2017 annual report - rescue mission alliance · 2017 annual report 11 231,462 meals served 90,985...

2017ANNUAL REPORT

RescueMissionAlliance.org

The Rescue Mission - Sharing Hope Since 1887

AUBURN RESCUE MISSION

51 Merriman Street Extension Auburn, NY 13021

315-282-7195

BINGHAMTON RESCUE MISSION

56-58 Whitney Avenue Binghamton, NY 13901

607-201-1030

ITHACA RESCUE MISSION

618 W. State Street Ithaca, NY 14850

607-273-6684

SYRACUSE RESCUE MISSION/

RESCUE MISSION ALLIANCE HEADQUARTERS

155 Gifford Street Syracuse, NY 13202

315-472-6251

The Rescue Mission has always been, and continues to be, a place where people can find hope, steadfast hope.

130 YEARS of STEADFAST HOPE

SOURCES OF REVENUE 56% Stores and salvage operations

17% General contributions

13% Government agencies

5% Program fees

5% Legacies/bequests

2% Investments

2% Other

56%

17%

13%

5%5%

2%2%

WHERE YOUR DONATIONS GO 78% Program services

15% Administration

7% Fundraising

78% 15%

7%

Total Fiscal 2017 Revenue.....................$20,566,805

Net Assets at September 30, 2017........$17,117,479

1 Executive Director’s Message

2 Syracuse Rescue Mission

3 Auburn Rescue Mission

4 Binghamton Rescue Mission

5 Ithaca Rescue Mission

6 Volunteers

7 Events

8 Restoring Broken Lives

9 Meals

10 Sharing Joy

11 Hope Awards

12 Social Enterprise

13 Financial Summary / Board of Directors

2017 ANNUAL REPORT 13

RESCUE MISSION BOARD OF DIRECTORSChair: Charles Fennell St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center

Treasurer: Chris Gardner FMF&E Wealth Management, LLC

Secretary: Laura Horian Consultant

Vice Chair: David Allyn Formerly with Welch Allyn

Vice Chair: David Canino AXA Advisors

Graham Brodock Kris-Tech Wire

Carolyn Christie-McAuliffe Integrative Practitioners

Bishop Ronald B. Dewberry New Life Temple of Praise

Alejandro Garcia, Ph.D. Syracuse University

Ryan Issakainen First Trust

Ed Riley Brine Wells Development

Charla Roth Dannible & McKee LLP

Phil VanHorne BlueRock Energy

Nicole Woodall Firley, Moran, Freer & Eassa, CPA, P.C.

Honorary Board Member: Clarence L. Jordan Mercy Works

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Information is for fiscal year ended September 30, 2017

For complete copies of audited financial statements and IRS Form 990, please visit RescueMissionAlliance.org/financials

This year the Rescue Mission celebrates its 130th anniversary. I’m a bit of a history buff and I enjoy looking through the old black and white photos from the Rescue Mission’s archives.

There are images of Rescue Mission leaders from a century ago. The gentlemen are dressed in suits and neckties from another time; the ladies sport dresses and fancy hats that have long since fallen out of style. Nearly all of them wear somewhat serious looks on their faces, though an occasional smirk or smile peeks through here or there. When I look at past Rescue Mission leaders, I can’t help but wonder what they would think of the world today and how we have carried on their legacy. In the be-ginning the Rescue Mission mostly tended to rowdy, drunken canal workers. Much has changed since then. The numbers and varieties of people we help has grown exponentially. Today, we count addicts, teenage runaways, traumatized veterans and men, women and children trapped in generational poverty among those we serve.

There is a verse in the Book of Psalms that says, “Defend the weak, uphold the cause of the poor and oppressed, rescue the weak and needy, and deliver them.” Despite all of the differences (and years) between myself and those early Rescue Mission leaders, one thing has remained unchanged through the years: the consuming desire of the Rescue Mission to show God’s love to those among us who are weak, poor, oppressed and in need.

Dan Sieburg Chief Executive Officer


EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

The Rescue Mission strives to provide a satisfying and enjoyable shopping experience for Thrifty Shopper customers, and to reach new prospective customers.

In 2017, the Rescue Mission:• Opened a new location in a new market. The New Hartford Thrifty Shopper opened on May 20, 2017. It is the Rescue Mission’s 16th store to open in eight counties throughout New York.

• Launched Lightspeed, a new Point Of Sale system in our stores. The new system costs less money to operate than the previous system, which allows increased proceeds to be directed toward programs.

• Began offering brand new furniture from the Simmons line at our Westvale and Baldwinsville Thrifty Shoppers.

• Held five major sale events. On average, big sale events can increase a typical day’s revenue by 300-400 percent.

