Last night, Hope Gardens Family Center was featured on KABC News. You can watch the news clip above, or click here to read the article.
In The News
Austin’s Story: “Why Not Give Back to the Community In Our Area”
One of the steps in our plan to end homelessness in Los Angeles is to “stop making excuses”.
Austin, one of our volunteers, is a prime example of doing just that. As an Eagle Scout, he decided to use what he had to benefit Union Rescue Mission and give back to those in his community. Please take a moment to watch this video of Austin, and see how one person really can make an impact.
Each of us has talents and resources that can be used to make a difference in the lives of other people. We encourage you to join our movement to end homelessness as we know it in Los Angeles.
Project Restart Kicks Off With Open House
Union Rescue Mission and its affiliate Eimago, Inc. unite in a
historic partnership between the City and the County of Los Angeles
Through a new grant program administered by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, Eimago has transformed a triplex and duplex generously donated by the City of Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. The project is designed to provide emergency housing for nine families that are experiencing homelessness. Operations are being funded by the County of Los Angeles for the sole purpose of getting vulnerable families off of the dangerous streets of Skid Row and into a safe family environment.
Come celebrate the launch of Project Restart with an Open House and tour. The Project Restart Emergency Housing Program provides an environment that promotes healing for families experiencing homelessness.
Project Restart Open House and Barbeque
Thursday, May 13th 2010
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
2528 Orange Drive, Los Angeles 90016
Families in this unique program are placed in safe housing away from the precarious streets of Skid Row where support staff will assist them in getting back on their feet. The mission is to provide a wide range of supportive case management, housing advocacy, employment assistance, children’s tutoring and after-school programs, along with other needed services, to remove the obstacles for these vulnerable families so they can rapidly return to permanent independent housing. Partnerships with a variety of other service providers both on-site and in the community make a way for educational support, financial management, medical, dental, legal, life skills training and mental health support.
From Andy Bales, CEO of Eimago and the Union Rescue Mission, “This program is a historic partnership between the City and the County. We need more often to see these two bodies come together in one accord to tackle a problem like homelessness. This is a complex issue and it takes a village. We need more opportunities where community based organizations, faith-based organizations and all facets of local government come together with a common purpose to say ‘together we are stronger and we can solve homelessness, one family at a time’.”
Union Rescue Mission
Since 1891 The Union Rescue Mission (URM) has been providing a variety of services to those who find themselves homeless and impoverished in Los Angeles. URM’s subsistence services are delivered free of charge to those in need and without any requirements – providing emergency programs that offer food, showers, hygiene items, mail services and shelter. For those seeking a program of reintegration, URM provides recovery programs for men, women and children using education, job training, counseling, legal assistance, twelve-step programs, transitional housing, medical care, dental services, healthy meals, safe shelter and clean clothing. In June 2007, Hope Gardens Family Center opened in Sylmar – an innovative solution for families transitioning from homelessness.
Eimago, Inc.
Eimago is a public benefit corporation and a strategic partner with the Union Rescue Mission building on its 118 years of service to men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. Eimago works with public sector agencies and funding to extend the continuum of care for the clients at URM and similar agencies serving those who find themselves homeless.
Leveraging provides additional programs that offer sustainability and longer-term care beyond emergency shelter for targeted populations, such as those who find themselves homeless, the addicted, those released from incarceration, veterans, the elderly and low income families.
eNews Update April 2010
We are blessed with amazing, selfless volunteers all year round! We thank God for each and every one of them.
In honor of National Volunteer Month, we are highlighting a few of the recent and upcoming activities that are only made possible by the generosity of our volunteers.
Beautifying Hope Gardens
On April 24th, a total of 150 volunteers from five different organizations came out to Hope Gardens for a Day of Service! Thanks to their hard work, we were able to complete projects ranging gardening to painting. To see our photos and read more about the event, check out our blog here, check out our blog here.
