“Successful mothers are not the ones who never struggled. They are the ones who never gave up, despite the struggles.”

Sharon Jaynes

When mothers at Denver Rescue Mission lined up six feet apart at The Crossing Café, the dining area of the Mission’s residential facility, on the Friday before Mother’s Day to pick up their to-go meals, tables filled with gifts were waiting for them.

With the help of generous community members, we were able to make mothers and grandmothers who are part of the STAR Transitional Program feel loved and special by giving out roses, handcrafted soap and gift bags filled with pampering items, including bath bombs, lip balm, lotion, and more. Children picked out a card and a colorful, patterned heart pillow to give to their mothers. 

The pampering gift bags were donated by a Bible study group from Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church. “These women are facing extraordinary challenges,” said Karen MacFarland, a member of the Bible study. “We wanted to show God’s love to them in a tangible way.”

Additionally, Manos Soap Co., a skin care and beauty soap company based in Olde Town Arvada, donated about 100 mini bars of soap, including French rose clay, goat milk and cashmere bars. F. Robb Caster, chief operating officer at Manos Soap Co., said that when moving from Connecticut to Colorado, he noticed a large homeless population in Denver and looked into ways Manos Soap Co. could help make a difference.

“We felt the Mission has an all-in-one place for shelter and food, along with guidance and counseling, to help people get back on their feet and back into the community—better, stronger, wiser, and more confident than when they first came into the Mission,” he said.

More than 50 heart-shaped pillows were handmade by a sewing group from Foothills Bible Church called His Handmaidens. They felt inspired to get involved after taking a tour of The Crossing and hearing about the families living there. In hopes of bringing joy to the mothers for Mother’s Day, three of the group members spent about 26 hours carefully constructing each pillow.

A number of the women who are part of His Handmaidens have volunteered at the Mission over the past 15 years. “We see firsthand the needs in our community and praise God for this organization that has reached out to the homeless and those who are physically and spiritually in need of help,” said Myrna Barlow, a member of the group. “Also, we are grateful for the chaplains at the Mission and The Crossing for the spiritual guidance they provide and for every person involved in fulfilling the needs.”

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and the ever-changing environment that comes along with it, we are thankful for the supportive community members who thought of our mothers at the Mission and took the extra step to make them feel valued.

“As mothers ourselves, we can only imagine what these mothers are feeling,” Myrna said. “Only the Lord can give them real comfort and encouragement, but we do what we can to help Him bring comfort to each of them.”

We are overjoyed to honor Mission mothers who, on the good days and bad, through the ups and the downs, amid the victories and disappointments, never give up.

Written by: Natanya van Heerden, Content Specialist