I had a “proud papa” moment this week. My son Andrew officially became an Eagle Scout, following in my footsteps. Standing with him on the stage at our small church was powerfully emotional – I beamed from ear to ear as his mother pinned him with the red, white and blue ribbon of an Eagle Scout. This was a mountaintop moment, for sure. One that many people, through love, support, and prayers, made possible.

The next day, I taught a class on success and failure for the women entering the Mission’s Residential Recovery Program for Drug and Alcohol addiction. Talking about success and failure is tricky ground. In our Facebook society, we put our best foot forward. We highlight successes, moments of achievement, relaxing vacations, births of children and grandchildren, even delicious meals. All the glorious moments of our lives placed on display for all the world to admire.

And yet, real life is not like that. These women spoke candidly. Some about their struggles to detox. Others about making the decision to leave the known “safety” of jail to come to the uncertainty of a recovery program at a Rescue Mission. Many have children, both young and grown. The pull of being there for these children with a healthy, life-affirming presence provides

earth-moving motivation for these mothers to change. All spoke of previous failed attempts at sobriety, and how those failures left so few remaining options that without the Mission’s Re-covery Program, the alternative was death.

And here we were, all talking about achievement. To get us started, I asked what I thought was a simple question about each candidate’s favorite movie and why. In each case, the favorite movie carried with it a connection with friends and family. As we discussed success, clearly these women did not feel successful. They felt broken. Lost. But each and every woman spoke of loved ones who care for her with unfailing compassion and who desperately want for her to get well.

Interest built as we discussed achievable short-term goals balanced with the need for patience to overcome the frustrations and obstacles that face all new Recovery Program participants. Excitement really spiked as Libby, one of the Mission’s Recovery Coaches, spoke about her own recovery with its successes and setbacks. Here was a person who has lived addiction and who talks with the confi-dence of a successful life free from abuse. Libby gently, humbly, acknowledged the pivotal influence of those who love her and help her along the road to recovery.

Mountaintop MomentsBy C. Lee Clark, Rescue Mission CEO

drumstickdash.net

• 5K Race & Family Walk• To save $ register by September 15• Register by November 13 to guarantee a DASH T-shirt

Thanksgiving DayTake Advantage of Early Bird Registration

For more information contact Uneita Mathews uneita@rescuemission.net, (540) 343-7227

DASHdrumstickMove Your Feet So Others Can Eat! 20

17

— A DOZEN DASHES —

September 7 The Network Meeting 5:30 pm

September 20 Auxiliary Luncheon 12:00 noon

September 21 Bless My Sole 5:30 pm

October 1 Recovery Intake - Women 4:30 pm

October 11 Auxiliary Leadership Council 12:00 noon

October 16 Week 1 of Christmas CardStuffing(Mon-Fri) 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

October 19 Bless My Sole 5:30 pm

October 23 Week 2 of Christmas CardStuffing(Mon-Fri) 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

November 5 Recovery Intake - Men 4:30 pm

November 13 Drumstick Dash Early Registration Deadline Midnight

Brian Godfrey and David Jones (not pictured) collected school supplies for Back 2 School Blast at Sprint/Shentel

P.O. Box 11525, Roanoke, VA 24022 rescuemission.net (540) 343-7227 SEPTEMBER 2017

Receive this newsletter online call (540) 343-7227 rescuemission.net

2ndhelpings.org (540) 491-9405 Shop/Gallery (540) 491- 9409 Cafe

http://stores.ebay.com/ roanoke-rescue-mission

Continued on back page

Summer VolunteersA huge Rescue Mission shoutout to the summer volunteers! The Mission is blessed throughout the year with an army of volunteers who give their time making sure our guests eat well and have a clean, safe place to sleep and clothing to wear, helping keep our thrift donations sort-ed and the stores stocked, beautifying our grounds, and so much more. This summer, groups from 22 churches, 12 civic organizations, and 2 schools provided more than 400 volunteers to serve across the Mission. We are grateful!

The Rescue Mission is collecting new or gently-used coats to give to local families in need. Coats for men, women, and children of all sizes are needed.

