In The News

“Hope & Soap” Project Blesses Winter Shelter Guests

When Pastor Kelly DuPree of Faith Community Church in West Covina was praying about how to serve people staying in their local winter shelter, he came up with a project called “Hope and Soap”. Basically, the plan was to assemble hygiene kits and hand them out to people on the last day of the shelter. Not only would they hand out the products, but also offer “hope” by providing rides to URM and a place in one of our life transformation programs.

Volunteers from Faith Community helped to pass out over 140 kits, and met 6 people that wanted a ride to come down to URM! Wanting to do more than just provide a “hand-out”, Faith Community partnered with us in a way to do just that – they showed people love and offered them an opportunity to change their lives. Thanks so much to all the great people from Faith Community in West Covina who helped to bless many people this week at the closing of the Winter Shelters.

If your church or organization is interested in partnering with us in any way, please contact Jeremiah Johnson, our Church Relation Representatives at 213-248-1043 or jjohnson@urm.org.

Men’s Program Celebrates March 2011 Graduation

 

Men’s Christian Life Discipleship Program

Graduation

Sunday, March 6th 2011

 

Graduation is something we celebrate three times a year with the men who have successfully completed the Life Transformation Program at Union Rescue Mission. Every one of these men have fulfilled the many requirements of the year long intensive course.

The program aims to transform lives, through the teaching of life skills, stepping through recovery, and instilling the knowledge and love of God. Men complete hours of Bible study, physical exercise, counseling, anger management, and other training. Graduation is the time where transformed men stand before everyone with the realization of their self-worth and a great sense of security through a new trust in God.

As part of the commencement ceremony, Dr. Robert Flores, President of LIFE Pacific College, shared a message as the graduation keynote speaker. His message focused on God’s gift of second chances and challenged the graduates to above all else, remain focused on God.

Twenty-three men recieved diplomas and were given celebration for all their progress and dedication. Chaplains, guests, and program directors prayed over our men as they will now continue into new lives as newly empowered men for God.

Union Rescue Mission celebrates with every new graduate and is thankful to everyone who continues to make this program possible!

March 2011 Graduates

Jeffery Hasley

Issac Lyons

Maurice McClelland

Blair McMurray

John Bales

Yuri Blanco

Anthony Garner

Luster Kelsey

Kenneth Lesley

Curtis Rogers

Theodore Sawicki

Luis Garcia

Santiago Guerrero

Edgardo Ortega

Oscar Palacios

Daniel Sheppard

Jon Chapelle

Leo Galloway

Joey Hernandez

Charles Lofthouse

Steven Martinez

Lauriano Santos

Walter Taylor III

Glendale Shelter Stories: Meet Marlyn

Marlyn has been coming to winter shelters for three years and is grateful to be back at the Glendale winter shelter this year. He is currently trying to rent rooms as a landlord, but has found it a very unstable and a financially unfruitful endeavor.

Marlyn has struggled with homelessness for much of his life. He is very grateful for the help he receives at the Glendale Winter Shelter; the generous provision has given him a few months to save his money in an effort to escape the vicious cycle of homelessness.

After the shelter closes, Marlyn says he will most likely spend his nights riding the bus back and forth, or try to get some rest in a park, sleeping on the grass.

The Glendale winter shelter is one of four shelters providing local assistance for people experiencing homelessness. Please visit our website for more information or donate to make a difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness.

Glendale Shelter Stories: Meet Jazmine and Aundria

Sisters Jazmine and Aundria are two returning volunteers of the Glendale winter shelter. They first heard about the winter shelter efforts though their local church and came the next day to offer their help. Having gone through tough situations of their own, they both know what it feels like to need help. This connection with the guests gives the sisters a reason to keep coming back and doing as much as they can for the shelter.

“I like to help people and this is the perfect place to help people out a lot,” says Jazmine. In addition to preparing and serving dinner, they gathered unused clothes from home and donated them to the guests. The donated clothes, as they pointed out, can now be seen being worn by guests all around the room.