How does someone’s unwanted shirt or jeans translate into a meal for someone at risk of going hungry? Thanks to donations of clothing, furniture and household items, the Rescue Mission is able to raise 56 percent of its revenue through sales at its network of 16 thrift stores and salvage operations. This provides crucial funding for Rescue Mission programs aimed at ending hunger and homelessness. The Rescue Mission’s social enterprise system includes a network of donation centers, a regional distribution center, five trucks and 16 thrift stores that stretch from Watertown to Binghamton, and Ithaca to New Hartford. While donated clothing and household items are always given directly to individu-als in need, the Rescue Mission also sells donated items through its Thrifty Shop-per stores in eight counties, as well as the 3fifteen boutique near Syracuse University. Damaged or unmarketable clothing and textiles are bundled and sold on the salvage market. The Rescue Mission is always in need

of donations and strives to make donating as easy as possible. It staffs 15 donations centers, accepts donations at all Thrifty Shopper stores, and offers home pick-up for large items on an individual basis. Numerous businesses, schools, churches and civic organizations helped the Rescue Mission in 2017 by leading donation drives for coats, clothing and shoes. For information on stores, donation locations and more, visit iShopThrifty.org.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

Purchasing With a Purpose

A much-anticipated Thrifty Shopper store opened in New Hartford in 2017.

12 RESCUE MISSION ALLIANCE

ONE THING HAS REMAINED UNCHANGED

The Rescue Mission “Good News Gospel Boat” circa 1890.

Growing With Purpose When Yordanys lost his job, his home and all hope for a better life and future, he decided to come to the Rescue Mission. After 30 days in the shelter, he entered the Mission’s Willing to Work program. This intensive program helps men who have experienced homelessness find and keep employment. Participants have their own room and three meals a day as they complete 25 hours of job training every week. Featured intern-ships are in food service, retail, customer service, distribution and maintenance. The Willing to Work program also includes case management help, life skills training and job search assistance. It has helped many formerly homeless men succeed in the workplace and grow into greater security and independence. Yordanys now works for a company that transcribes speech to text for people with hearing impairments. He said, “I love my job. I really enjoy helping people in such a meaningful way.” When asked how the Mission helped, he said, “They not only provided me with food and shelter, they also provided me with the support and the tools I needed to grow and thrive.” Yordanys is now looking forward to getting his own apartment and wants to go back to college and finish his degree. With a broad smile, he added, “I now have a sense of purpose and belonging that I’ve never had before.”

SYRACUSE RESCUE MISSION

From Homelessness to Hope


231,462 meals served

90,985 overnight stays provided

710 permanent housing placements

388 secured employment

The Syracuse Rescue Mission provides a wide range of programs to end hunger and homelessness, including the 183-bed Emergency Shelter for men and women, and 96 units of permanent housing, including Crossroads Residence. The Willing to Work employment training pro-gram offers 13 units of transitional housing. Shelter guests and housing residents receive case management, and have access to employment resources and spiritual care, and connections to community services. The Food Service Center serves three meals every day of the year, and the outreach store provides clothing to anyone in need. Street outreach staff travel countywide to help individuals experiencing homelessness.

In 2017, the Syracuse Rescue Mission:• Saw the largest spike in meals being served in the fall over the last two years.

• Helped all 13 men in its Willing to Work program gain employment over the course of the summer.

• Was gifted two tiny homes in the Hawley- Green neighborhood to house homeless female veterans from Serenity for Women, another local nonprofit.


HOPE AWARDS “I really thank the Rescue Mission for being there for us. Their support is unbelievable!”

– Malik, Hope Award recipient

At the Hope Awards dinner, guests hear about the work of the Rescue Mission directly from the men, women and children who have come through our programs. Held in Syracuse and Binghamton, it celebrates personal achievements of those served by the Rescue Mission. Honorees share their stories, express gratitude and offer inspi-ration. Fifty-six individuals and families from Syracuse, Auburn and Ithaca were recognized at the Hope Awards, held in the restored historic Marriott Syracuse Downtown – formerly the Hotel Syracuse.• Community Hope Awards were presented to Exelon Generation’s James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Plant, Plymouth Congregational Church, and Cumulus Media for their continued support.• Richard Dederick received the Volunteer Award for the 40,101-plus hours he has donated to the Rescue Mission over the past 28 years.

• Driver’s Village received the Clarence L. Jordan Hope Award for their continued efforts toward ending hunger and homelessness in our community.• Mayor Ben Walsh attended as a special guest speaker.

The Binghamton Rescue Mission recognized six current and former clients at its Hope Awards dinner.• Jennifer Conway, executive director of the Binghamton Chamber, served as the emcee and Jordan Patch, owner of Animal Adventure Park, was the event’s keynote speaker.• A Volunteer Community Award was presented to Jim and Adrianna Rollo for their volunteer commitment.• Visions Federal Credit Union received the Corporate Community Award for outstanding support of the Binghamton Rescue Mission.