402 4th St. SE, Roanoke • (540) 343-7227

Happy Coats-givingDonate coats by November 1st at the Rescue Mission or collection boxes bearing this ad

Anniversary Gratitude Campaign Smashes GoalWe are thrilled to report the total amount raised during the Anniversary Gratitude Campaign in July! Drumroll, please…

$101,068 in donations$ 50,000 matched by the Skolrood Law Firm $151,068 Total

WOW! Let’s put these numbers in perspective. $151,000 will operate the Rescue Mission for nearly two full weeks. For a homeless family, that’s two weeks of safe shelter and meals, two weeks of case man-agement services aimed at helping a mom or dad find employment or housing or connect with other resources in the community, two weeks of medical care, two weeks to finally feel some peace of mind and hope for a new beginning.

This support is critical in helping us provide these continual life-saving

services throughout what is typically a slower season for donations.

Thank you to Mark Skolrood of Skolrood Law Firm for understanding this need and issuing the challenge with a generous matching gift: “Our hope,” he said, “is that this gift will spur a lot of other people to join us and lock arms to change the Roanoke Valley.”

And that it did. Some of you are long-time supporters who gave even more. Others seized the occasion to give for the first time. Ten-year-old buddies Paxton Lester and Avery Tanis were excited to know the $130 they raised through their lemonade stand would become $260. “That made me so happy,” said Lester. “I’m not old enough to do a lot of stuff right now, but I figured I could raise some money to help.”

“People liked that it was for a good cause,” explained Tanis. “They saw that it was for the Rescue Mission and no one even asked for their change. Some people even gave us tips!”

Thank YOU to all who rose to this summer challenge. And thank you to all who give throughout the year. You make Mission possible!

After serving our children all day at Jubilee Acres, our camp volun-teers from the Bon Air United Methodist Church of Richmond, VA came to the Mission and served dinner to the adults and children

New Hope Christian Church VBS middle schoolers help with Back 2 School Blast

It only takes a few minutes to become an Online Customer and register your card:

• First go to www.kroger.com

• Click on “Sign In / Register”

• After you sign in or register, at the top click on “Community” then “Kroger Community Rewards”

• Click on the “Enroll Now” button OR if you are already enrolled “View Your Rewards Details” and click on “Edit” under Community Rewards

• Enter the Rescue Mission’s NPO number (82242) and click “Search”

• Select Rescue Mission from their list and click “Enroll”

To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see Rescue Mission listed on your “Account Summary” page under “Community Rewards”. If already enrolled, please note that Kroger requires re-enrollment every August. Thank you for supporting the Rescue Mission!

Think it doesn’t matter?Your Kroger Plus Card Helps!

Have you renewed your annual enrollment?

The annual Back 2 School Blast on Aug. 12 served about 1,100 Roanoke Valley students, many of whom received new shoes and physicals along with their backpacks full of school supplies

Green Ridge Kids prepared food for the kitchen and sorted out school supplies

A group of 18 from Oak Grove COB (and guests) toured the Mission before volunteering in Food Service

Salem Presbyterian volunteered by preparing food for the kitchen

As part of their VBS Outreach Project, 26 teachers and children from St. Marks United Methodist Church came to decorate place mats for the shelter guests

Green Ridge Recreation Serve Camp made place mats and picked up litter around the mission

Church of the Brethren Workcamp volunteered two days at the Mission, concluding with serving at Bless My Sole

IN MEMORY OF GIVEN BY Dock & Eddie Agee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eva W . AgeeLucille Angle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen AngleRam Pal Bahl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inder & Subhash BahlTim Barker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paula VailJ M Blair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jackie BlairAlberta Brammer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Larry & Debby GibsonDavid F Bullington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David BullingtonHarry E . Campbell, Sr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James L . CampbellCharles K . Camper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joseph B . CamperLois Carroll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Martha Whitesell FamilyCurtis E . Davis, Jr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anne & Al Hurt Mrs . James Robert JusticeTheodore Epperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carol CarrollLacy & Frances Flick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jean DrumhellerIris Gibson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Larry & Debby GibsonPat Grant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandra ChildressSteve Grantham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr . & Mrs . Don GranthamOscar Holley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annie HolleyLori Gail Jamison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wallace & Carolyn JamisonRaynard & Blanche Jewell . . . . . . . . . . Rozella BowerGene Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evelyn Jones Henry Jordan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jay AdkinsKenneth D . Journell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wendell McCartyRay Kessler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr . & Mrs . Winton W . Shelor

