Union Rescue Mission, The Way Home

Operation SchooL Bell On Wheels

by monica on Friday, September 4th, 2009, Filed Under Press Releases | View Comments

OPERATION SCHOOL BELL ON WHEELS PROVIDES BACK TO SCHOOL CLOTHING & SUPPLIES FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN AT UNION RESCUE MISSION 

LOS ANGELES CALIF. (August 31, 2009) —– On Wednesday September 2, 2009, Assistance League of Southern California and Union Rescue Mission along with 50 volunteers from Anne Banning Auxiliary, Huron Consulting, and Officers and Explorers from the Los Angeles School Police department will ban together to provide some much needed Back to School assistance to over 200 school age children on Skid Row. UCLA School of Nursing will also be on hand to provide children with their required immunizations and physical exam.

Who: Operation School Bell On Wheels a service project of Assistance League of Southern California. www.operationschoolbell.org

What: A fully outfitted 53 foot trailer loaded with School Clothes & supplies

When: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Where: Union Rescue Mission, 545 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Why: Operation School Bell On Wheels provides appropriate school clothing to children in need to promote learning, improve school attendance and enhance self-esteem because no child wants to ware their poverty.

Union Rescue Mission CEO, Andy Bales said “We are extremely thankful to Assistance League of Southern California for equipping our precious children for school. Our hope for their future as educated, productive world-changers is greatly enhanced by this wonderful opportunity. We are thrilled!”

Schedule of Events:

Operation School Bell On Wheels Arrives (San Julian Parking lot behind URM)…7:30 a.m.

Children’s Immunizations/physicals in URM Chapel….……………………………8:00 a.m.

Children visit Operation School Bell On Wheels..….……………………………….8:30 a.m.

For more information contact Kitty Davis-Walker at (213) 673-4585 or (213) 507-5562.

About Union Rescue Mission

Union Rescue Mission is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the poor and homeless. Established in 1891, URM is one of the largest rescue missions of its kind in the United States and is the oldest in Los Angeles. It provides a comprehensive array of emergency and long-term services, including food, shelter, clothing; medical and dental care; Christian recovery programs, transitional housing, legal assistance, education, counseling and job training to needy men, women, children and families. For more information, please visit our website www.urm.org

Taking Time To Listen & Respond

by monica on Friday, September 4th, 2009, Filed Under Rev Andy's Blog | View Comments

As I sit in my office, I am shedding a few tears and conspiring how to help a young man find part-time work. I met him yesterday. We were carrying out a back to school event, in conjunction with Operation School Bell, and after helping to get things rolling to equip 230 precious kids with everything they need for school, I decided to be the water boy, and deliver the water to the children waiting their turn to shop for shoes, clothes, backpacks, supplies and books. I asked a young man next to me, if I could get him some water. “No, thank you. That is too much to ask of you.” I immediately jumped up and brought two cold bottles of water to him and his brother. “My name is Daniel. Thank you! Do you know where a guy my age, 16, could find work? I was helping the fire department in Glendale with brush removal, but when the fires came up, they had to lay us off because of the danger.” I shared with him that he would need to get a work permit from school, and then I encouraged him to go to businesses around his house and ask for employment, be persistent, and let them know that he worked for the fire department. “That will be appreciated,” I told him. I did not get a chance to ask him what was happening in his life, but I thought about his request all night.

This morning, I heard his story; Daniel’s single mom has been out of work for 1 year, but looking intently everyday. Daniel has even thought about dropping out of school to work to make sure he, his mom and little brother do not lose their apartment in Glendale. Well, sometimes feeling bad for someone, praying, and even shedding a few tears is not good enough. I am calling a Glendale area business and asking them to hire this young man to do part-time work around their building, and I will personally provide the funds so this young man stays in school, and his family stays in their home so that they do not face the devastation of homelessness. At Union Rescue Mission, we have a dream and a plan to rally churches and others to close the door on homelessness, by preventing families from landing on the streets in the 1st place. For me it begins with this family and it begins today.

Blessings, Andy B.