rescue Portland January 2014

OuT OF THe DarkNess kathy and Her Daughters Were Portland’s unseen Homeless

kathy said goodnight to her daughters and walked slowly to her small bed in the corner of the basement. The cellar they lived in was dank and musty, devoid of daylight, fresh air – and hope. But it was better than the streets. For a homeless woman and her kids, almost anything is better than the streets...

continues inside

tVA

P.O. Box 3713Portland, OR 97208-3713 503-MISSION (647-7466)

www.PortlandRescueMission.org

Mission NeedsURGENT NEEDS

•Newundergarments

•Socks

•Blankets

•Backpacks

•Deodorant(sprayorsolid)

•Disposablerazors

•Toothbrushes

•Toothpaste

•Travel-sizetoiletries

•Jeans

•LifeRecoveryBibles(NLT)

PleasebringdonationstotheBurnsideShelterat111 W. Burnside,Portland,24hoursaday,7daysaweek.Short-termstreetparkingisusuallyavailableatourfrontdoor.

AsIreflectonthepastyear,I’mamazedattheministryGodhasallowedustodointhelivesofhurtingmen,womenandchildrenhereinPortland.

In2013,welaunchedTheHarbor,ourmen’srecoverycenterinnortheastPortland.Theexistingpropertywascompletelyrenovatedtoprovidethenecessaryspacefora42-bedresidentialrecoverycommunity.Itisnowthenewhomeofourmen’sNewLifeMinistry,whichhasbeenmovedoutofourBurnsideShelterdowntown.

Assoonasthemen’sNewLifeMinistryrelocatedfromtheBurnsideShelterinJuneof2013,webeganmajorrenovationsatourBurnsideSheltertoprovidededicatedspacetoexpandourLinkMinistry,a3-4monthprogramthatquicklytransitionsmenfromhomelessnesstoemploymentandhousing.Wenowserve36meninLink.ConstructionworkcontinuesattheBurnsideShelteronaspaceforasimilarprogramtohelphomelesswomen,calledConnect,whichwillopenin2014.

Thesupportoffriendslikeyoumakesgreatstrideslikethesepossible.Whilewecelebratethissuccess,however,thenumberofpeopleexperiencinghomelessnessinPortlandcontinuestogrow.Lastyear,weservedmoremealsthanever–over280,000–tohungrypeopleinneed.Weexpectthatneedtoincreaseagainthisyear.

Yes,theneedformeals,shelterandaddictionrecoverycontinuetogrow–anditburdensmyheart.ButI’malsoverygrateful,becauseIknowGodwillprovidehopetohurtingpeoplethroughcompassionatesupportfromfriendslikeyou.

Thankyouforjoiningusinthislife-givingministry.Ican’twaittoseehowGodwilltransformevenmorelivesinthecomingyear.

Gratefulforyourpartnership,

Eric Bauer ExecutiveDirector

P.S.KathyandJohnarejusttwoofthehundredsofpeopletouchedbyourNewLifeMinistryinthelastyear.Withyourhelp,evenmorehurtingpeoplewillberestoredtohealthyrelationshipsandhomesin2014.Thankyou.

Thanks For A Year Of Hope

Morethanameal.Morethanabed.GIVEHOPE.

LovePortlandRescueMission?Leaveusyourpositivereviewonlinetohelpusboostouronlinepresence.

YoucanhelpspreadthewordtopeopleinneedthattheMissionisasafeplacewithcaringvolunteersandstaff—aplaceofhopewherehurtingpeoplearecaredforandrestoredtonewlife.

Ourquicksurveyhasjusttwoquestions.PleasetakeaminuterightnowtoleaveyourreviewaboutourBurnsideShelter,Shepherd’sDoor,TheHarbororDriveAwayHunger(ourcarsales/donationprogram).

LEAVEAREVIEw: www.PortlandRescueMission.org/Review

Help Us With Your Review

tVA

WatchKathy’svideostorytohearherstoryofhope. Seemoreatwww.PortlandRescueMission.org/KathyVideo

Scan with RedLaser app or other QR code reader to watch video.

