Thank you to Love, Inc. and the UC Merced Helping Hands Club for making our clients at Hope Respite Care feel special this Christmas. Each client was able to receive a Christmas gift bag because of the kindness and generosity of these groups. The UC Merced Helping Hands Club sold hot chocolate on campus to raise the funds to help make this possible. Thank you again!
High School senior, Sidney Roest, crocheted over three dozen scarves to keep people warm.
A wonderful lady from Merced knitted hats for those in need!
Hilmar quilting group made quilts and pillowcases for children in our Hope for Families program.
Chuck Herman served for many years in the military, including time in Vietnam. He then worked for many years in real estate here in Merced. In 1987, having enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, Chuck and his wife, Titika, were watching television when a program came on telling of all the needy people who did not have the means to have a Thanksgiving dinner. Chuck and Titika decided that they could do something to help people in need. They began preparing, and at Thanksgiving the next year, they began serving a sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings to people in need in Merced. People asked them if they were with a church or another organization, but it was just the two of them together with some friends who came on board to help. The Thanksgiving dinner for people in need took on its own life, and it seemed there needed to be a name. Two or three years in, Chuck named it the “Thanksgiving Day Dinner for the Needy by Those Who Care.”
The first year of this event, they served about 75 people, and each year they continued to grow. By the 7th and 8th year, they were serving 1,300 people. In about 1996, for health reasons, Chuck and his wife turned this event over to Scott and Mary Camper. The Camper’s continued serving Thanksgiving Dinner to people in need for about 8 more years before turning this event over to the Rescue Mission. The Mission has been glad to be carrying on this great tradition. At the 2022 Thanksgiving Dinner, Chuck was present and was on the serving line dishing up turkey for those who came to enjoy the banquet.
Chuck’s wife, Titika, passed away in July of 2022. In memory of his wife, Chuck contributed a flagpole and flag to the new Village of Hope campus. The veterans living there see the flag as they come out the front door to the Hope for Veterans building. Everyone on the campus is inspired with this new addition. At a special ceremony dedicating the new flagpole and flag, Chuck raised the flag. The flagpole also served as a focal point as we remembered the life of one of the veterans who had been living on campus since March and who recently passed away. As a Mission, we would like to thank Chuck for his service to our country and for his commitment and service to our community.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve Banquets a wonderful success! The Mission hosted both banquets at the America Legion Hall in Merced and served over 500 people at each banquet. Many people received a meal, clothing, and at the Christmas Eve banquet, presents for their kids. We were also able to pray with people as they left. Our community came together to donate food, time, and funding to give HOPE this holiday season. The Mission would like to thank all who came to help serve, visit with people in need, and help set up and clean up. We would also like to thank the American Legion Hall for making their facility available for both banquets! Thank you for touching the lives of those in need in Merced County.
Since the Merced Field of Honor’s inception ten years ago, the Merced County Rescue Mission has been honored to help set up and take down this beautiful display of flags. This year, approximately 2,000 flags are waving in honor of those who defend our country and community through military service and as first responders. Joining the Merced Sunrise Rotary who sponsor and put on the Field of Honor, men and women from the Hope for Men and Women's program came out in force to pound stakes, carry flags, and put them in place to create the Field of Honor that we have all enjoyed. Merced Sunrise Rotary is holding a Field of Honor at Merced College from November 5 -12, 2022.
On an annual basis, our community has rallied together to make this a memorable event. The Merced County Rescue Mission would like to thank the Merced Sunrise Rotary for allowing us to participate in this beautiful event. We would also like to thank Joseph Gallo Farms and all those who contribute to underwrite the Field of Honor. It is a privilege to work together!
Merced County organized a 100-day challenge in which many organizations working together would try to house 100 children experiencing homelessness in 100 days. Merced Rescue Mission (Mission Merced) joined this effort together with many other organizations such as the Merced County Human Services Agency, the Merced County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Healthy House, New Directions, and Sierra Saving Grace. The goal of finding permanent housing for 100 children was reached during the 100 days which began on July 6th and ended on October 14th. In fact, to date, this effort has found housing for 107 children.
Jennifer Sherrar who serves as Case Manager for the Mission’s Hope for Families program headed up the Mission’s efforts and successfully found housing for four families which included 11 children. As a Mission, we are so grateful to work collaboratively with other organizations in our community to serve and improve the well-being of people in our community. We appreciate Jennifer’s hard work and loving spirit in working with special families. Two of the families who received housing are pictured here. Melinda with her two children and Namecia with her two children.
Through generous donations from First 5 California, Merced, and Jason West (in memory of his father) the Mission was able to purchase and install a new playground on our campus. Home Depot stores in Merced and Los Banos have donated pergolas to provide shade for parents watching their children. They have also donated rubber chips as a base for the playground area to provide a cushion for children who might fall. This colorful addition to the campus will provide a bright spot for children to run off their energy in a safe location.
The Mission is so grateful to community members and organizations who are participating in making the Village of Hope campus a place that benefits our whole community.
