Greetings from Denver Rescue Mission and Merry Christmas to you!
As twinkling lights are found lining the streets of Denver, the light of hope is found at Denver Rescue Mission. This holiday season isn’t just about sparkling wrapping paper and overflowing gift bags; it’s about giving something far more precious, something that can’t be wrapped: the gifts of joy, hope and love for those who need it most.
Bless Our Brothers
For the men in our New Life Program, Christmas is often a time of mixed emotions and stark reminders of the past. Each year, we ask our participants to fill out a wish list of some items they wish to receive, and from there we try to create that Christmas magic—wrapping hope and joy in every gift. As they opened their presents, their faces lit up with smiles brighter than any Christmas tree. Thank you to generous donors, Bret and Dawn, for sponsoring this event and helping serve 159 meals—we are so grateful for you!
Each participant also received a stocking filled with fleece gloves, snacks, activity books, and toothbrush kits, provided by Red Canary. With a total of 400 stockings, we were able to bless several of our program participants and members of the larger community this Christmas.
Bridge Holiday Party
The celebrations at The Crossing continued, with the aroma of a holiday feast in the air. We served a total of 187 meals, but the magic wasn’t just in the kitchen; it was in the laughter echoing through the decorated halls as individuals and families gathered around tables enjoying delicious food.
The joy continued with families ending the evening by decorating cookies and creating gingerbread houses. Watching the families do these activities may seem small but the laughter and smiles that came from this were incredibly large.
“The Mission absolutely has saved and changed my life. I found God coming here to The Crossing, and it has been a very amazing, amazing experience. I have had so many classes and such great experiences here. Everybody here is very helpful, but more important, God has His hands on us all the time.
This Mission is a very good example of what God can put into our lives if we have the faith and believe in Him.”
– Patrick
“The Mission absolutely has saved and changed my life. I found God coming here to The Crossing, and it has been a very amazing, amazing experience. I have had so many classes and such great experiences here. Everybody here is very helpful, but more important, God has His hands on us all the time.
This Mission is a very good example of what God can put into our lives if we have the faith and believe in Him.”
– Patrick
Christmas Meals
The spirit of Christmas spread across our three shelters: the Lawrence Street Community Center, 48th Avenue Center and Fort Collins Rescue Mission. Our dedicated staff and volunteers transformed each location into a haven of warmth and good cheer, serving over 1,244 traditional Christmas meals.
As the last bite was savored, each guest received a gift of fleece gloves and socks. More importantly, they received the gift of knowing they are not alone, that amid their struggles, a community of hope and compassion surrounds them and is helping them to change their lives for the better.
“The Christmas banquet was very unexpected. I was totally unaware of how close to Christmas we were. It’s been a long road for me, and holidays haven’t really been on the forefront of my mind. But just being able to come here has helped me. The Mission has been a safe place for me while I deal with my hardship. Having the resources and the great people around has been something that I can really be thankful for.”
Christian, FCRM Guest
Housewarming Boxes
For many individuals and families in our community, it is difficult to buy food and essential household items, let alone Christmas gifts. The Housewarming Box program is designed to meet the needs of those who are transitioning into long-term housing by providing a box filled with household supplies and hygiene items. These boxes were donated by generous community members, and we were able to gift them to those in need of extra support this time of year.
We thank every one of our supporters; whether through volunteering, giving financially, donating items, or praying for us, without you, we could not provide a special Christmas for our guests.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Written by Charles Tieszen PR and Events Intern. Edited by Linneya Gardner, Content Specialist.
