IN MEMORY OFRonald Aldie Cooke, Sr. by Jane Johnston

Nathan Farlow by Arnold & Beth Farlow

Donald Eugene Lerch by Richard Urner Crist

L. Ann Peterson by Michelle Vore

John Summers by First United Bank & Trust

My mom (who volunteered at the Mission in the ‘60s) by William Allen

Barbara, Robert & Steven Starski by Roger Starski

IN HONOR OFRonaldo Gapud by RS Joint Venture

Pauline Hudson by Mt. Airy Mattress

Scott Lasher by OrangeTheory Fitness Frederick

Living Tributes

q $300 q $100 q $75 q $50 q $25 q other $

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Address

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q I would only like to receive holiday newsletters (Thanksgiving and Christmas)

GIVE ONLINE AT www.therescuemission.orgA copy of our current financial statement is available upon request by contacting Frederick Rescue Mission, Inc. at PO Box 3389, Frederick, MD 21705 and 301.695.6633. Documents and information submitted to

the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from the Office of Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 for the cost of copying and postage.

Please detach this form and return with your tax deductible gift in the enclosed envelope. THANK YOU!

YES! I would like to bless many at the Frederick Rescue Mission, Inc.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS JIM NICHOLSON, President | CHARLIE POWERS, Vice President | MONICA KOLBAY, secretary | ED GARRETT, treasurer

SUE BASFORD | RUSS T. HORMAN | ALYCE LUCK | MIKE MCKEE | MIKE SCHUCHARDT | CHARLIE SMITH

ARNOLD W. FARLOW, executiVe director

The Frederick Rescue Mission is a Christ-centered ministry that provides residential recovery programs to the homeless or chemically addicted, food to the hungry, clothing and furniture to the needy and connection within our community through relationships.

PARTNERSHIP LETTERChanging lives now and for eternity.

www.therescuemission.org | NOVEMBER 2019

Like any other day, this one is no different: it is 1:30pm and it’s “go time” for the Mission’s Food Distribution Center (FDC). Volunteers and Changed Life Recovery Program residents are summoned, grab each other’s hands, and form a circle to pray before opening the doors to the public.

“We thank you Lord for your mercy and your grace,” says volunteer Charles Jefferson, an ordained minister offering thanks that day. “We are grateful for the abundance of food you have provided for those in need.”

One can’t help but feel that this food bank is not quite like others.

Judy Reisman, who has been volunteering in the FDC for more than a year and a half, describes it as a warm atmosphere, where people “walk the talk.” Though not a Christian, she says she feels the love when she’s there.

“People actually care about one another here,” she says. “I love coming each week.”

Outside, those in need wait on benches for their turn to collect groceries for their families. As an older woman leaves the center with a cart full of food and is having trouble making it across the gravel, a man pops up from the bench, offering her assistance, a timely illustration of Judy’s words just spoken.

Serving about 7,000 individuals per month, operating the Food Distribution Center is no small task. Guy Mutchler, manager of food acquisition, speaks to what is necessary to keep the center running and meeting the needs of the community.

“The hard work to stock shelves, clean the facility, and acquire the necessary volume of food are key contributions to the program,” he said.

What the FDC provides is something to “cherish and be thankful for,” mention Charles and Brenda Pearson, a registered family within the program. As a retired

couple living on a limited income, the Pearsons visit the FDC to make ends meet each month.

“We are beyond grateful for what this program has been able to offer,” she says. “To be able to come to a place where the love is so real and people's necessities are met, it’s truly a miracle.”

Kirt Johnson, a resident of the Changed Life Recovery Program, has been working in the FDC since first arriving at the Mission. Kirt, like many others who have witnessed the FDC in action, stresses the importance of gratitude.

“Each meal, each morsel of bread should be appreciated,” Kirt said. “We don’t always know where our next meal is coming from.”

As a place that belongs to the community and to the Lord, the Food Distribution Center brings goodness to so many in Frederick, and for that, we are grateful.

Thank You

THANKSGIVING TURKEYS ARE NEEDED Bless a neighbor in need this Thanksgiving. If you would like to donate a turkey, you can drop it off beginning November 11th at the front office Monday through Friday, 8 am – 4 pm.

CHRISTMAS ADOPT-A-FAMILY We need your help! If you would like to adopt a family or for more information on adopting a family of Faith House, the Changed Life Recovery Program or our neighbors in need, please contact Valerie Moore at 301-695-6633 x216.

TOY BOX DONATION Help us give gifts to children in need this holiday season by providing a drop off location and box in your lobby. For more information or a box, please contact Valerie Moore at 301-695-6633 x216.

full tables thankful hearts

Gladhill Furniture • Revere Bank • Patty Pollatos Fund • B Revolution

upcoming events

FAITH HOUSE DINNER SPONSORS

MINISTRIES

CHANGED LIFE RECOVERY PROGRAM

FAITH HOUSE

BREAD OF LIFE ▪George L. Shields Kitchen ▪ Food Distribution Center

COMPASSION OUTREACH ▪ Prayer Ministry ▪Hygiene Product Distribution ▪ Showers Facilities ▪ Emergency Day Shelter ▪ Shears of Hope (haircuts)

