Howard Fine of the Los Angeles Business Journal writes about how the economic slowdown is effecting charities like Union Rescue Mission.
Union Rescue Mission on L.A.’s Skid Row provides food, clothing and shelter to more than 1,000 people a day. But thanks to this month’s Wall Street meltdown, some of those people may have to make do with less help.
“We were already off 17 percent in our donations before the latest Wall Street crisis hit two weeks ago and since then, the drop has been even more pronounced,” said Chief Executive Andy Bales. “Everyone is a bit panicked and concerned and holding on to their money. We’re looking at where we can cut, where we can make savings.”
I received a call from the Los Angeles Business Journal asking about the effect of the current financial turmoil and impending disaster is having on our fundraising and our Mission. I’d like to share my answers with you.
The need and demand for our services is up with more single people, more two parent families, single fathers with children, and, in a couple of cases, even former donors, coming to Union Rescue Mission and appearing at our doors in need of help. At the same time, giving to our Mission has dropped, about 17% so far this year compared to last year, and dropped off even more significantly in the last 10 days. More need with fewer resources is a very challenging combination. Each day we are meeting to strategize on cost cutting in order to make it through this difficult time while still stepping up to meet the extra need.
The reasons we have made it this far vary but we do believe there are two categories of faithful friends out there who sustain us during this tough time. We have a group of donors (1,450 in number) who give regularly each week or month, in gift amounts between $14.00 to $25.00, even $100 up to $500. I believe these people are not giving from their excess, but are faithfully giving despite the pain and challenge it brings to their own lifestyle. They believe so strongly in caring for the “least of these” that Jesus Christ spoke of and offering hope to people who have run out of hope that they are willing to sacrificially give despite the hardship it brings on them. It is hard for me to describe the appreciation that I feel for these 1,450 faithful friends of Union Rescue Mission.
The next group of donors helping us through this hard season is a constant surprise and gives us the opportunity to be astonished from time to time. These are precious folks from the “Greatest Generation”, who remembered our guests when they wrote out their wills and estates. This group usually comes out of the first group that I described above. They often faithfully gave a regular, though not an extraordinary total amount, throughout their lifetime, and yet, shortly after they have left this world, Union Rescue Mission is notified that they remembered us, and we are alerted to the fact that a large gift, possibly greater than $100,000, is on its way. When it arrives, as one did yesterday, we gather around as a team, ring a wonderful bell made for the Mission by a dear friend, and remember this generous, loving person, pray as a group and thank our Lord for the provision that allows us to carry on with this needed work and ministry. Yesterday, we received two of these gifts. These gifts are literally carrying us through difficult times when we seriously are wondering if we will make it through. These friends planned ahead and now are unaffected by these tough financial times, but they are making a huge difference in our lives and more importantly in the lives of our guests.
I plan on joining this group of difference makers. I have placed URM in my estate plans. If you would like to be this kind of difference maker please contact dhutson@urm.org. Keep us in your prayers! Andy B.
Aaron Leichman of the Christian Post wrote a great article on Union Rescue Mission’s effort to support LA Dodgers’ James Loney for the MLB Roberto Clemente Award.
Union Rescue Mission, which has dedicated itself to serving the poor and homeless since it was established in 1891, is rallying behind LA Dodgers nominee James Loney, who has been active with Christian nonprofit organization.
“I met James Loney during his rookie year, on Christian Day at Dodger Stadium, and he was very friendly and outgoing as he had his picture taken with those of us from KKLA Radio that day,” recalled the Rev. Andrew (Andy) J. Bales, CEO of Union Rescue Mission, in his corporate blog.
“He and his wonderful teammate, Andre Ethier, have taken an active interest in URM,” he continued. “Andre has even grilled hot dogs on the roof with us, and James Loney has a wonderful outreach with young people in Los Angeles through Loney’s Lounge.”
If James Loney wins the award he will donate $30,000 to Union Rescue Mission. Click here to go and vote for James Joney and help URM receive $30,000.
Although it was hard to leave my new grandson, Elijah Solomon Bales, behind in Iowa, I am glad to be back at the Mission and back to work! I am now rescheduling my life and my vacation times around a little 7 lb. 5 ounce handsome miracle – my life will never be the same! Likewise, my bank account will never be the same! As my friend Warren Currie jokingly says, “My 26 or so grandchildren cause me to nearly go bankrupt each Christmas!”
Despite all of the challenges facing our world (after 48 hours in my car listening to CNN on XM radio, I am up on current events – believe me), I am excited to be back because we have lots of exciting things happening in the days ahead at Union Rescue Mission.
Union Rescue Mission is preparing once again to open the winter shelters in Burbank, West LA, Culver City, and here in downtown through added cots in our facility, and we have our biggest Thanksgiving event ever coming up with some surprises. I will inform everyone more on these surprises as the big event approaches.
