I was born in a home filled with drugs, alcohol, abuse, and violence. I experienced things no child ever should. For three years, I was abused by my uncles. I’ve got scars from my head to my legs, all from my family. So I grew up angry and full of hate. And I spent my life taking it out on everyone I knew.

I did get married, twice, but I lost both marriages because of my anger and emotional abuse. I have two daughters who want nothing to do with me, because I didn’t know how to love them. When my second marriage ended, I was left with nothing. I had nowhere else to go, so I came to Union Rescue Mission.

When I came here, drugs and alcohol weren’t killing me. Rage was killing me. I came here because I needed a whole new life. That started when the staff here introduced me to a God who loved me. It continued as I opened myself up to my chaplains and to my brothers here who showed me every day they loved me.

But God also transformed my life through the counseling I got here through the Pepperdine Mental Health Clinic. The more I opened up to my counselor, the more I could face my lifetime of hurts, abuse, and anger. I could let go of my fears, and I could let God fill the emptiness in my life with His life-transforming power, grace, and love. It’s taken a year. But God has brought me out of darkness and filled me with happiness. The angry man I was is gone. I have God in my life, and that’s a joy I will never lose.

Last Christmas was awful. I felt empty and alone. This Christmas, it’s so different. I’m not empty. I’m not alone. I’m surrounded by a new loving family at Union Rescue Mission.

As a donor, your support made it all possible. You gave me the greatest Christmas gift anyone could ever give me: a new life. Thank you — and Merry Christmas!

Many of the men, women, and children at Union Rescue Mission struggle with deep psychological wounds, often the result of sexual abuse, physical and domestic violence, and other forms of emotional trauma.

Thanks to your support, Union Rescue Mission’s Mental Health Clinic, which is staffed by doctoral interns from Pepperdine University’s Department of Psychology, provides professional and compassionate care to guests recovering from addictions, past trauma, and homelessness. The clinic also helps people address their broken relationships and learn how to build new, productive coping strategies that will help them in their recovery.

For men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, Christmas is the most painful time of year.

Everywhere they turn, people are celebrating with colorful presents, great food, and loved ones. But for them, the holiday season is just a daily reminder of everything they don’t have.

But not at Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens. This Christmas, men, women, and children will wake up with Christmas joy, knowing they are not forgotten, knowing that someone cares — someone like you.

For just $2.54, you can give those coming off the streets the chance for new life — starting with a meal!