SUMMER ENRICHMENT CAMP

RESCUED TREASURES ▪Gently Used Free Clothing

THROUGH END OF SEPTEMBER

MEALS SERVED (YTD) . . . . . . . . 80,729

GROCERY AISLE SERVED (YTD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69,319

RESCUED TREASURES SERVED (YTD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,397

TOTAL NIGHTS OF LODGING CLRP/FH (YTD) . . . . . . . . . . 7,508 / 3,563

CLRP/FH RESIDENTSSERVED (YTD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 / 42

VOLUNTEER HOURS SERVED (YTD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,637

Frederick Rescue MissionPO Box 3389Frederick, MD 21705-3389 301.695.6633www.therescuemission.org

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LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORWhen I was a college student in Chapel Hill, NC, I lived in a private dorm called Granville Towers. “Back in the day” it was quite nice. One of the special features of living there was the

food. I was so excited; it was the first place I ate a Heath ice cream bar. We had omelets made on the spot with whatever we requested. I was so thankful, and everyone around me seemed happy too.

Yet by the time spring rolled around, I had noticed a dramatic change. Everyone was complaining about the same old ice cream. Omelets were not cutting it anymore. Having steaks served once a month was dismissed as no big deal. I was shocked. Before I knew it, I found myself complaining!

What happened? We became entitled and ungrateful, the exact opposite of being thankful.

When it comes to Thanksgiving, how can we as a nation and community who have so much keep from being entitled and ungrateful? The story in Luke 17:11-17 may help:

As Jesus was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Much like my college peers and me, “the other nine” took blessings for granted and saw no reason to give thanks. I pray God will help us be like the one who came back and thanked Jesus.

We need to recognize that everything we have is from Jesus. Next, we need to praise Him with a loud voice and verbalize to God our thanks. We must resist the non-response and the lack of gratitude that are the norm. People who are thankful generally stand out.

We at the Mission are so thankful for you - those who give and serve. We are thankful that together we can make a difference in changing lives now and for eternity.

Born in Takoma Park, Maryland, Donnie White was one of six children raised in a family of alcoholics. His earliest memories are of hiding in his room on evenings where his mother and father would gather with other family members to drink. It was a “witching hour” of sorts when they would fly into awful screaming matches. Donnie remembers that they would cower until the yelling stopped, and he and his siblings felt it was safe to emerge.

At age 16, the inevitable seemingly happened -- Donnie started drinking alcohol. He remembers it beginning when he and a friend skipped school, and his friend grabbed a bottle of whiskey and dared Donnie to take a swig. Not only did he swig it, but he gulped the entire thing. Before he knew it, he was tumbling backwards onto a sofa and completely blacked out. He didn’t know it yet, but he had begun a journey that would define much of his early life.

Dropping out of school in 11th grade, Donnie spent the next few years working with his family. He and his family spent time together, and loved each other for better or for worse. He continued to drink off and on, but never realized it was leading him down the same road his parents traveled.

At age 20, Donnie met his first wife

in a bar. They dated for the next six years before marrying and having their first child. He worked hard as a tree pruner, even having the opportunity to work at the White House. At nights, he found he loved hanging out at bars. His drinking increased to three to four double shots of liquor on any given night. After another child was on the way, his wife, who had had enough of his late nights drinking and now occasional smoking of crack, left him, taking both of their children with her.

Although traumatic, the divorce didn’t have much of a positive effect on Donnie and he had no intention of changing his ways. “I’d drink all day and head to the race track to spend all my money,” he recalls. After his wife left him, he and a girlfriend moved in together. They lived together for many years, never marrying and adding two more children to Donnie’s family.

In March of 2018, Donnie’s 30-year-old son D.J. from his first marriage died of a heroin overdose. Donnie’s biggest regret is the cycle that began with his parents continued with him. He drank with his son just like his uncles drank with him. He blames himself for what he believes was enabling his son’s awful addiction.

At the point where he was drinking a fifth of liquor each day, his large close and extended family drew the line. Donnie’s journey to sobriety was taken when together they all invited him to a cookout. This cookout wasn’t like others, it was a family intervention. He remembers

the Ravens game being on and searching for something to drink, but to no avail. Suddenly the TV went mute, as did all his family members. It was at this moment he realized what was going on. After a lot of love and conversation, they convinced him to sign a contract saying he would check into the Changed Life Recovery Program at the Frederick Rescue Mission. Donnie officially quit using alcohol that day and shortly after that checked into the program. He says his loving family and friends each made the difference. He remembers them saying, “You need to stop drinking before it takes your life. We want you around. Look around, look at how many people love you.”

Donnie says he doesn’t remember hugs and outward signs of affection from his own parents, so now that he is picking up the pieces of his life, he wants to ensure that he shows his own children this kind of love. More than anything, he wants to be there for them. Now completely clean and sober, he says he is healthier and happier than ever.

Donnie entered the Changed Life Recovery Program in November of 2018 and graduated in September of 2019. For now, he is content to surrender his life to God and work on making the changes he needs to stay in the healthy new life he has discovered. “This place turned me around,” he says. “The Holy Spirit got into me, and if I can do it, anyone can.”

Arnold Farlow - Executive Director

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18

MEET CHANGED LIFE RECOVERYPROGRAM GRADUATE DONNIE WHITE