MCRM: Working Together with the Community

Restore Merced
By Matt St. Pierre, Executive Director, Restore Merced

Restore Merced started almost six years ago with the mission of cultivating renewal by strengthening relationships - bearing fruit in restored relationships with God, meaningful work opportunities, vibrant families, and sturdy community networks. We recognize the role of work in underscoring a person’s God-given dignity. We also recognize that those on the margins of society are often disconnected from opportunities to experience meaningful work.

Restore Merced impacts this reality in our community by inviting the people of God, local businesses, and local officials to join intentional efforts that create pathways for the poor and marginalized in Merced into vocational and economic flourishing.

Our theme for 2022 is Firm Foundation. Being deeply rooted in God’s story of renewal, we are harnessing all of our resources towards creating economic stability and a strong community with neighbors experiencing material poverty, past incarceration, and generational trauma. These efforts include increasing our Christ-centered class offerings, creating new opportunities for meaningful work, and developing pathways for personal growth.

We love partnering together with the Rescue Mission as we seek God’s Kingdom in Merced as it is in heaven. Good things happen when the body of Christ joins together - utilizing our collective gifts and strengths to meet the holistic need of our community!

 

Daniel’s Story

I was addicted to meth and other drugs and had lots of fallouts. The last one almost led me to prison, but I caught a break and ended up in the Merced Rescue Mission. The Mission helped me stay clean and stay off the streets with a family to stand behind me every step of the way. They introduced me to Restore Merced, where I got a job restoring the city streets, as well as myself. They helped me find a way to financially budget with the programs they offer. With the job that kept me from being homeless, I was able to get on my feet and gain my life back with the help of the Merced Rescue Mission and Restore Merced. Now I have a full-time job, a car, and I’m restoring my sanity and peace. I appreciate the love and the family they both have offered me. I am grateful to be part of them both.

 

We bumped into Dan, one of our recently housed participants. He didn’t expect to be able to get his own apartment or a job because of some poor choices from his past. The Rescue Mission partnered with Restore Merced, who train and hire folks who struggle in this area, and his dream turned into a reality! After hurting his foot, he is waiting to return to work. Dan wanted everyone to know, “God is good!”

Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting, Village of Hope Campus

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

I am so excited to invite you to join us for the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of our new Village of Hope campus. This will be a celebration of years of vision casting, hard work, and planning which has culminated in realizing a place where people who have experienced homelessness are receiving hope and care in a loving environment. Come and share both our Grand Opening and our Oasis Fundraising Event with us! Click here for Oasis Event and Oasis Fund Drive details.

Gifts of Love

Thank you to the Rios family for such a thoughtful and generous gift of love on Valentine’s Day. The Rios the family brought gifts for the men and women in our Hope for Men and Women program which included body wash, razors, a devotional, chocolate, and socks.

We were blessed to receive these gifts of love.

Thank you!

Grant Provides Staff Training

By Don Borgwardt, Director, Hope Respite Care

Last year, the Mission was approved for a grant that provided training for eight staff members from the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP). Through this grant, our staff members went through Peer Support Specialist training.

House Monitors and Service Coordinators serving in the Hope Respite Program benefited from this training in learning to assist our participants in the most professional manner, being taught new skills, and keeping up-to-date on the latest trends in working with participants. All eight staff were awarded Certificates of Completion for their course work.

In Partnership with ACE Overcomers

For over a decade the ACE Overcomers curriculum continues to be a core part of our Hope for Men and Women program. Men and women are finding healing and wholeness as they come to understand their self-worth and develop skills to make their way in a life transformed through Christ.

Teaching ACE Overcomers Building Health Parenting Skills Class

By Gina Thomas, MCRM Director of Senior Meals
& ACE Overcomers facilitator

I went through the ACE Overcomers Building Healthy Life Skills class while in the Hope for Women program. Dave Lockridge jokes all the time about how I was so angry. Who would have thought I would eventually become a facilitator. Over the past 8 weeks, the ladies in our Hope for Women program have been learning how to become nurturing towards their children, and how to guide them with the Lord’s leading, and how to teach them healthy ways to socialize in school, at home, and as they become adults. Through the ACE Overcomers Building Healthy Parenting Skills class, the women learned how to listen to and care for their children in a healthy way. The ladies received certificates which are recognized by the family court. This is a great resource in their journey to family reunification. The smile of accomplishment on their faces when they received their certificates says it all.

Teaching ACE Overcomers

By David Carr, MCRM COO
& ACE Overcomers facilitator

I went through the ACE Overcomers course about 7 years ago. I remember sitting there listening to the man that was instructing the class explained that there was nothing wrong with me, that there had been things in my life that had happened to me. The statement was a huge stepping-stone in my recovery.

Once I completed the class and ended my program, I researched ways to get involved with Dave Lockridge, and ACE Overcomers to become a facilitator. I have now been facilitating groups for participants that were formerly incarcerated teaching the building healthy life skills curriculum. Coming from a lifestyle of being formerly homeless and incarcerated, I can relate and help participants through change.

ACE Overcomers and the Merced County Rescue Mission, A Partnership Made in Heaven

By Dave Lockridge, CEO, ACE Overcomers

Fifteen years ago, I walked into the Merced County Rescue Mission and asked to meet with the CEO, Herb Opalek. Entering into his office, I introduced myself, “Hello Herb, I’m Dave Lockridge, I’m studying the effects of childhood trauma called adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs. I’ve developed a curriculum to help men and women overcome the effects of a difficult childhoood. Will you let me teach a class at the Mission?”

Herb looked at me suspiciously (can you say stink eye?) and said, “I don’t know...” I interrupted him, “Herb, you can trust that this program is Biblically sound and scientifically accurate.” “Well, OK. We’ll give you a try,” Herb replied. Over the next ten weeks, I taught the men in a cramped upstairs room under the watchful eye of staff who made sure I wasn’t a heretic.

One day Herb called me into his office and said, “I’ve heard the men talk of how your lessons have helped them. Your class is now required of every man and woman in the Mission.” Since that humble beginning, ACE Overcomers has expanded to serve rescue missions and churches across the U.S., Canada, Scotland, England, Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. The partnership of Merced County Rescue Mission and ACE Overcomes was a match made in heaven.

Village of Hope Opened on Friday, March 4th

The Village of Hope campus opened for participants on Friday, March 4th. One of our Hope Respite Care houses will be moving their participants to the new facility, and once they are settled, participants from the second Respite Care house will move in.

Ten veterans experiencing homelessness are eager to move in, and families with young children will also be excited to move in. Opening phase one will increase our capacity from 250 beds to 320. Grants from Central CaliforniaAlliance for Health and Dignity Health provided the funding which spearheaded the construction of phase one of the Village of Hope campus.

Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Friday, April 22nd

at Village of Hope Campus,

More details coming soon

New Campus Needs -

As we open our new campus, we are grateful for all the donations received to provide furnishings for the new facilities. The only items we are looking for are eight, gently used hide-a-beds for our Hope for Families program.

For inquiries, please contact CEO Dr. Bruce Metcalf at (209) 480-3899 or COO David Carr at (209) 354-0559.

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