Good Works - Denver Rescue Mission

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10

From addiction and depression to homelessness, Vince and Ralph have each had their fair share of struggles. Joining the New Life Program and working at the Mission’s Ministry Outreach Center are helping them overcome their hardships and grow emotionally, spiritually and professionally.

Vince

At 17 years old, a few years after his dad passed away, Vince experienced homelessness for the first time. He slept on the streets or in shelters and hitchhiked across the country.

When he got a job and was making money, he spent it all on drugs and alcohol. “I was using drugs every morning when I woke up, would go to work, come back for lunch to use more drugs and drink, and go back to work,” he said.

When a woman he was seeing broke up with him because of his drinking, that’s when Vince decided, “I wasn’t going to let drinking ruin my life anymore.”

Knowing he needed to do something different, he joined the New Life Program at The Crossing.

“It’s been very supportive. I’ve made good friends, learned about myself and been trying new things.”

– Vince

“It’s been very supportive. I’ve made good friends, learned about myself, and been trying new things”

– Vince

“I’m working towards becoming a medical interpreter right now, which is not something I ever would have considered had I not come here and had the opportunity to think about what I wanted to do with my life,” he said.

While in the program, Vince worked at the Ministry Outreach Center (MOC) for his work readiness. He worked at the front desk and stocked donated items so low-income households in the community could shop free of charge.

“I know what it’s like to not be sure where your next meal is coming from or only have the clothes on your back,” he said. “So to be able to provide that clean pair of socks, that new t-shirt, some snacks, to be able to give people hope that with their basic needs met, they can then go and focus on other things, it’s nice.”

“It means a lot and comes in handy at a time of need. Having places like this that help, it just makes you feel thankful.”
MOC CLIENT

Vince is grateful for his experience working at the MOC and for the staff members who have been in similar situations as him such as Harold Benjamin, MOC receiving and distribution supervisor.

“I’ve woken up in the morning asking God, ‘Why did you let me live again?’,” Harold said.

“I was one step away from being at Lawrence Street as a guest. I now have 10 years of clean and sober. You need somebody in your corner who says, ‘Wait, wait, wait. These are tough times but they’re only going to get better.’”

Like Harold, Vince is grateful to God for changing his life. “I came back to Christ in the program. I was faced with a couple challenges, but I remember praying about them and I came out of those situations better off,” he said. “That cemented my faith and helped me to continue walking towards God.”

Skills & Services Change Lives

Work Readiness

Work readiness is the part of our rehabilitation program where men work in different departments around the Mission as an opportunity for them to:

Develop a solid work ethic
Grow in their professional skill set
Gain valuable interpersonal skills
Learn to balance work with their personal life

Ministry Outreach Center

Here, you help low-income households in the community provide for their families with donations of:

Non-perishable food
Clothing
Furniture
Household and hygiene items

Learn more at DenverRescueMission.org/MinistryOutreachCenter!

Ralph

Ralph struggled with depression after experiencing a great amount of loss in his life—from his mom and uncle to his brother-in-law and nephew.

When the woman he was seeing left him and took most of the money out of his bank account, along with his birth certificate and other documents, Ralph didn’t know what to do.

“I lost trust in people over that,” he said.

That’s when he joined the Mission’s New Life Program where he has received much needed support.

“The staff are always there to listen. Their doors are always open for you.”

– Ralph

“The staff are always there to listen. Their doors are always open for you.”

– Ralph

“I have this policy, if you need to talk, come into my office,” Harold, supervisor at the MOC, said. “I take off my name tag and we’re just talking—recovering alcoholic addict to recovering alcoholic addict.”

Ralph’s counselor, intern Zaria Norman, has been especially supportive. “She is born to do what she does,” he said. “It’s been good being able to talk through things.”

With the support of Zaria and other staff members at the Mission, Ralph has grown emotionally, spiritually and professionally.

For his work readiness, Ralph worked at the MOC and was responsible for helping individuals and families get any furniture they needed for their homes.

“The biggest thing here is just seeing the people’s faces,” he said. “Seeing their faces when you can actually give them something, it’s amazing.”

“All the employees have been great to me. They’re always telling us, ‘Wow, what a good job.’ It makes a difference when you feel that you accomplished something. You get up and you want to go to work.”
Ralph

As Ralph’s and other participants’ supervisor at the MOC, Harold recognizes the changes in each man he works alongside as they progress through the program.

“Those are good guys, they really are,” Harold said. “You know, that’s why I work here—to see the changes in people like them. This has become my mission to see these guys moving forward.”