ThenumberofhomelesswomenandchildreninPortlandcontinuestogrow.Yourgifttodaybringsthemhopeandsafety.Thankyou.

“Ihaven’tbeenthereformykidslikeamomshould.

That’spartofthereasonI’mdoingwhatI’mdoingnow.I

wantmykidstowanttocalltheirmom.”

ThemomentshearrivedatShepherd’sDoor,our

recoveryministryforwomenandchildren,Kathywasfilled

withapeaceandhopeshe’dneverfeltbefore.Yes,itwas

certainlybetterthancouchsurfingandstayingatcheap

motels,butsomethingaboutthisplacewasprofoundly

different.Kathyfoundherselfnotalone,butsurroundedbya

communityofwomeninourNewLifeMinistrydedicatedto

transformingtheirlives.

Forthefirsttime,Kathyfeelsacceptedandlovedfor

whosheis.

Assheadvancesinourrecoveryprogram,Kathyis

lookingforwardtoahope-filledfuture,notjustcentered

aroundherownhealing,butthatofothersaswell.Infact,

Kathywantstouseherpastexperiencestohelpother

womenwhosufferfromaddictionandhomelessnessjustlike

shehad.

“Istillhavealongwaystogo,butIknowI’mnot

worthless.Iknowmysinshavebeenfogiven-mypast

doesn’tdefinewhoIam.”

OuTOfTHE DARKNESS KathyAndHerDaughterswerePortland’sunseenHomeless

Asachild,Kathystruggledwithfeelingacceptedand

loved.Shelefthomeat18,hopingtofindaplacetobelong.

Shequicklyfellinwiththewrongcrowd.Seekingaffection

wherevershecouldfindit,Kathygotintoarelationshipwith

aheroinaddict.Soonshewasaddictedherself.

Decadesofaddictionpiledintoaheapofregret:years

inprison,severalbrokenrelationships,andtwohurting

childrenthatneededasafehomeandastablemother.Kathy

desperatelywantedtocareforthem,butshefeltpowerless

againstthedrugs.Asshetossedawayallherhard-earned

money,shestruggledtogetherrentinontime.Soonshe

couldn’tpayitatall.Theonlythingthatkeptherandhergirls

offthestreetswasagraciousfriendwithspaceinhercellar.

Kathylookedacrossthedustybasementtohersleeping

daughters.“Thishastostop,”shethought,“whateverit

takes.”Yearsago,afriendhadtoldheraboutPortland

RescueMission.Kathydecidedtogiveitatry.

“IhadfalsebeliefsthatI’mworthlessandwillneveramounttoanything.I’mtakingthoseandturningthemintotruth.ReplacingthemwithBiblepassagesaboutwhoIamandthewayGod

intendedmetobe.”

(continuedfromfront)

Kathyisworkingtorestoreherrelationshipwithherdaughters.

HerdaughterSamantha encouragesherrecovery.

19581949 198153,856 Meals

86,627 Meals

12,785 Nights of shelter

The Mission is founded by John Van Diest, sr.

18,127 Nights of shelter

left Even in the 1950s, many waited eagerly outside the Mission for a hot meal and a warm bed.

Below Hungry men and women get a hot, nutritious meal at our Burnside Shelter in c. 1980.

left Hurting and homeless men find rest and refuge from the cold in safe, warm shelter at our Burnside Shelter in c. 1975.

above Relationships have been restored for more than 60 years at Portland Rescue Mission. This mother and her children lived at Shepherd’s Door in the late 1980s.

right Founder John

Van Diest, Sr., and his wife

Tess Van Diest

Hope Through The Years

2003 201386,627 Meals

172,992 Meals

280,067 Meals

New shepherd’s Door Ministry location opens.

The Harbor Ministry location opens.

44,425 Nights of shelter

59,023 Nights of shelter

right Terri and her daughters benefit from the addiction counseling, parenting guidance, and job

skills she received at the Mission’s New Life Ministry.