Thanks to a wonderful open house and fundraiser by the Friends of Hope Gardens Family Center this last Saturday evening, we are preparing to complete the renovation of Hope Gardens Family Center’s kitchen and then take on the final two complex building renovations so that we can house 20 more families and many more children in the months ahead.
This next week we also launch a new Hospitality and Guest Services Department to better serve our men and women guests. We have hired Rev. Brenda Mitchell, former Pastor of Congregational Care at Bel Air Presbyterian Church, to lead our staff in living out our mission statement “…embrace our guests with the compassion of Christ” more fully. We want to greet our guests as they are – the princes and princesses, sons and daughters of the King of Kings.
Thank you for your continued support of this tremendous work and ministry at Union Rescue Mission!
Although it was hard to leave my new grandson, Elijah Solomon Bales, behind in Iowa, I am glad to be back at the Mission and back to work! I am now rescheduling my life and my vacation times around a little 7 lb. 5 ounce handsome miracle – my life will never be the same! Likewise, my bank account will never be the same! As my friend Warren Currie jokingly says, “My 26 or so grandchildren cause me to nearly go bankrupt each Christmas!”
Despite all of the challenges facing our world (after 48 hours in my car listening to CNN on XM radio, I am up on current events – believe me), I am excited to be back because we have lots of exciting things happening in the days ahead at Union Rescue Mission.
Union Rescue Mission is preparing once again to open the winter shelters in Burbank, West LA, Culver City, and here in downtown through added cots in our facility, and we have our biggest Thanksgiving event ever coming up with some surprises. I will inform everyone more on these surprises as the big event approaches.
Thanks to a wonderful open house and fundraiser by the Friends of Hope Gardens Family Center this last Saturday evening, we are preparing to complete the renovation of Hope Gardens Family Center’s kitchen and then take on the final two complex building renovations so that we can house 20 more families and many more children in the months ahead.
This next week we also launch a new Hospitality and Guest Services Department to better serve our men and women guests. We have hired Rev. Brenda Mitchell, former Pastor of Congregational Care at Bel Air Presbyterian Church, to lead our staff in living out our mission statement “…embrace our guests with the compassion of Christ” more fully. We want to greet our guests as they are – the princes and princesses, sons and daughters of the King of Kings.
Thank you for your continued support of this tremendous work and ministry at Union Rescue Mission!
“Downtown dwellers vs. the homeless” – When a mental health service wanted to move into their Little Tokyo building, loft residents cried ‘not in our lobby.’
Union Rescue Mission was honored last night to be the charity of choice for James Loney, star 1st Baseman of the Los Angeles Dodgers, as he received the team’s Roberto Clemente Award, sponsored by Chevrolet. I have provided excerpts from MLB.com below to explain this honor.
The Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to a player who demonstrates the values Clemente displayed in his commitment to community and understanding the value of helping others. Each club nominated a player.
Roberto Clemente was a legendary figure both on and off the field. In baseball, he was labeled “complete” for his incredible offensive and defensive skills. But it was his compassion off the field that redefined the term.
Clemente once said, “Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on this Earth.”
On September 30, 1972, Roberto Clemente hit a double to earn his 3,000th Major League hit, placing him in an elite group of baseball greats. No one knew it at the time, but that two-bagger would represent the last regular season hit for Roberto Clemente. That New Year’s Eve, Roberto and four others boarded a plane to deliver relief supplies to earthquake-striken Nicaragua. Shortly after takeoff the plane exploded and crashed in the Atlantic Ocean. There were no survivors.
“Roberto Clemente played the game of baseball with a great passion that could only be matched by his unrelenting commitment to making a difference in the lives of those in need. People saw him as a great ballplayer and humanitarian.”
Manny Sanguillen
friend and former Pirates teammate
Roberto was my favorite ballplayer growing up, as I even used to swing at high pitches and try to “tomahawk” line drives and run the bases with the passion of Roberto Clemente.
When our Chairman of the Board David Dow, an avid baseball fan, heard of this honor, he wrote to me;
“Wow, where do I start! Whom do I congratulate first? That is one coveted award, made more coveted in my heart by virtue of Clemente being my late son’s favorite ballplayer (Mark wore a Pittsburgh Pirate hat until it was grimy and smelly.) Clemente died being the kind of humanitarian to which we all should aspire.”
I met James Loney during his rookie year, on Christian Day at Dodger Stadium, and he was very friendly and outgoing that day as he had his picture taken with those of us from KKLA Radio. He and his wonderful teammate, Andre Ethier, have taken an active interest in URM. Andre has even grilled hot dogs on the roof with us and James Loney has a wonderful outreach with young people in Los Angeles through Loney’s Lounge.
Last night James honored us by handing us a check for $7,500 as the designee of his award. But, if you, our friends, go to this website
Please go to the following website and vote for James Loney, star 1st Baseman of the Los Angeles Dodgers, for the major league baseball Roberto Clemente Award.
Please go to the following website and vote for James Loney, star 1st Baseman of the Los Angeles Dodgers, for the major league baseball Roberto Clemente Award.