The Auburn Rescue Mission assists families and women who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless. Services include supportive permanent and transitional housing, assistance with basic needs, housing place-ment, employment and education resources, spiritual care, and positive youth and family activities. The vast majority of families the Rescue Mission serves have experienced significant trauma, mainly domestic violence. Rescue Mission case managers are trained in trauma informed care, advocate for clients, and help them connect with health care, schools and other community services.

In 2017, the Auburn Rescue Mission:• Opened a new 28 housing unit neighborhood with an on-site community center through an expanded partnership with the Auburn Housing Authority.

• Offered numerous youth and family activities, including holiday celebrations, summer camp, recreational activities, and a women’s Bible study.

• Provided case management, housing placement assistance, and meal deliveries for families staying in motel rooms as emergency shelter.

New Home and New Hope Lekeisha had a rough start in life. Her mother was too sick to care for her, and she became a ward of the state. Lekeisha lived in 13 foster homes by the age of 12, but was finally adopted at the age of 14. Although she became angry and kept skipping school, her adoptive parents made certain she finished high school. After graduation, she got married. Shortly thereafter, she and her husband broke up. Feeling betrayed, neglected, angry and depressed, she started drinking. Several years later she became pregnant, and although her life wasn’t ideal, she says becoming a mother was the best thing to ever happen to her. Everything was now about her daughters, and she wanted to do everything she could to provide the life for her children that she never had. Since coming to live in one of the Rescue Mission’s permanent housing apartments, Lekeisha is working full time and her children feel safe and happy. She said, “Everyone at the Mission has been wonderful. They helped me get on my feet. They helped me in my job search. They taught me how to create a budget.” To people like you who support the Rescue Mission, Lekeisha said, “My children and I can’t thank you enough. We came here with nothing but the clothes on our backs. You made a difference in my life and my children’s lives. And there are others like me who also need your help. So please keep supporting the Mission.”


Activities Support Hope and Healing For families and individuals facing homelessness or poverty, accessing food and safe shelter can often be a daily struggle. The Rescue Mission’s programs cover these basic needs, but they also strive to address the whole person. Thanks to generous supporters, the Rescue Mission is able to offer recreational and spiritual activities throughout the year.



41 family permanent housing placements

28 housing units opened

182 individuals served

Family Activities Since opening the new Auburn Rescue Mission facility, there have been numerous events offered for the families served. Events included an Easter egg hunt, a trip to Seabreeze Amusement Park, End of Summer Block Party, Polar Express Pajama Party and a Christmas party. Children gravitate toward the community center when school is out, so the staff is always prepared for them – they bake cookies and watch movies in addition to ongoing activities like Bible Study, Youth Group and Family Game Night.

Holiday Celebrations Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter are marked in all Rescue Mission programs with holiday meals and celebrations. In 2017, volunteers and donors gave 1,175 Christmas gifts for men, women and children staying in Rescue Mission shelters or housing.

SHARING JOY


Retreat and Recreation Members of the Rescue Mission’s Crossroads Residence enjoyed regular outings in 2017 including visits to Wash-ington, DC, the New York State Fair and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, which included the Induction Ceremony. The residents also took in a Yankees game, a Buffalo Bills game and enjoyed a Bob Dylan concert at the Lakeview Amphi- theater as well as an Uncle Sam Boat Tour in the Thousand Islands.

Kids Camp In 2017, the Rescue Mission sent 72 children from Auburn, Syracuse, Binghamton and Ithaca to overnight summer camp. For many, it was a rare opportunity to experience swimming in a lake, kayaking, campfires and chapel fun. The Rescue Mission offered the program for children from families it serves as well as from other low-income families. Support was provided by individual donors and the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation.

Crossroads residents enjoyed a Yankees game.

Top: A boy selects a shirt at the Auburn Rescue Mission back to school bash.

Left: A happy Easter egg hunter shows her finds.

Below: Campers get ready to embark on a journey to a fun-filled week at camp.

The Binghamton Rescue Mission provides permanent supportive housing in a 32-bed residence for men who have experienced homelessness, or were referred by a community agency. Residents receive case management, employment resources, spiritual care, three meals a day, and other support services. The Rescue Mission also provides two units of permanent, affordable housing in a refurbished house.

In 2017, the Binghamton Rescue Mission:• Welcomed a new regional director, Jessica Stanis.

• Held its fourth annual Freeze Out 5K, with nearly 200 runners and walkers participating to end homelessness.

• Gathered over 200 community supporters who recognized six residents for their personal achievements at the Binghamton Rescue Mission Hope Awards.

• Provided monthly community meals to men, women, children and families at the United Presbyterian Church.