A Special Treat for Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and we are very excited for this year’s celebration! Both Glamour Project and a very generous clothing company have done free makeovers for our moms at Hope Gardens. And on Thursday, we will be hosting a luncheon for moms and senior ladies thanks to Daily Grill and our amazing volunteers!
Hunt.Feed.Fish.
We are looking forward to having volunteers from Hunt.Fish.Feed come serve a meal in a couple of weeks. The Sportsman Channel will be making a stop at URM during their 11-city “Hunt.Fish.Feed” tour to help provide food for people experiencing homelessness! Their initiative is unique–tapping into a new food source for those who are in need by providing meals “made possible by sportsmen to whom hunting is synonymous with harvesting”.
Again, we give praise for our volunteers who are making a life-changing difference in the lives of men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in LA.
Blessings,
Andy Bales, CEO
PS. Saturday, 9/11, is the National Day of Service and Remembrance and we will be having an all-out volunteer day! Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information!
Daily Grill Honors Mothers with Luncheon
Yesterday, the mothers from Hope Gardens and URM came together to enjoy a beautiful luncheon courtesy of the Daily Grill! Nearly 80 moms were able to enjoy a delicious meal, relax kids-free, and listen to a special performance by renowned gospel singer Janie Jackson.
After the luncheon, all the women were treated to gift bags containing awesome bath and body products thanks to Maly’s Beauty Supply!
Thanks to Daily Grill, Maly’s, and all of our volunteers for making this special event possible!
You can check out more pictures from event on our Flickr Slideshow:
HerbaLife Shaking It Up At Union Rescue Mission
Join Union Recue Mission CEO Andy Bales and Herbalife Chairman and CEO Michael O. Johnson today Monday, May 3, 2010 as they announce a partnership to serve healthy protein shakes at breakfast weekday mornings all year to Union Rescue Mission guests in the Skid Row community that depend on the Mission for good nutritious meals.
On average (URM) serves 3,500 meals a day. Herbalife will donate its Formula 1 Nutritional Shake Mix to the Mission so residents can start their day with a nutritious drink along with their breakfast.
Union Rescue Mission’s CEO Andy Bales said “A big thanks to Herbalife for empowering our precious guests with a delicious and nutritious shake!”
Who: Union Rescue Mission & Herbalife will launch & serve Herbalife Shakes with celebrity Chef G. Garvin, Actress Vanessa Bell Calloway & Actress Kiki Sheppard.
When: Monday May 3, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Sharp
Where: Union Rescue Mission 545 South San Pedro Street (btw 5th & 6th on San Pedro)
Why: Union Rescue Mission and Herbalife coming together to provide healthier eating to people experiencing homelessness.
About Union Rescue Mission:
Union Rescue Mission is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving people experiencing homeless. Established in 1891, URM is one of the largest rescue missions of its kind in the United States and is the oldest in Los Angeles. It provides a comprehensive array of emergency and long-term services, including food, shelter, clothing; medical and dental care; Christian recovery programs, transitional housing, legal assistance, education, counseling and job training to needy men, women, children and families. For more information, please visit our website urm.org
About Herbalife Ltd.
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) is a global network marketing company that sells weight-management, nutrition, and personal care products intended to support a healthy lifestyle. Herbalife products are sold in 72 countries through a network of approximately two million independent distributors. The company supports the Herbalife Family Foundation and its Casa Herbalife program to help bring good nutrition to children. Herbalife’s website contains a significant amount of information about Herbalife, including financial and other information for investors at http://ir.herbalife.com The Company encourages investors to visit it Web site from time to time, as information is updated and new information is posted.
Peeps Enjoy Day of Fun at Knott’s Berry Farm!
This month, 9 “Peeps” – children at Hope Gardens between the ages of 1-5 years old – were able to enjoy a fun-filled outing to Knott’s Berry Farm! The kids had a blast riding the rides at Camp Snoopy, and eating pizza for lunch.
By the time, they left they were worn out and sleeping on the bus back to Hope Gardens!