Below The new Shepherd’s Door opened in 2003 as an inviting space for women and their

children to heal from brokenness and addiction.

above Renovations at The Harbor, our Men’s New Life Ministry location, were completed in June 2013 thanks to generous donors.

above Last year Hunter, Jonathan, Randy, Scott and Nate graduated from our Men’s New Life Ministry with hope for the future.

tVA

BROKENBYfEAR

JohnChoosesLifeOverSuicide

Afteradecadeofdrinking,Johnrealizedhecouldn’tkeeplivinglifethisway.Hetriedtoquitbutcouldn’t.Everytimehestoppeddrinking,hisanxietybecameuncontrollableandhewentbacktothebottle,ashamed.

Thishopelesscyclewentonforyears–anditdroveJohntodepression.HebecamesuicidalandmadeuphismindthatifGodwasn’tgoingtohelphim,hewouldjustkillhimself.

“Mymomobviouslytookaneasywayout,andIthought,‘Whycan’tI?’Iseewhyshedidit,andIwaswillingtofollowher.”

Ayearandahalfago,Johnoverdosedonseveralmedications,closedhiseyesandwaitedtodie.ButGodwasn’tdonewithJohnyet.“Therewasdivineintervention.ThenextthingIknewIwasinthehospital.”

AfterJohngotout,acaringfriendrecommendedandevendrovehimtoPortlandRescueMission,wherehejoinedourNewLifeMinistry.Afterseveralmonthsinrecovery,heisnowcompletelysoberandhisanxietyhasbeengreatlyreduced.Throughaddictioncounseling,spiritualgrowthandhealthyrelationships,Johnisexperiencinghealingfromthewoundsofhispastandfreedomfromaddiction.NowheislearningtotrustGod.Afterdecadesofbrokenness,itisn’teasy.It’sanongoingprocessthatheliveseveryday.

WatchJohn’svideostorytolearnabouthisnewlife. Seemoreatwww.PortlandRescueMission.org/JohnVideo

Scan with RedLaser app or other QR code reader to watch video.

TherearedozensofmenjustlikeJohninourNewLifeMinistry.Yourcontinuedsupportin2014willhelpthemreachtheirgoalsandbeginafreshstart–fulloflove,faith,andHOPE.

“Thethoughtoffunctioningwithoutalcoholisstillscary,butIhearrecoveredaddictssaytheyare

gratefulfortheirexperience.TheirrelationshipwithGodissostrongandintimatenowbecauseofwhatthey’vegonethrough.I’mnotthere

completely,butIhopetobe.”tVA

Johnsatinhisbedroomtryingtofocusonhomework,buthisnotebooklayblankonthedeskinfrontofhimasithadallafternoon.Hisstomachtensedashethoughtabouthisdadreturninghome.Suddenly,Johnheardthefainthumofthegaragedoorandhisheartbegantorace.

“Iwouldsittherelisteningforhimtocomeupthestairs.IfIknewIhadn’tdoneanythingwrong,I’dprobablybeok.ButtherewereplentyoftimeswhereIhadtositbackandwaitfortheconfrontation.Thatwouldbescary.OnetimeIactuallypulledabagoutandputitovermyheadbecauseIwassoafraid.IjustsatthereandwishedIcouldsuffocatemyselfratherthanfacemydad.”

John’smothercommittedsuicidewhilehewasasleeponenight.HisfatherremarriedandJohn’slifebecamealivinghell.John’sstepmotherwouldtormenthimpsychologicallyandemotionally.Hisdadwouldjustbeathim.

“ItseemedlikeanythingIdid,I’dbeintroubleforit.Ifeltrejectedandangryandveryafraid.”

Fearofhisparents–thetwopeopleheshouldhavebeenabletotrustmorethananyone–evolvedintoaseriousanxietydisorder.Inhighschool,Johnfoundsomethingthatcouldmakeitallgoaway:alcohol.“Iimmediatelybecamehookedonit.Itbecameaproblemrightaway.”

