2023 Annual Report

The numbers tell the story of a great 2023! Your faithful support was a blessing to the hundreds of people who came to the Mission for help during the past year. People came to the Mission for many different reasons. It may have been a result of a broken relationship, a health issue, a problem with addiction, a poor choice, an emotional breakdown, loss of a job, or incarceration. Something happened in the lives of the people who came to us which left them without a place to live and a deep feeling of hopelessness. Whatever brought people to this point in their lives, your gifts made it possible for the Mission to be there for them. The Mission offered compassion and provided real solutions for real problems, giving them HOPE that can only be found through Jesus Christ! Together, we helped people discover the life God intended them to have. Thank you for your partnership in this ministry!

Dr. Bruce Metcalf, CEO, MCRM

Reaching the Goal of Helping People

By Dr. Bruce Metcalf, Executive Director

I want to express my personal gratitude to so many of you who have given sacrificially in order to give hope to people who feel hopeless. Having just celebrated the birth of Christ, we remember how God gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not die without hope but will have eternal life (John 3:16). Through your giving you are responding to a command that Jesus spoke of when he said “love your neighbor as yourself.” You are sharing God’s love and hope as good tidings of great joy are revealed through God’s salvation. Thank you again for your support that is transforming the lives of men and women!

“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”

- Romans 6:14

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

- Romans 6:23

SHOEBOXES FOR KIDS COLLECTS 200 GIFTS

The Rescue Mission would like to thank the Merced County Educational Services Sunshine group who collected 200 wrapped gifts, nearly 100 pairs of socks and 10 blankets for the children of Merced County during this year’s Shoeboxes for Kids gift drive.

Every year, the gift drive invites staff at the Department of Education to donate gift items for children in the community. Gifts are then distributed to children for the holidays at the Rescue Mission’s Christmas Banquet.

Shoeboxes were prepared and wrapped by students from Hilmar Unified School District, who donated 500 socks from their holiday sock drive.

Thanks again to the Sunshine group for their generous efforts to help needy children in our community have a happy Christmas. The group is composed of Heather Woody, Ceci Perez, Elmira Mello and Sandra Betschart.

Pictured: MCOE staff Odessa Osby, Mary Louro and Elira Mello prepare gifts at the 8th Annual Shoeboxes for Kids gift drive.

Holiday Banquets, a Huge Success!

Approximately 700 people at each event enjoyed sumptuous holiday meals with all the trimmings. All of this was possible as the community came together around us with donations of food, and so much more. We thank the American Legion who allowed us to use their facilities, we thank churches, businesses and individuals who supported these events in so many ways. Clothing was made available to those who needed it. Hundreds of volunteers came to serve the meals, to share a meal with one of our guests and to listen to their stories. Some of our volunteers also prayed with people as they left. At our Christmas Banquet Santa was present to the delight of the children who received presents. Once again, thank you to all of you who made these banquets such a festive and special experience as we cared for people who often feel forgotten.

Joy to the World!

By Dr. Bruce Metcalf, Executive Director, MCRM

“Joy to the World,” exclaims our celebration of God’s gift of His son, who came into the world to bring us hope and salvation. In this season of gratitude and giving, your generous gifts to the Rescue Mission are giving hope and dramatically changing lives.

Recently, the men in the Mission’s Hope for Men program prepared an incredible feast to thank the teachers and volunteers who have helped transform their lives. It was a blessing to hear some of the men share their own stories and to experience with them the beautiful change in their lives.

Some of the men had also invited family members to come and enjoy the gourmet meal. Seeing men share special moments together, with their families gave evidence of God’s love which keeps radiating out to men, women, and families who so desperately need that love.

It is God’s love expressed through your prayers and your gifts that make all this possible. In this Christmas season, the Rescue Mission thanks you for sharing God’s blessing with those who need it most!

Hope for Men prepared and served a Thanksgiving dinner in appreciation of the teachers and volunteers who serve the Mission.