Month: February 2011

Winter Shelters: Glendale

Since December 1st, the LA county Winter Shelters have been providing assistance, meals, and housing for those experiencing homelessness all around the Los Angeles area.

Looking for a safe haven from the winter cold, the rainy weather, and hopelessness of living in a situation of homelessness, hundreds of people have found the EIMAGO shelters. EIMAGO is a Union Rescue Mission subsidiary, who has worked with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to provide four additional shelters for the winter months. These shelters will be closing March 15th, a recent worry on many guests’ minds.

The Glendale winter shelter has been a place called home by over a hundred people these past months. Over this past weekend, numbers were higher than usual due to the rainy nights. Having decided to never turn anyone away, the shelter provided beds to over 200 individuals Saturday night.

Dinner was also served to an over-capacity crowd with the help of volunteers, people who dedicate many nights each week to this particular shelter.

Return back tomorrow for some stories of those currently calling Glendale Winter Shelter their home.

URM Day of Prayer Held March 1st

Dear Friends,

We are declaring March 1st as a Day of Prayer for Union Rescue Mission. Every day in this work is a day of prayer, but we’d like to ask that as our Board of Directors meets together on a Prayer Teleconference tomorrow, that you please take some time during the day tomorrow to pray for Union Rescue Mission, our Board of Directors, our staff, donors, volunteers, and our guests.

We’d specifically like to you to spend some time praying for our Senior Leadership Team, as they take a couple of days away to strengthen our sustainability plans and retrofit Union Rescue Mission for the future. We are asking for wisdom from above to help us make the best decisions, and we desperately need your prayers.

Culver City Stories: Meet Kiera

 

Kiera is one of the youngest guests at the Culver City winter shelter. She started coming to the shelter in mid-December with her mom and brother, who all hitchhiked from Arizona in July.

Since then, her mother stopped coming to the Winter Shelter, but Kiera chose to come back, wanting to volunteer in the kitchen. She helps prepare and serve meals to the guests every night. Kiera loves her life on Venice beach, but she says she also loves the winter shelter. “I love it, I’ve made friends and really like volunteering.”

After March, Kiera is expecting to have to find a new shelter, not wanting to spend her nights on Venice beach.

Culver City Stories: Meet Kimberley

Tonight is Kimberley’s second night at the Culver City winter shelter. Kimberly is 43 and moved to Venice beach less than two weeks ago. She is looking for work, wanting to find a restaurant job. Having work experience in Vegas casinos for the past fifteen years, she is confident in her ability to find a job. In the mean time, she has no place to live.

Having heard about the winter shelter from a man she met on the beach, Kimberly came eager for a hot shower and bed. “This place is a blessing, I’m warm, I’m clean, what more could I ask for?”

Check back tomorrow for another look into the guests of Culver City Winter Shelter.

Culver City Stories: Meet Jamie

Jamie has been coming to the winter shelter for 2 months, ever since he last was released from prison. He explained his past as one full of drugs, crime, and having experienced homelessness. In and out of prison his entire life, he has spent over 20 years imprisoned for various crimes. But now,  he is ready to start over.

Since being released, Jamie spends his days on Venice beach playing his guitar and performing on the boardwalk. At 5:30 he catches the second bus to the Culver City winter shelter. “This place is my stepping stone. It is my transition, to get my life back on the line.” He is hoping the shelter will be staying open longer, long enough for him to save up his own money.

Check back tomorrow for another look into the guests of Culver City Winter Shelter.

Culver City Stories: Meet Azubike



Azubike Odunze is a hired intake assistant at the Culver City winter shelter, having been employed since the first of December 2010. He helps new guests fill out their intake packets and is available to talk to any guest. Listening to the stories of guests is his favorite part of the job, because he is able to show that he cares to those who most need it. He also helps set up the shelter daily, handling bedding and storage at the armory. After a night of working, he says he goes home uplifted by the guests, saying everyone is “surprisingly upbeat.”

Check back tomorrow for another look into the guests of Culver City Winter Shelter.

Culver City Stories: Meet Michael

Michael is an employed security guard at the Culver City winter shelter, working every day since December 2010. “God put me here for a reason, to help the homeless,” said Hendrikson. He said God placed this job on his heart and he answered to the call. While working security, he has provided 10 guests with job interviews and new job opportunities. His security job involves watching over the guests and checking them at the door for any prohibited items. However, Michael sees his job as an opportunity to encourage the nightly guests and serve them in any way he can.

Check back tomorrow for another look into the guests of Culver City Winter Shelter.

Culver City Stories: Meet Matt

Matt came to California nine months ago from Arizona. He now lives on the streets in Venice, California. Matt, known as “Ghost” to the guests, has been coming to the Culver City winter shelter since the beginning of January and plans to continue coming every night till March.

Check back tomorrow for another look into the guests of Culver City Winter Shelter.

Winter Shelters: Culver City

Every winter, the Winter Shelter Program opens four additional shelters run through Union Rescue Mission.

Culver City is one of these four, providing a warm and safe place to those experiencing homelessness in Venice, CA.

This week is a look into the Culver City Winter Shelter, bringing stories of those employed and staying as guests in the shelter. For many, this shelter has become home in the past few months and has served as a transition to a better life. The shelter will be closing March 15, and for many guests of Culver City winter shelter this will be too soon.

A few volunteers and staff members start setting up the armory and preparing for guests to arrive at 4:00pm. Beds are assembled, chairs are set up, bedding is brought out, and televisions are put into place.A truck from URM brings the food prepared and ready to be served.

Jacqunette Goods is the Culver City winter shelter Program Coordinator and oversees the afternoon set up and nightly guest check in table. The guests arrive in two buses starting at 5:00pm and are checked-in and walk through security before going to claim their beds for the night.

Check back tomorrow for a look into the guests of Culver City Winter Shelter with stories of those finding their way home through the provision of the winter shelters.

Caring Ministries Hosts “Celebrating Youth”

Caring Ministries visited Union Rescue Mission this past weekend with their “Celebrating Youth” talent showcase. On Saturday, February 12, visitors and URM guests watched the showcase performance including national finalists as well as a few URM youth acts.

Celebrating Youth

Morris Bland, DeMonja Hayes, and Philip and Isaac Hephzibah entertained with an outstanding break dance routine to the song “Pump Up”.

This little performer shared his gospel gift with the audience.

The event was hosted by celebrity figures Alphonso McAuley, comedian movie actor; Harry J. Lennix, a movie and television actor for twenty years; and Camille Winbush, TV series star. After the event, guests received autographs and Whole Foods gift bags.

Caring Ministries mission is to provide a stage to all youth and talents despite any financial hardship. Thank you for visiting Union Rescue Mission and letting us be a part of such a great show!