands and resting in that fact.
At the beginning of 2014, our staff was hit hard when three employees, including our
Executive Director Ron Willoughby, were out with serious illnesses. God is faithful and
restored our staff so we can continue to provide essential life services to those who come
to the Springfield Rescue Mission.
Thank you donors! Last year your donations allowed us to reach deep into the community with great
blessing, providing vital assistance to over 7,000 of our county’s hungry, homeless,
addicted and poor with food, clothing, shelter, rehabilitation and hope!
Summer was a time when we saw donations dip, but with your help we rebounded in the
fall and continued our services to the homeless - thank you!
In 2014, we served over 85,000 meals, provide nearly 19,000 safe, shelter beds and
distribute over 150,000 pounds of clothing - thank you!
This Thanksgiving and Christmas we served 1,960 meals to men, women and children
who came to the Rescue Mission looking for a nutritious and home-style, holiday meal,
served to them with love and caring by our faithful volunteers - thank you!
Thank you volunteers! Your help in delivering services to the poor is priceless.
Volunteers are the lifeline of the Springfield Rescue Mission. With over 49,000 hours of volunteer
time donated in 2014, you’ve loved those who are thought of as society’s castaways, ministered
to those who have lost hope for a better future and fed and cared for our hungry neighbors who
have hit rock bottom. You have provided hope, love and tender care for those Jesus called “the
least of these”. Thank you for giving of yourselves and enriching the lives of others all year long!
YOUR GENEROSITY PROVIDED
OVER 19,000 SAFE, SHELTER
BEDS IN 2014 ................ 2
www.hope4springfield.org January 2015
We’re Moving! An exciting message from the Executive Director
Doesn’t the verse at the top
of the page just sum up
how all of us feel this time
of year? Let’s reflect on last
year and move forward to
bigger and better things.
Well, we’re doing just that!
Some of you may be aware
that the Rescue Mission
will be moving to a new
Springfield location in
2015. As our ministry has
progressed, it has been increasingly difficult
to provide critical services in our Bliss Street
facilities. Well before a casino was even
proposed for Springfield, we had been
looking to relocate
to a larger and
more modern
facility within the
South End that
would allow us to
better meet the
needs of those we
serve. While we explored a number of locations within the South End, the former Orr Cadillac parcel at 10 Mill Street was the only site that truly fit our needs. We look forward to working with our neighbors and City officials to completely renovate this long-dormant facility so that we may continue providing the type of care and
support this community has come to expect from the Springfield Rescue Mission.
In the meantime it’s business as usual.
We’re busy feeding, sheltering and
clothing our city’s homeless. Winter
on the streets is a desperate place to
be. Our goal is to reach out to the
homeless and get them into our
shelter. At that point we can help
them address the reasons for their
homelessness and move them into
our Rehabilitation Program, where
they will meet Jesus Christ, so they
can make their way back into society
as productive citizens. With your help, we
can make it happen.
We are excited to see the blessings God
has prepared for us this New Year!
While we explored a number of locations within the South End, the former Orr Cadillac parcel was the only site that truly fit our needs. - Ron Willoughby, Executive Director
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” Isaiah 43:18
Upcoming Events:
COLDEST DAY 5K Saturday, Februrary7, 2015
19 Bliss Street, Springfield
Bringing awareness to
homelessness in Springfield.
Your registration fee will provide two nights of emergency shelter to our
city’s homeless!
Register at www.hope4springfield.org
OPERATION HOPE TOTE February 1—March 31
Give a gift in February that could be the first step in changing a life. Pick up Hope Tote bags at the Rescue Mission beginning February 1, then return bags by March 31 filled with new personal care items, underwear and socks.
For more information go to our website
www.hope4springfield.org
EASTER CELEBRATION Saturday, April 4
19 Bliss Street, Springfield
Volunteers are needed to prepare,
serve, and deliver meals.
Breakfast is at 7:00 a.m. Deliveries go out at 2:00 p.m. Dinner is served at 4:00 p.m.
Register to volunteer at
www.hope4springfield.org
Visit us on the web at: www.hope4springfield.org Email us at: [email protected]
Like us on hope4springfield Follow us on @hope4spfld