Over the past months they have connected with the guests and become close with many. “When they see us come in to serve, they all get really happy,” said Aundria.

Check back tomorrow to hear of another story from the Glendale winter shelter. If you are interested in being a volunteer, like Jazmine and Aundria, click here for more information.

Testimonies of Program Graduates

This upcoming Sunday we will be celebrating with the graduating men of our Life Transformation Program. Three times a year Union Rescue Mission hosts a graduation ceremony for those  who have completed the year-long program of transformation and recovery.

During chapel on Tuesday a few of our soon-to-be graduates stood before their fellow program members and gave their testimonies.

We are looking forward to standing alongside our graduates this weekend as they receive their program diplomas!

Glendale Shelter Stories: Meet Steven

Steven has been coming to the Glendale winter shelter for about a month. Originally from Oklahoma, he moved to Los Angeles in November to pursue his dream of acting.

Getting infected with staff infection while at downtown shelters, he moved to Glendale to try and find a new place to call home. Steven  has been dealing with drug addiction since he was only sixteen, when his parents got divorced.  He knows that his struggle with drug addiction has played a part in why he is now experiencing homelessness. Fortunately, Steven is soon to be enrolled in a program, and the shelter is providing him meals and a roof in the meantime.

“Acting is where my heart is, and if I need to be homeless to find it, I am going to push through my troubles.” Steven is grateful to be given the provision of the winter shelter, knowing he would have little alternative otherwise.

Many more people like Steven have stories to share of their changed lives and perspectives as a result of the Glendale shelter. Check back tomorrow to hear of another guest finding their way home through the provision of the winter shelters.

Glendale Shelter Stories: Meet Paul

Paul, orginally from Liverpool, England, is well known at the shelter for his kind personality and noticeable British accent.

He first came to the Glendale winter shelter on a very rainy night about a month ago. Wanting to avoid spending the night outside in the rainy weather, Paul came across a woman who took him to the armory. Finding the people very kind, Paul continued to come nightly to the shelter, always eager for a bed.

Paul is working with staff members to try and find housing that will provide him a comfortable situation after the shelter closes on March 15th.

Many more people like Paul have stories to share of their changed lives and perspectives as a result of the Glendale shelter. Check back tomorrow to hear of another guest finding their way home through the provision of the winter shelters.

Glendale Shelter Stories: Meet Karolyn

Karolyn and her husband come nightly to the Glendale winter shelter from Pasadena. This is her first year as a guest to the shelter, but she said this quickly became her home.

“To me the Glendale armory is a place I can truly say is a home away from home,” she speaks. She praises the supervisors and the overall feel of the shelter saying, “it is peaceful, quiet, and clean.”

She and her husband are praying to God, as they both know that after the shelter closes they have no other place to live. “I appreciate this place and I am so blessed to be here, I will really miss it when it closes.”

Many more people like Karolyn have stories to share of their changed lives and perspectives as a result of the Glendale shelter. Check back tomorrow to hear of another guest finding their way home through the provision of the winter shelters.

Glendale Shelter Stories: Meet Al

This is Al’s first year as a guest to the Glendale winter shelter. “I spent a year sleeping on the ground before this place,” he says as he expresses the joys of having a bed to call his own.

Al speaks of his family, being one of many children to a once wealthy family in Pasadena. He tells of the misfortune that came upon his family and how it affected his own life. The downturn with his family caused him to lose all sense of self-worth. However, the shelter has caused him to start believing in himself again, wanting to improve himself and his life.

“I really appreciate this place,” he says, “Thank you for letting a person of my caliber come into such a wonderful place like this.”

Many more people like Al have stories to share of their changed lives and perspectives as a result of the Glendale shelter. Check back tomorrow to hear of another guest finding their way home through the provision of the winter shelters.

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.