150 Volunteers Come to Day of Service at Hope Gardens
Although National Volunteer Month is coming to an end, we want to continue to express how grateful we are for all our volunteers that support us here at URM and Hope Gardens throughout the whole year!
Just this past Saturday, we had 150 volunteers from five groups join together for a Day of Service at Hope Gardens! Volunteers from Nestle, Calvary Chapel Murrieta, Pacific Crossroads Church, Bel Air Presbyterian, and Cloud and Fire worked on projects ranging from gardening, painting, organization a donation room, demolition, and landscaping!
In particular, 70 youth volunteers from Bel Air Presbyterian Church and Cloud & Fire Ministries came together, as they have for the past year, to work specifically on the donation area, clearing a hillside to plant fruit trees, and removing a large planter in the parking lot area. They also took part in the dedication of a wing of classrooms that they helped to put the finishing touches on that afternoon.
You can view our Flickr album from this event here, or check us out at www.facebook.com/unionrescuemission !
Standout Volunteers Honored for National Volunteer Week
It takes a lot of work to do what we do here at URM, and we couldn’t do it all without the help of our many volunteers! In celebration of National Volunteer Week, we honored some of our standout volunteers! A total of 10 volunteers made it down to our Tuesday morning chapel for a special recognition in front of our staff and guests.
Without the help of these and other faithful individuals and organizations, we would not be where we are today!
Thanks to everyone who gives of their time to make an impact here on Skid Row – you are appreciated!
2010 Volunteer Appreciation Attendees:
Ahman Banes & Shawn Gendall representing Calvary Church – Pacific Palisades
Keiko Ichikawa, representing The Bridge
Kathy Morrison
Pamela Bernard
Dale Gibson
Cruz Martinez
Sean Brazil, VP of the URM Club at San Marino High School
Bel Air Presbyterian
Merrill Lynch/Bank of America
At-Risk Youth Working to Build a Better Community
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kitty Davis-Walker
(213) 673-4585 or (213) 507-5562
Email: kwalker@urm.org
“HELP & HOPE COMES IN THE FORM OF AT- RISK YOUTH WORKING TO BUILD A BETTER COMMUNITY”
Sylmar California (April 22, 2010) — On Saturday, April 24, 2010 more than 100 youth volunteers from Bel Air Presbyterian Church and Cloud & Fire Ministries will converge on the grounds of the Union Rescues Mission’s Hope Gardens Family Center as they have for the past year building, repairing, constructing and restoring buildings around this Oasis of Hope nestled in the foothills of Sylmar California. Activities for this Day of Service will begin with a brief program and special visit from Councilman Richard Alarcon.
Who: Union Rescue Mission’s Hope Gardens Family Center in partnership with Bel Air Presbyterian Church and Cloud & Fire Ministries (YouthBuild) will showcase the extensive construction work done by the helpful hands of at-risk youth from Cloud & Fire Ministries.
What: A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony celebrating the completion of Bel Air Presbyterian Church and Cloud and Fire Ministries (YouthBuild) team will start the Day of Service by putting the finishing touches on a wing of classrooms to be dedicated on this day at noon.
Where: URM’s Hope Gardens Family Center located 12249 North Lopez Canyon Road, Sylmar California 91342.
When: Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Why: To assist the Union Rescue Mission in providing a beautiful campus of quality transitional housing for senior women and single mothers with children experiencing homelessness.
Union Rescue Mission CEO, Andy Bales said “The youth from Cloud and Fire have transformed Hope Gardens’ educational wing with their tremendous work, and have impacted other children and youth for years to come”.
About Hope Gardens Family Center
Hope Gardens Family Center a program of Union Rescue Mission is a Transitional
Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing campus that gives single mothers and their children, and senior women experiencing homelessness a chance to move out of despair and rebuild their lives. Hope Gardens Family Center helps women transition from homelessness to independence within 12 to 36 months through long-term rehabilitation programs, services and spiritual care designed to support and empower each individual and family. For more information, please visit our website urm.org