spring 2003 crossroads mission newsletter

8/8/2019 Spring 2003 Crossroads Mission Newsletter

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Its The Details That

Make All The Difference

C

rossroads Mission has beenaround since 1959! Thats along time. Since then, the goal

has been to help people. We have comea long way. From a small soup kitchento a full service RESCUE Mission!With change comes responsibility, andwith responsibility comes accountability.That is why, we would like to hear fromsome of our graduates. Wed like tohear from you if you have ever beenthrough any of our programs, stayed as aguest or received assistance in any way.How did it help you? In what ways didit impact your life? What role did our

services play in yourcurrent success?

We invite you to get in touch with us.We want to share your story with the restof the community. We know for a factthat Crossroads has made a difference inmany peoples lives and were proud ofit! We trust that God will continue to domiracles in peoples lives! So, if you orsomeone you know, has a successfulCrossroads Mission life story, donthesitate to call Azucena, NewsletterEditor, at (928) 726-0491.

Crossroads Mission is a 501(c)3, private nonprofitrganization serving the homeless, needy and poor ofuma County without regard to race, color, nationalrigin, religious background, age, sex or handicap.Alternative format and reasonable accommodationsvailable upon request.) We depend on the contribu-ons of concerned individuals and organizations. Allontributions are tax-deductible. We are a member inood standing of the Association of Gospel Rescue

Missions. We do not solicit in front of stores or door tooor. Please report any impostors to us immediately.

The Crossroads Mission News for Our Partners isquarterly publication for the friends and supporters of

he Crossroads Mission. We welcome comments abouthe content of the newsletter. Please tell us how well were communicating the work which you support. If therere issues you want to hear about, please write to us.

We partner in this endeavor with the State of Arizona,ES, Yuma Community Food Bank & FEMA.

Wed liketo hearfrom you!

Spring 2003 Crossroads Mission Vol. 6, Issue 1

News for Our PartnersNews for Our Partners

Its The Details That

Make All The DifferenceS

ometimes, its the little things thatmake all the difference. Such is thecase of a woman who came to

Crossroads in search of a little happiness forher family for the Christmas days. She hadheard that Crossroads was taking applica-tions for families to be adopted by a localcompany or organization during Christmas.

So she came to give it a shot. When shegot here she was overwhelmed by the kind-

ness of the staff, specially Rose, theVoucher Manager. That day, not only didshe get her family signed up to receive gifts,toys and food during Christmas, she alsoreceived a little something extra. She wasso happy that she sent us a beautiful letterthat we want to share with you.

Dear Ms. Rose:

As I was growing up I believed in fai

tales and happy ever after endings. Wh

became a grown up woman, I realized th

was not that easy. Real life had shown m

more struggles than happy endings. Bu

when you came along in my familys lifeyou submitted our Christmas applicatio

Sun Care Ambulance, you Ms. Rose, you

became my fairy tale Godmother with a

happy ever after ending in my 2002 Chrmas. So it goes to show that its never t

late for a fairy tale to come true!

Thank you so much for the clothes, fo

toys and specially the gorgeous double

stroller that were given to my family.

God Bless You!

Left:A homelesslooks for a papants.

Bottom:Rose A.Voucher Man

The Crossroads Mission Voucher Department makes available free of charge: clothes, shobackpacks, blankets and much more, to homeless and needy people. Furniture and home sentials are also available to people who successfully complete one of the Missions progrand are moving to their own house or apartment. We also accept referrals from other locasocial service agencies. From January to December 2002, 3,341 people received help at tVoucher Department. A total of17,624 items/furniture were given away for free.

Thank you for your donations. As you can see, they do make a difference!


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Spring 2003 Page 2 Crossroads Missio

ission!

Crossroads Mission Recovery Progra

Do you, or someone you knowhave an addiction and need he

WE CAN HELPWe offer a comprehensive drug and alcohol reco

program that includes safe, monitored detoxific

and individual counseling.

Call 783-9362, ext. 22 for more information, or

by our Chemical Withdrawal Unit anytime, 94

Arizona Avenue, Yuma.

Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Whoever says nothing exciting everhappens at the Mission is wrong.This was especially true recently

when Wayne received a visit that turned inton event.

It was the middle of the day when the bigLipton truck pulled into the Mission. It wasohn West. He had stopped in to visit hisriend Wayne before leaving town. John,

who works for NASCAR promotions, hadust finished an exhibition at Wal-Mart pro-

moting Liptons Cold Brew Iced Tea.

As soon as John put the exhibition racingar on the street there was a crowd around it.But, nobody was as excited as Wayne.

Wayne, who at the time was in the Drug& Alcohol Recovery Program, describesimself as a die hard NASCAR fan. Twoears ago, he and his wife met John andecame good friends. Their visit was re-reshing and positive, since John gave the

Mission lots of samples of the Lipton tea.ohn was happy to see his friend lookingetter and working hard in changing his lifeor the better.

