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BELIEVER2 Give Where You Live 3 “I’m a man of God,

full of hope!” 4 Back to School

A NEWSLETTER OF THE MISSION AT KERN COUNTY • Summer 2020

P.O. Box 2222 Bakersfield, CA 93303-2222 (661) 325-0863 themissionkc.org

Restoring lives in your community since 1952… do you believe

JOE’S LIFE IS CHANGED

FOREVERand he wants to

thank YOU!Your support touches lives

with new hope.

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Joe had a good life, a thriving career and a close relationship with his family. Then his father died

of a heart attack and it tore Joe’s world apart. “I’d been a strong, successful person, but everything changed,” he says. “I quit my job to be with Mom and we stayed in the house and reminisced, stuck in our grief. We started drinking and became alcoholics together.”

For seven years, they lived off his mother’s social security and went from living well in a three-bedroom home to living in poverty in a rented room, selling their belongings or recycling to get by.

One day, Joe’s mother had to be hospitalized for pneumonia and placed on a breathing machine. “Her little heart couldn’t handle it and stopped. She passed away the day I took her in,” Joe says. “I was devastated and I couldn’t stop drinking.”

Then he learned about the Mission, and knew he needed help to get his life back on track. He

entered our Christian Life Training Discipleship Program, where he gave his life to Christ. “Through life-skills classes and Bible studies, the Lord ministered to my heart. And the staff gave me spiritual guidance and taught me accountability, servanthood, humility and honesty.”

Through grief classes, Joe also began to heal from the loss of his parents. “I read promises from the Lord that I didn’t know before,” he says.

Joe graduated from the program, is staying in our transitional housing and works as a case manager at Flood Ministries, helping people with housing vouchers maintain their homes and finances. “The Mission prepared me to be a disciple for the Lord,” he says.

Because you gave from your heart to help Joe, his life has been changed by your goodness and God’s love forever. “I was hopeless and spiritually bankrupt, but now I’m a man of God, full of hope.”

“I was spiritually bankrupt, but now I’m a man of God, full of hope!”

LOVE and the SPIRIT OF

GENEROSITY ARE ALIVE in the

Mission.

These past few months have been unsettling for everyone – and most especially for our neighbors in need. Mental illness… unemployment… addiction. These hardships can seem even more daunting in the current environment. In times like these, caring for hundreds of hurting individuals presents a challenge that’s greater than ever.

Summer is always hard, but this year we’re being stretched to the limit. The meals we serve during June, July and August cost $88,045 alone. On top of that are expenses for crisis-related assistance such as cleansing showers, air-conditioned shelter, personal hygiene items, access to medical care, and sanitizing products. And there’s no decline in the need for faith-based recovery and practical guidance that empowers our guests to change their lives.

We need your help to meet our summer challenge!

During this critical time, I pray you’ll continue to remember our homeless and struggling neighbors. They need your encouragement, prayers and compassion now more than ever.

Please give where you live to ensure we can care for every individual who turns to The Mission at Kern County for hope and a new beginning, now and in the months ahead. Your partnership brings comfort to so many, especially in times like these.

Carlos BaldovinosExecutive Director

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A Message from CARLOS BALDOVINOS

Give Where You Live!Our 92-Day SummerCampaign is underway now.

Through the 3 MONTHS of Summeryour gift today helps provide…

Give Where You Live…to Meet Our Summer

Challenge

Give now using the enclosed reply card and envelope. Give online anytime at themissionkc.org.

This time of year, gifts

typically drop off, so

we need your help now

more than ever!

42,949 meals

thousands of clothing

items

21,425 beds

life-transforming decisions for

Christ

countless hours of counseling &

education

Would you like to see your donations in action? Or would you like to know exactly what we do at The Mission at Kern County? Join us for a tour of the Mission. Come meet our staff and guests and see the life-changing work firsthand.

Tours are offered every Tuesday at 11 am and on the 4th Saturday of each month.

Call our Volunteer coordinator at (661) 325-0863, ext. 219, to schedule today.

MISSIONTOURTHE

BackpacksLunchboxes/bags

No. 2 PencilsPencil Sharpener

EraserScissors

Glue SticksBallpoint pens

FoldersBinders

Pencil BoxMarkersKleenex

Ziploc bagsBinder paperBook covers

Host a Back to School Drive orbring items directly to the

Mission and help us prepare ourchildren and adult students

for the new school year.

BACKSCHOOLSUPPLYDRIVE

TOBACKSCHOOLSUPPLYDRIVE

How old must I be to help? All children must be at least 10 years old and anyone under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

How do I sign up to volunteer?1. Online at themissionkc.org2. Email our volunteer coordinator at

jleaborn@themissionkc.org3. Call us at (661) 325-0863

Is a background check required? Those interested in volunteering at the Women’s and Children’s campus are subject to a background check prior to volunteering.

Can I volunteer if I am court ordered? Unfortunately, we are unable to accept court-ordered volunteers.

FAQ: Volunteering

In-Kind Donations Where is your donation center? Our donation center is located at our main campus at 821 E. 21st Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305. We are open Monday through Friday from 8 am – 4 pm. Drop-offs are available after hours and on the weekends in the provided bins.

What types of donations do you accept? We accept food, gently-used clothing, toiletries, home goods, and clean furniture.