Dear Friend of the Mission,
Can you imagine being 50 years old and being unable to read? What a hardship and what a heartache. We actually did teach one of our residents who is 50 years old to read. It was a wonderful sight to see him stand up in chapel and read something publicly for the first time in his 50 years. Years ago we had another resident whom we taught how to read. For the first time in his life, George was able to read a story to his 9-year-old daughter. In 1991, we decided to implement a Learning Program to help our men with adult basic education, GED preparation, life skills, job readiness skills, and computer skills. In order to make our Learning Program as effective as possible, we were advised by educators who specialize in adult learning that our Learning Lab should be teacher based and computer assisted rather than computer based using proctors with no teachers with college degrees on-site. The Lord was gracious, and we were able to secure a multi-year grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts. Pew agreed that a teacher based Learning Lab was far better than a computer based Learning Lab. For 18 consecutive years beginning in 1992, Pew funded what became known as our Career Track Learning Program. We were sad when their funding priorities changed, and our funding from Pew was discontinued. Pew had given us about 1/3 of our funding needed to operate the Career Track Learning Program. The Lord made up the difference, though, and our Learning Program continues today even more effective and comprehensive than when it began in 1992.
Your gifts to us truly are an investment in the lives of the homeless men who live at the Mission. Each of our men is enrolled in our intensive Career Track Learning Program. Our Learning Program is designed to equip our men with the knowledge, skills and resources they need to get a good job and to achieve long-term success as productive members of our community. We view each of our men as wonderfully created in the image of God, and we strive to help each of them become all that the Lord wants them to be. Your gifts to the Mission are never used to give a hand-out to our men, they are always used to give a hand-up.
We are entering the summer months when our donor giving usually drops off a bit. Homelessness never takes a vacation, and we are just as full in the summer as in the winter – our 55 beds are typically filled. Please consider giving a larger than usual gift to help us get through the summer months in good financial shape. Thanks!
Working together with you,
Robert A. Emberger, D.Min.
Executive Director