IN MEMORY OF GIVEN BY Lee Trinkle Lawson, Sr . . . . . . . . . . . . . Greene & Dodi Lawson Diane Strickler Paula VailAnn Loflin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ginger PietrzakAlice Kjeldsen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allan R . KjeldsenMarvin Via MacMackin . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gary & Teresa MacMackinJames H . Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opal M . MartinRuth & Luther Mauney . . . . . . . . . . . . . Judy & Luther MauneyJack A . Meador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dorothy SinkMary Lou Parker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr . & Mrs . Wallace MartinSue Peters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alvin PetersJean Perdue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Teresa AurnouGerald Perry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trista FarrellFelicia G . Poindexter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David HankinsBlaine Reynolds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arla ReynoldsDon Reynolds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arla ReynoldsGalen D . Saul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margaret H . SaulMary T . Sawyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J . Michael GrayPat Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sonny SmithHelen M . Thompson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J . Michael GraySimon A . Thompson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J . Michael GrayDot & Jimmy Turner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bill & Flo FahrbachMr & Mrs Howard E Tuttle . . . . . . . . . . William TuttleMary Lee Wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jane & John Holmgren

IN MEMORY OF GIVEN BY Frances Westmoreland . . . . . . . . . . . . Carolyn A . WestmorelandLaura Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pat WilliamsRuth Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jonathan & Bonnie ApgarWarren “Gib” Wingfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Mason’s Cove Retired Teachers Kathy GrossDan Zuro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lynette Martin

IN HONOR OF GIVEN BYBethlehem Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wanda Broady-Q-HartmanWarren Y . Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patricia H . DavisIvie Ellis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anthony & Kimberly GilbertDr . Charles Fuller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr . & Mrs . Richard Newton, Sr .Chuck Gearheart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ms . Drew GibbonsCarol Goens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ms . Drew GibbonsAnne C . Hurt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barbara M . DickinsonKeith Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sue & Larry BrewerPeggy Mullins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edwin & Nancy LunsfordRobert M . Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew L . SmithSybil Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ms . Drew GibbonsHarrel Thompson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lucille BellLinda Wingfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy GrossAll Rescue Mission Employees . . . . . . David ToppingYehovah our Creator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris MurphyLoved Ones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carol Althoff

For Memory and Honor Gifts received July 15 through August 15To Remember and Honor, to Remember and HonorIn Memory & Honor of...

A Little Bit of Hope, A Lot of Transformation“I tried meth by accident. I thought I had bought cocaine but it turned out to be meth and I loved it and it became the center of my universe.”

It was a universe which quickly turned dark for Carl Cash. “I couldn’t hold a job, I lost my place to live, I would go on long binges without sleeping or eating for days,” he explains. “That went on for three years, hallucinating all the time and thinking I was losing my mind. I was terrified and still couldn’t stop using it.”

At age 27, Cash is a brand new graduate of the Rescue Mission Recov-ery Program. Excited about his future, he still never wants to forget that dark time in his life. “I’m leaving it behind, but it’s important to remember just how bad it was because I never want to go back there.

The turning point for Cash was an arrest that could have meant a lengthy sentence. “It was a light bulb moment for me,” he says. “I real-ized my life was worth more.”

The judge ordered Cash to the Mission Recovery program, which he entered in March of 2016. “It was intimidating at first, but I found a little bit of hope and held on to it.”

Cash was agnostic when he entered the program, but soon felt drawn to the Christian life. “Being exposed to it here, it was people living it. This place is people helping hurting people. This group around my age came and volunteered one day and invited me to their church, Grace Family Church. Since then I’ve been saved and baptized. It was a pretty good feeling in July when I went back to face the judge and he dismissed all those charges and told me I gave him hope. I feel a responsibility for my life to be an example so other people might want what I have.”

Cash will be spending the next year as Graduate Peer Support assist-ing in the Recovery program. He also started classes at Virginia West-ern in August and is training this month for certification as a peer spe-cialist. “It’s an addict helping addicts,” he says. “I’ve got experience, strength, and hope to share with someone else now. I’ve had faith and trust in this process and it’s led to nothing but good things. I’m excited about all the opportunities ahead of me, even if I don’t know what they all are yet.”

