GOSPEL RESCUE MISSION

Daily Point of Light # 2306 Dec 5, 2002

The Gospel Rescue Mission of Grants Pass, Oregon, is now in its 19th year of providing safe housing, clothing, food, counseling and other rehabilitation services to the 80,000 individuals living in Josephine County, Oregon.

In those 19 years, the Mission has established an award-winning Recycling and Salvage Work Rehabilitation Program, the Vossler Medical Dental Clinic, a Thrift Store that provides free clothing and household goods to an average of 120 individuals per month, a Community Recycling Center, and a Bicycle Salvage Program.

The Gospel Rescue Mission operates the only men’s residential recovery center for drug and alcohol abuse in Josephine County that does not charge for services.

The Community Recycling Program has been awarded “Recycler of the Year” in 1997, 1998, and again in 2001. It received the 1998 “Appreciation Award” from the Grants Pass Towne Center Association for “Outstanding Efforts” and was a 1999 Points of Light Citation finalist. On March 28, 2002, the mayor of Grants Pass Len Holzinger awarded the Mission with a proclamation making March 28th through May 5th “Gospel Rescue Mission Week.”

The Gospel Rescue Mission is soon to break ground on the most innovative concept in the field of rescue mission work by building the new Campus and Learning Center. This will be a state-of-the-art facility complete with a family shelter residence for up to 44 women and 16 children, and a learning center with 10 computer stations. The new facility will feature both a men’s and a women’s residential recovery center for drug and alcohol abuse. The men’s residential facility will have bed space available for up to 78 men. The ground floor of this 3-story building will have social service agency volunteers, medical help, crisis counseling, and job placement information. There will also be a clothing exchange booth and showers available to those who do not wish to stay at the Mission.

The community of Grants Pass has been instrumental in showing their support for this new development both verbally and in our fundraising campaign.

The Mayor and City Council agree that the Mission provides a valuable service to the community and the County. Last year 80% of those in daily residency at the Gospel Rescue Mission were from Josephine County. The Mission is currently averaging 44 men, 11 women, and 2 children each night in residency. More than 140 meals a day are served there from a 32-square-foot kitchen. It is always running at full capacity in all of the dorms as well.


jaytennier