When I came here, my wife was going

o divorce me, says Wayne. That was justne of the consequences of his substancebuse and that is when he decided to comeo Crossroads Missions Recovery Program.

He was able to complete the program suc-essfully and graduated on December 27.

He says that the program helped him buildfoundation for my walk with Christ, which

s very important for my recovery.Wayne entered a 6 month discipleship

rogram at Calvary Temple after his gradua-on. His recovery has changed his life.Through the power of God, our marriage is

estored and we both agreed that these 6months would be good for both, he saysbout his relationship with his wife and 3hildren. Even though God delivered me, Itill have to remember where I came from,e says.

Wayne comments about Crossroads Re-overy Program: This is an excellent pro-ram if youre willing to apply what isaught here in your life. But, you have to beeady and willing.

For more information about the recoveryrogram call anytime (928) 783-9362, ext.

2. Recovery is a life worth living.

Top:The displayNASCARvehicle wascarefullyobserved by clients & gue

Left:

Wayne & Jowere able tospend somerefreshing ttogether atCrossroadsMission.

25 people

entered the

recovery

program in

November,2002. 11 have

stayed.

17 people

entered in

December,

2002. 10 have

stayed.

16 entered in

January,

2003. 7 have

stayed.


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Spring 2003 Page 3 Crossroads Mission

Sober Riders donate & build

swing set for Family Shelter

Sock Donation from

Valley HorizonThe 6th grade students of Valley Horizon col-lected socks for Crossroads Mission during theChristmas season. The student council officersdelivered four big bags of socks to the familyshelter. TOP: Erika Hidalgo, Treasurer;Vanessa Garcia, Secretary; Julia Aranda, Vice

President & Mike Drew, President

Can Drive at Crane

Middle SchoolThe Crane Middle School students and staff helda Can Drive for Crossroads Mission this pastDecember. They were able to collect almost2000 cans. All teachers were involved in pro-moting the event and Mrs. Karen Killingsworthwas the teacher in charge. All donations were

given voluntarily by students.

Kofa DECA group

gives 2 truckloadsEvery year, the Distributive Education Clof America group of Kofa High School colects and donates can goods for CrossroadMission. This year, they delivered two btruckloads of cans. Mr. Chris Hengl is thteacher in charge of DECA at Kofa. TOP

The DECA students after unloading

T

he Sober Riders made a difference inthe lives of all the children that stay at

the Family Shelter. Thanks to theirreativity, labor and efforts, a beautiful, firstlass swing set is now a permanent fixture inhe playground of the shelter.

The funds for the swing set were raised in

a motorcycle run that they called Run ForShelter. Along with 84 Lumber, who do-

nated 10% of the cost of the set and helpedwith the assembly, the Riders made a totaldonation of $500, including the swings.

Sober Riders is a club for 100% sobermotorcycle riders. Their goal is to havegood old fashion fun riding big bikes, likeHarleys, without the need of any body influ-encing substance. Some of its members areliving a life of recovery and understand firsthand how important the family shelter is insituations where addictions exist.

Sober Rider representatives:(from right to left) TATTS,

President; SICK BOY, Road

Captain & JEDI, Vice President

Thank you fo

a good year!

T

his year, we

are spe-

ciallythankful for the out-

pouring support

during the holiday

months. Our year

end requests for

donations of up to

$200 under the Ari-

zona Charitable Tax Credit totaled

$7,138.61. This was up from appro

mately $4,000 at year end 2001.

Other donations totaled $101,468.7

for the month of December. We thall of you who have given to Cross-

roads Mission throughout the year.

We continue to have a need of c

donations to pay for the daily opera

tions. Were also reminding you th

well provide you with information

how to donate stocks, bonds, mutua

funds, real estate and other gifts, su

as vehicles and gifts of life insuranc

Please call Bill Esmeier and hell be

happy to provide assistance to you

discuss various gifts options in confdence and without obligation. Call

(928) 726-0491, ext. 15 to set up an

appointment.

BILL ESMEDirector ofDevelopment


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176 hand made

quilts for the MissionThe Rebecca Circle Quilters from the GilaMountain United Methodist Church delivered176 quilts this past December. The quilterladies meet each Monday at 9 a.m. to makequilts by hand specially for Crossroads. Their

beautiful and colorful quilts can be seen on

most of the mens and family shelter beds.

Two companies give

for the holidaysThe Gowan Milling Company and the employeesat the Dune Company of Yuma put their donatingefforts together to raise a total of $760 to makethe holidays a little better for the less fortunate.TOP:Mike Snyder, Manager & Patty Frank-lyn from the Dune Co.; (left) Ray Brooks from

Gowan Milling

Rotary of Yuma

donates profitsThe Rotary Club of Yuma had a Christmasornament auction to benefit Crossroads Mission this past Christmas season. The auctioraised $375 in profit. The donation was re-cently delivered to our administration office

TOP: Jesus Quintana, representing the

Rotary Club & Mike Elg, Director of CR

Could you help?...PROBLEM: We are in desperate nee

of new pairs ofMENS UNDERWEAR.