Mt Vernon Baptist Church from Clinton, NC donated $1,234 to the Mission and spent two days volunteering

Volunteer with Us!2nd helpings Shop & Café Shop: Clothing and Merchandise Assistants to help customers find that special item Monday - Friday, 9:00 - 12:00 noon or 1:00 - 4:00 pm Café: Help in the kitchen and dining area Monday - Saturday, 9:00 - 12:00 noon, 11:00 - 2:00pm or 1:00 - 4:00 pm

HELP NEEDED NOWDistribution and Recycling Center (DRC) • Process and tag donated items, Monday - Wednesday & Saturday, 9:00 - 12:00 noon or 1:00 - 5:00 pm; Thursday, 9:30 - 12:00 noon or 1:00 - 5:00 pm; Friday, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm (must be age 14 or older)

Retail Volunteers (460 Thrift Store) • Help sort, process, merchandise & bag donations Monday - Saturday, 9:00 - 12:00 noon or 1:00 - 4:00 pm

Kitchen Volunteers • Breakfast from 5:30 pm - 8:00 am daily • Morning Food Prep from 8:00 am - 11:00 am daily • Lunch on Monday - Saturday from 11:00 am - 2:30 pm • Afternoon Food Prep from 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm daily • Dinner from 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm daily

Day Resource Center Monitors • Men’s Shelter, Monday - Friday from 8:30 am - 11:30 am; 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm • Women’s Shelter, Monday - Thursday from 9:00 am - 1:30 pm

Family Group Leader • 1 Hour per Week and a 3-4 Hours outing once a month

Bless My Sole Ministry Every 3rd Thursday of each month from 4:45 pm -7:30pm Great for Sunday School Class or small group!

Transport Drivers for the Mission Like to drive? Know the city? The Mission could use your services to transport guests and pick up donations

To Volunteer Please Contact our Volunteer Manager at 540-777-7651 or volunteer.info@rescuemission.net

Not sure how you can help or want to learn more about our services? Join us for a tour of the Rescue Mission any Monday

at noon starting in the reception lobby at 402 4th Street SE.

Ashley Williams of the downtown Hampton Inn, dropped off new pillows for our shelters

Marilyn Galbraith with the NRV Glean Team brought in 10 boxes of corn on the cob

Barbara Grogans delivered packages of new underwear for men, women, and children, along with $150 in money donations from 1st Baptist Church of Cloverdale

Volunteers from Wells Fargo prepared food for the kitchen

In celebration of their 26th wedding anniversary and in support of our Anniversary Gratitude campaign, Harsukh and Shila Patolia dropped off a check to cover five days of meals at the Mission

Stan Breakell presents Development Associate Amy McArthur a $2,000 grant from the Elbyrne G. Gill Eye & Ear Foundation for optometry equipment in Fralin Clinic

Meals and MoreThese numbers represent lives changed through God’s blessings and your generosity! July 2017 YTDMeals served 18,879 132,249Shelter nights 6,966 48,931Clothing items provided 3,292 20,431Professions of faith 456 4,028Volunteer hours 11,086 55,528Class hours of instruction 1,359 13,199Clinic patient visits 1,783 12,609Value of healthcare provided $247,870 $1,876,343Case management encounters 279 1,623Recycled Items (pounds) 73,935 424,709Manna households served 401 2,927Tour participants 162 433

The Rescue Mission is an equal opportunity provider

Wish List• Manna Mission Ministry: Cases of Water, Canned Meat, Canned Vegetables, Canned Fruit, Cereal, Coffee

• Clinic: Extra Small Adult Depends, XL Children Pull-Ups, Zyrtec, Lice kits

• Shelter Ministry: Bars of Soap, Chap Stick, Men’s Razors, Men’s & Women’s Shaving Cream, Men’s & Women’s Deodorant, Baby Bottle Brushes, Reusable Water Bottles, Womens Underware (All Sizes), Sippy Cups for Toddlers

• 2nd helpings: Bubble Wrap, Wrapping Paper, Packing Peanuts

My grandfather called his three grandkids his millions. He was not a wealthy man in materialistic terms but his grandchildren meant every-thing to him. We always knew that Granny and Papa loved us uncon-ditionally. No matter what. Even though they are long passed, I carry that love with me to this day. Just as Libby shared, here is a love that overcomes obstacles, builds hope, and shines light on the path to a better place.

As class time ended, we returned to the favorite movies. I asked the ladies if they noticed the connections to family and friends and the love that brightened their faces when they shared these stories. In fact, having this kind of love in our lives is the greatest achievement of

all. And one that many seemingly successful people completely miss. This was an “aha moment”, a place to reframe thinking and begin to count blessings rather than setbacks. And in counting blessings, there is hope.

At the Mission, giving and receiving hope is the first step to gaining recovery and reclaiming lives broken by poverty, homelessness and addiction. As proud as we are with mountaintop achievements and successful completions, the beginning and middle of the journey provide the milestones along the way. You are an important part of this voyage. Your love and support, given gently and humbly, makes all the difference, each step of the way. Thank you.

Mountaintop Moments continued from front page