Food for Thought

Hi friends,
I cannot believe 2021 is here! The Rescue Mission Alliance Victor Valley wants to extend a Happy New Year to all of you, our donors and partners in “Changing Lives for Good.” COVID has definitely changed the world in many ways, and yet the needs of those experiencing homelessness remain unchanged. They still need our help to build a bridge to lead them out of their situations.

Our guests at the Mission have been so grateful for all of the support. We have been able to help many of them with resources. The Life Recovery Program successfully graduated eight men from our program in 2020, and seven transitioned into independent living with jobs, and family relationships restored after years of separation.

We focused on collaboration with several of our local agency partners for our major events, and the community rallied around the events despite COVID. At our annual backpack giveaway, we exceeded previous years with over 1,500 packs going out to
the students in the community. The Thanksgiving meal succeeded in providing over 1,150 families with their turkeys and all the fixin’s. We celebrated Christmas with over 1,500 children hearing the gospel and receiving gifts.

The Mission was also nominated in 2020 to be on the board of the county’s Interagency Council on Homelessness. We were also one of four finalists (out of 250) for the Cal State University San Bernardino-based COVID Hero Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awards for our part in the Victorville winter warming shelter and community events.

I am honored to represent all of you to those neighbors in need. I pray for all of you, and ask God would bring so many more to knowing Him by the efforts of the Mission and you our donors. God bless you all and may 2021 be the beginning of something good and new in all of our lives.

Bill Edwards
Director