Have a passion for pets?

Please help! Our pet-friendly Navigation Center needs donations of dry dog food. Donations can be dropped off at the Mission office, 644 W. 20th Street, Merced (Monday-Friday, 9 am - 4 pm). Click here to view our Chewy wishlist.

We would also like to thank Dr. Eileen Wise, a veterinarian, who generously gives care to the dogs staying in the Navigation Center. The dogs are happy, healthy, and fed, thanks to all of you!

We also need your help to immunize, spay, and neuter pets! Choose this as your gift designation at the time of your donation, click here. This is a tremendous help to those coming to us from the streets who have pets with them.

We appreciate all donations and your prayers! Thank you!

Sponsor a Senior Meal

The Merced County Rescue Mission has been contracting with Merced County for over ten years to provide nutritious meals for seniors five days a week. These meals are provided in seven locations throughout Merced County. Over 2,300 meals are served every month. Many of the seniors are not able to contribute the full amount of the suggested daily contribution towards their meal.

We would like to ask for your help in covering some of the cost to make sure our seniors receive a nutritious meal every day. Our fundraiser to help provide meals for seniors is taking place during September and October.

Contributions can be made out to Senior Meals and sent to P.O. Box 3319, Merced, CA 95344.

THANK YOU!

Holiday Toy Drive

Every year our Christmas Eve Banquet serves hundreds of individuals and families in need. We provide traditional holiday meals and Santa is there to give toys to children ages 0-12. We invite you to help us collect toys to ensure we have enough for those in need. All donations are appreciated!

Please drop off new, unwrapped toys at the Mission office, 644 W. 20th Street, Merced. If you have any questions, please call Boone, (209) 819-0907.

Nila's House

Nila started volunteering at the Merced Rescue Mission in 2017, helping where she could. In 2019, she began volunteering in the Respite Care program. She spent most of her time working with participants who needed that little extra care due to their health issues. Nila had her own health concerns, so she was able to approach them with understanding.

For most of our participants, the medical field can be hard to navigate, and their health is the last thing on their minds. Nila spent most of her hours helping them understand the importance of a healthy diet, healthy numbers for blood pressure, mental health, and managing their diabetes. She would meet the participants where they were and help them get to a place of self-sufficiency. Nila loved going to commencement nights and seeing the Respite Care participants receive a certificate for completing health courses. As Nila watched many participants suffer in their last days, she served as an advocate who fought for their dignity.

On January 2, 2020, Nila became an employee of the Rescue Mission, and that is when her light shined even brighter on our participants who needed a little more time for recuperation. On January 13, 2024, Nila went home to be with the Lord. Many employees and participants were affected by her passing. Today, 9 months later, participants still walk into the Respite Care office and see Nila's hand in the things we do and the way we approach the participants.

When the Rescue Mission opened a new house for Short-term Post Hospitalization, it was named Nila’s Place in honor of her work and her life of dedication to those she served. We continue helping participants who need that extra little help and assistance with the medical field and their health issues. Since Nila’s Place opened, we have received many compliments on how the house feels when you walk in. A few of the participants knew Nila and said they could feel her presence and love there. We hope that we can continue to serve others the way Nila did.

Focused on Christ

A message from Dr. Bruce Metcalf, CEO, Merced County Rescue Mission

Life transformation and discipleship in Christ are the primary goals of the Merced County Rescue Mission. Hope for Men and Hope for Women are the Mission’s 9 – 12-month residential programs that provide an environment where lives can change. Centered on Biblical teaching and striving to love people in Jesus’ name, the programs offer men and women the opportunity to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus, while also addressing issues in their lives such as addictions, anger, and the need to develop life skills and rebuild relationships. Hope for Men and Hope for Women are donation-based programs. All your contributions to the Mission go directly into supporting these important programs. Your support is essential in changing lives! Thank you for your prayers and financial support!

Holiday Food Drive

Now through December 18


Merced County Rescue Mission's Annual Holiday Food Drive

Please join us in collecting canned goods and non-perishable food to help us feed low-income families and the unhoused. Food from this drive provides food for Mission programs throughout the year and provides a traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner for 1,000+ people at our holiday banquets.

Most needed items for our banquets - Stuffing mix, large cans of cranberries, #10 cans of corn, and #10 cans of green beans. All non-perishable food donated is appreciated!

Collection site - Merced County Rescue Mission office, 644 W 20th Street, Merced.

If you are a business or a church interested in helping us collect non-perishable food, please call Anthony Choza, 209-947-8493 to arrange a barrel at your location.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!