You've helped us provide

120,266 Meals

90 Lafayette Street New York, NY 10013 • 212 226 6214 • NYCRESCUE.ORG Page 1

In This Issue

PG 2 Letter From Our CEO, Giving Thanks

PG 3 Feature Story: Impacting Our Global

Neighborhood

PG 4 Making Impact, Careers Our Clients Are

Thriving In

“The greatness of a community is most

accurately measured by the compassionate

actions of its members."

Coretta Scott King

HopeOctober 2017 Newsletter

so far this year!

A PUBLICATION OF THE NEW YORK CITY RESCUE MISSION

COMMUNITY OF COMPASSION

CELEBRATING 145 YEARS

GIVING THANKS

For months, the NYCRM's laundry operations were plagued by a faulty dryer. Repairs and maintenance could only provide temporary fixes, and the expense of a new dryer was unviable. A community partner stepped in to save the day! The NYCRM would like to acknowledge Hercules for their generous donation of two newly refurbished dryers.

"Our commitment to the New York City Rescue Mission is something we believe in as a company. The donation of the dryers from Hercules is just a small step towards us providing assistance to a very worthwhile organization. When this was brought to our attention, we didn't hesitate to assist," noted Andrew May, Hercules President and CEO. Thank you, Hercules, for blessing our guests and operations team with your donation.

FROM THE CEO

Dear Friends,

"One day I had a sort of vision. I had a house, and people were coming in. There was a bath, and as they came in I washed and cleansed them outside, and the Lord cleansed them inside..."Do it for one, if you can't do it for more," said Maria, and that's the way we begun, in an old rookery of a house in one room, and little sign hung out:"The Helping Hand for Men." - Jerry and Maria McAuley, NYCRM Founders

October 8 is a very special day for the New York City Rescue Mission (NYCRM). It is our 145th Birthday! On October 8, we celebrate 145 years of service to our neighbors in need—145 years of meeting hunger with nourishment, dispossession with welcome, and desolation with comfort. 145 years of fulfilling Jerry and Maria McAuley's vision of caring for our community's most overlooked and underserved.

Just as the Statue of Liberty's sonnet welcomes our tired, poor, and homeless neighbors from around the world entering New York, the Mission welcomes our tired, poor, and homeless guests from around the world, into our house. The struggling New Yorkers we serve come from near and far—neighbors who are New York born and raised, neighbors from across the United States, and neighbors who came to our shores in pursuit of their American Dream. Neighbors like Brian from Uganda, and Sam from the Czech Republic, whom you will meet in this issue of Hope. Like many of us, Brian and Sam were drawn by the magnetism and promise of our great city, in the "Land of Opportunity."

Building on Jerry and Maria McAuley's legacy, we believe every person is created by God to thrive, and we are uniquely called to help them discover the pathway to all that God intends for them.

Your compassionate support is impacting a global neighborhood. A neighborhood established 145 years ago by a husband and wife whose only "qualification" was their profound desire to serve. Thank you, friends, for answering the call to volunteer, invest, and advocate on behalf of our hungry, hurting, and homeless neighbors. Your faithfulness is instigating ripples of restoration around the world.

With a heart full of gratitude,

Craig A. Mayes, Ph.D.CEO

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FEATURE STORY: Impacting Our Global Neighborhood

"My family in Uganda, they need help. I had no option to stop looking for work. I have sisters to take care of because they go to school. I have to help my mom." At 21 years old, Brian carries a deep sense of responsibility for the family he left behind to chase his American Dream. It has kept him motivated throughout joblessness, homelessness, and the greatest loneliness he has ever known.

Getting to the USA was an immense task in itself. Brian moved from Uganda to Dubai for a year, working and saving relentlessly to afford the endeavor, "It was hard. The language was different, the food, the weather. Everything was awful, but in my mind I was like, this is where I can get the money to go chase my American Dream. It wasn’t well-paying, the situation wasn’t good, but it was definitely better money than I could make back home." Finally Brian saved enough for a plane ticket and a visa—in spite of his mother's misgivings, he embarked on fulfilling his lifelong desire.

Brian's American Dream did not consist of life on the streets.