SOLUTIONS: Be creative! Buy an extpack when theyre on sale and donatethem to us. You could set up a box iyour place of work for people to donat

underwear. You could have a MensUnderwear Affair for the Mission,

where you hold an event and people giunderwear to get in. Cover a bulletin

board with packs of underwear andwhen it is all full, take them down an

make a nice group donation. The possbilities are endless, all you need is the

desire to help!

At the Family ShelterEven though the amount of people

who use the Family Shelter is quite smawhen compared with the Mens Shelterthe numbers for the last 3 months are vesignificant.

In November, 2002, a total of 64 indviduals, including children, slept a total

672 bed nights. Thats an average of 10nights per person.

In December, 2002, there were 49people at the shelter, who stayed a total834 bed nights. An average of 17 night

per person.In January, 2003, there were 66 indi

viduals who stayed 823 bed nights. Anaverage of 12.4 nights per person.

Please pray for each one of the singlwomen, families and single parents witchildren that come to the Family ShelteAs you can see, they are many.

The Crossroads Kitchen

SCORES AGAIN

Each year, the Crossroads Mission enters into a festive mood,along with almost all of the nation, when Super Bowl weekendcomes around. This year, we had 2 television sets, one at each

end of our multi purpose chapel room ready for the enjoyment of allour guests. No doubt, one of the highlights of the day, besides thegame, was the food. The kitchen staff prepared a variety of party foodsthat included chips, cakes, pies, beans, salsa, pozole, trail mix, cookies,green salad and iced tea. It was all set up as a buffet style and every-one could enjoy the game and the food as they liked. Everything wentsmooth and everyone had a wonderful time thanks to the kitchen and

shelter staff.But, Super Bowl Sunday is not the only time when our kitchen staff

goes beyond the call of duty to make meals extra special. Take a lookat the following figures from the to-tal meals served in the past 3 months:

MONTH/DAY TOTAL MEALS

NOV. 2002 8,594

NOV. 28 529

DEC. 2002 10,327

DEC. 25 750

JAN. 2003 10,343


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IN MEMORY OF: THE KIND GIFT OF:Vincent F. Callaway Ann G. CallawayEthel Colby C.H. & Mary MeyerholtzRobert Deskins Lillian A. FurrowRobert Every Margaret T. GehlInez Hatch Glenn P. & Gladys ChaneyB Lee Roberta C. MorganJuvencio V. Lopez Margarita M. LopezCharles Lopez Jr. Frances LopezCharles Lopez Jr. Natividad LopezCharles Lopez Sr. Natividad LopezGayle McKenna Sharon CraigEveret McKinstry Glenn & Gladys ChaneyJames E. Miller Shirley J. MillerRobert J. Moody Elizabeth M. MoodyClarence & Ruth Ranney Faith R. Shields

Richard Ries Florence F. OConnellFaye Russell Janet M. LundervilleTommy White Darlene Abdelnour & familMildred Zentz Arlene KelpschMildred Zentz Judith MayrosMark Zollinger Fredrick & Lorri Schraeder

IN HONOR OF: THE KIND GIFT OF:Alpha Delta Kapper Elizabeth M. MoodyDiane Martin John & Sally Houston

Memorial & Honorable Gifts

Every effort is done to assure that all the names in this Memorial & Honorable Giftssection are correct. We apologize for any errors that may have occurred in this or

previous newsletter.

Come shop our neweststore and give things a

2nd2291 E. Palo Verde

Open Monday-Saturday

8 am-5pm

314-0684

Free Pick-Up of Your Donations!

To schedule an appointment for your donations to bepicked up

CALL 783-9362Monday - Saturday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Our pick-up dates are:Tuesday - Saturday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

OUR GIFT IS TAX DEDUCTIBLE, ALL PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE HOMELESS!

Furniture, Appliances,

Clothes, Miscellaneous,Garage Sale Leftovers

No doubt, the need of our community can be measured in the

number of people that come to Crossroads Mission. This year,weve been able to see an enormous rise in the number of people

eeding shelter services.The Mens and Family Shelter are open to the general public. The

equirements to stay the night are that the person have a valid ID and thathey be sober. They may stay for up to 10 consecutive days each month.

During the winter, however, our limit on days that people can stayhanges to unlimited. That means that when the weather is very cold weet more people coming to the shelters and staying much longer.

In a comparison study with the need for shelter services in the monthsf November and December001 and January 2002, anncrease in numbers was seen

n all months. The biggestncrease came in November,when the total 1,605 bedights reflected a 44% in-rease, when compared to05 bed nights in 2001.

Record number of guests

at the Mens Shelter

spring 2003 crossroads mission newsletter

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