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DonationstotheMissionaretaxdeductibletothefullestextent

allowedbylaw.Anygiftsreceivedaboveourcurrentneedwillbe

usedtohelpcareforhurtingpeoplethroughouttheyear.

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tVA

ContinuedbittercoldtakesitstollonpeoplestrugglingwithhomelessnessinPortland.OurBurnsideShelterisatfullcapacityeverynightwithroomforupto170men.

“Therearetimeswehavetoturnpeopleawayatnight,”saysTimDesper,GuestServicesManager.“Wedoallwecanbyprovidingthemwithahotmealandablanketiftheyhavetosleepoutside.”Blanketscanbereturnedeachdaytobewashed,whichhelpswithhygieneandextendsthelifeoftheblanket.Evenso,blanketsareaconstantneed.

Donationsofblankets,socks,hats,glovesandscarvescanbedroppedoffatourBurnsideShelter(111W.Burnside,Portland)orShepherd’sDoor(13207NEHalseySt.Portland).Formoreinformation,visitwww.PortlandRescueMission.org/DonateItems.

Weareexcitedtoannouncethatin2014wewilllaunchConnect,anewprogramforhomelesswomen.LikeourLinkMinistryformen,Connectwilltransitionwomenfromhomelessnesstoemployment,housingorrecoverycareinjust3-4months.

ThesecondfloorofourBurnsideShelterisbeingremodeledtocreateasafe,healingspacetohelpupto16homelesswomentransitiontowardanewlife.Theareaincludesrenovatedshowers,bedsandadayroomwherecaringstaffandvolunteerscanprovideencouragementandsupporttowomeninneed.

“Thestreetsareadangerousplaceforwomen,”saysExecutiveDirectorEricBauer.“Mostofthewomenwhocometousforhelphaveexperienceddeeptrauma.They’reoftenfearfulandneedhelpmakinggooddecisionsthatcanleadthemtosafetyandhealing.Weareheretoprovidethatlife-givingassistancewhentheyneeditmost.”

ArecentgenerousgrantfromtheM.J.MurdockCharitableTrustprovidesstaffingforConnect,makingitpossibletolaunchthisimportantprograminthecomingmonthsashiringandrenovationsarecompleted.

ProgramOpeningforHomelesswomen

SocksandBlanketsGreatlyNeeded

“Being here at the Mission has connected me to God a lot more than I have before. Once I leave

the program, I want to get back to my business and find success

there as well.”

—Oscar

What Do You Hope For in 2014?

P.O. Box 3713 Portland, Or 97208-3713 503-MIssION (647-7466)

To donate online, visit www.PortlandrescueMission.org/JanNL

“I have joy and hope and I have a future now – and it includes

my children having fun and happiness, not the chaos that we were living

in before.”

—racHeLLe

MY GIFT OF HOPe

“I want to graduate from the Link program and get housing.

I want to continue to support the Mission as a volunteer – helping the new guys get to the other side and

graduate the program just like I will.”

—auBreY

“I look forward to every day. Just being alive and learning how to

live. The year 2014 is really exciting for me because I’m finally taking healthy steps in my life.”

—aMaNDa

❑ $8 a month to feed 60 people a year❑ $16 a month to feed 120 people a year❑ $24 a month to feed 180 people a year❑ $ _____________ a month to help give hope❑ $ _____________ one time gift

Yes, I want to help end homelessness, addiction, hunger and abuse. To help hurting men, women and children, here is my gift of:

Enclose your check or complete your credit card information on back.

Ways You can HelpGive

• Help provide meals, shelter and recovery care to men, women and children in need. See the donation form below.

volunteer

• Opportunities listed at www.PortlandrescueMission.org/Volunteer

Donate a Car

• Your car donation could provide over 500 meals. Learn more at www.PortlandrescueMission.org/car

PlanneD GivinG

• Leave a legacy of hope through your will, annuity or trust. www.PortlandrescueMission.org/Legacy

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