"I never would have pictured myself sleeping on the streets, but I was so tired. I felt so so so bad. I felt like a loser. How could I ever tell anyone, if someone from home asked me how I was doing in America? Like my mom? I used my backpack as my pillow. I felt so bad inside." Seeking refuge in a church he found by Googling where homeless people can get help, Brian was introduced to Pastor Pedro—known at the New York City Rescue Mission (NYCRM) as Chef Pedro. Chef Pedro knew exactly where Brian could stay.

Another guest at the Mission who traveled far in aspiration of his dreams is Sam, a musician from the Czech Republic. After living and working in England for two years, Sam felt drawn to a future in the United States. Initially, he had seasonal work in Montauk, New York, but after the opportunity diminished, he found himself on the streets of Manhattan. Sam was apprehensive about coming to a shelter, but pursuing his future was impossible without help. "People need a homebase. You can't think clearly if you are hungry, or

you smell. It's difficult to be positive. It's really hard to go ask for a job when you look like a vagabond. Who's going to hire you?" Despite being close to his mother and siblings back in the Czech Republic, they aren't aware that he is currently homeless. Like Brian, Sam doesn't want to worry his family.

Now enrolled in the Mission's THRIVE Program, Sam goes out every day in search of work to support himself while pursuing his "life's purpose" of music. Whether it's waiting tables, or cleaning toilets, Sam will do whatever it takes to achieve his American Dream. He is grateful to have the Mission to come home to, regroup, and rest each night. In the evenings, the hum of Sam's voice and guitar drifts through the Mission's stairwell as he tirelessly practices his music. Sometimes he sings U2 or the Artic Monkeys, sometimes he sings in his native Czech.

After joining Workforce Readiness, Brian didn't take a single day for granted. "I was working in the Mission's kitchen, I was trying to find a job, writing and re-writing my resume. With all the job rejection, I felt broken, but at least I knew I had one thing—I had a place to stay. Somewhere safe to go and sleep. I stayed grateful for that." Brian's steadfastness paid off, and he progressed to Workforce Development—saving for an apartment, while also able to send financial assistance back to his family in Uganda.

Brian's entire conception of his American Dream has been transformed by the uncertainty and hardship he has faced. He is no longer fueled by selfish ambition, instead pursuing prosperity in order to be of service to others—especially underserved communities and street kids back in his home country. "Get them off the street, give them somewhere to stay, give them education. I didn’t have that goal when I was young. The only goal I had was to come to America, get money, and live in America for good. But I feel like I’ve grown so much, and look at things in a different way."

"Right now I’m really confident in myself. I started having limitations on my dreams, but now I feel like they’ve come back to life, like everything’s going to work out." - Brian

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"I realized what is my life purpose. I really want to do music. That's my plan, to get any job I can, and work on my music." - Sam

90 Lafayette Street New York, NY 10013 • 212 226 6214 • NYCRESCUE.ORG Page 4

MAKING IMPACT____

thrive/THrīv/verbto prosper; be fortunate or successful.

The Mission is excited to share the impact our THRIVE Program is having for our neighbors in need. Our Program is almost at capacity—each day we welcome new neighbors determined to overcome their circumstances, and return to prosperity and joy.

THRIVEPATHWAY

CURRENT PATHWAY

ENROLLMENT

TOTALPATHWAY CAPACITY

EMERGENCY FOOD & SHELTERIt is imperative to first meet the immediate and urgent needs of our hurting neighbors: a safe place to stay, and sustenance to survive another day. Food and shelter has been the core of the NYCRM's service for 145 years. We serve approx. 600 meals/day to residents, and any hungry neighbors not seeking shelter with us.

110 110

WORKFORCE READINESSOur Workforce Readiness pathway equips and empowers guests to re-enter the workforce. Guests participate in work therapy, and Career & Learning Center classes on resume-building, financial capability, mock interviews, and emotional and spiritual well-being.

35 55

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTGuests who secure employment have the assurance of a stable home at the NYCRM, while saving to afford independent housing. Guests receive ongoing case management services, and a holistic approach to preparing them for life beyond the Mission—life beyond the streets.

55 55

CAREERS OUR CLIENTS ARE THRIVING IN

Food Services, Hospitality

Web Design, Graphic Design

Banking, Finance, Bookkeeping

IT

Janitorial, Housekeeping

Maintenance

Construction Administration, Data Entry