Finding Purpose Collin grew up in a small town. Without much to do, drugs and alcohol were a prevalent problem. So it’s no surprise that these are what Collin turned to at age 16. But as he got older, Collin’s life began to unravel. He said, “I became a completely broken person — mentally, physically and spiritually.” He then got into legal trouble and was sent to jail. Collin never thought he’d end up incarcerated. While there, he came to the realization that things had to change. After serving his time, Collin went to rehab and then to the Rescue Mission. He said, “When I arrived, my case manager asked me what my goals were, but she didn’t leave it at that. I got lots of support and encouragement to help me reach those goals.” Not only is Collin getting the help he needs to turn his life around, he’s also gained some real friends. “I never had any friends growing up. But now I have several who also want what I want — to change our lives for the better and remain sober.” Collin starts college this fall, planning to work in the medi-cal profession and become a nurse. He now knows that helping people is the purpose he’d been looking for all along. He said, “The Mission has given me everything — hope for the future — and they’ve added faith to my life. I don’t know where I’d be today if not for the Mission. I love this place.”


A meal at the Rescue Mission can be the first step to life change. The Rescue Mission’s Syracuse Food Service Center is open every day of the year, providing breakfast, lunch and dinner to anyone who needs it. Some of the guests are staying in the Rescue Mission’s Emergency Shelter right across the street. Others have housing, but are struggling to make ends meet. The Food Service Center provided 231,462 meals to 9,180 individuals during the Rescue Mission’s 2017 fiscal year. Food insecurity can strike anyone and is a problem we have seen grow in recent years. That makes our Food Service Center more important than ever.

The Syracuse Food Service Center• serves as a workforce training site for the Syracuse City School District and the Rescue Mission’s Willing to Work program.• is the Rescue Mission’s most requested volunteer opportunity, with volunteers serving at nearly every meal throughout the year.• receives food donations from businesses and local institutions, lowering the cost of the meals served.

The First Step to Life Change

Ending Hunger Across Central New York In each of the four communities the Rescue Mission serves, food and meal programs are tailored to fill in gaps in local services. The Ithaca Rescue Mission provides three meals a week in its Friendship Center. Its community food pantry is visited hundreds of times a month. The Rescue Mission keeps a separate pantry for shelter guests and residents in its supportive housing. The Binghamton Rescue Mission provides breakfast, lunch and dinner to its residents. The residents often volunteer to take a shift cooking and cleaning in the kitchen. The Rescue Mission also serves a monthly commu-nity meal at United Presbyterian Church. In 2017, the Rescue Mission and its volun-teers provided infor-mation and resources at this meal to give further assistance to families in need. The Auburn Rescue Mission main-tains a food pantry for the families it serves and typically serves meals at its family events and excursions including its popular Music & Mission summer cookouts. In addition, it coordinates with churches and other volunteers to deliver weekly dinners to families sheltered in motels by the Cayuga County Department of Social Services.

19,477 meals served





MEALS


The Ithaca Rescue Mission provides a 12-bed emergency shelter, and 25 units of transitional and permanent housing for men and women who have experienced homelessness. At its day center, individuals can come in from the elements, and connect with a case manager, employment resources, spiritual care and other support. The center also houses a community food pantry, and provides prepared meals several times a week when local soup kitchens are closed.

In 2017, the Ithaca Rescue Mission:• Has continued to see incredible increase in demand.

• Has expanded chaplain services including community activities.

• Is seeing increased community support including more volunteers, donations and gifts in kind.

The Right Path Alcohol pretty much ruled Gary’s life for more than 30 years. He started drinking at age 18 and eventually lost everything to alcohol: his 20-year marriage, his family, his home and his job. He eventually ended up homeless and living on the streets for a short while, but the cold winter forced him to seek shelter at the Rescue Mission’s Emergency Shelter. After spending some time in the shelter, he was able to move into the Rescue Mission’s permanent supportive housing, while getting the counseling and coping skills he needed to remain sober. Gary’s daughter never gave up on him through his entire battle with alcohol. After coming to the Rescue Mission, he made a promise to her to quit drinking. The support and encouragement that he has been receiving through the Rescue Mission, along with the close guidance of his case manager, have helped him keep his promise. Gary is now working a full-time job in a food services position. He said, “For the first time in many years I feel a real sense of purpose and independence.” Now that he is employed, Gary is looking forward to getting his own apartment. He said, “Not too many people get a second chance like I did. Now, for the sake of my daughter and my granddaughter, I’ll remain on the right path.”

31,904 meals served





Seeking to Save Rescue Mission outreach staff travel the streets of Onondaga County searching for individuals who may be homeless. They pack a vehicle with warm clothes, coffee, hand warmers and snacks in winter; water, food and clothing in summer. As important as these items are for those on the streets, the primary goal is to help them into a shelter or safe housing. Increasingly, the outreach team is placing men and women directly into permanent housing, often working with community partners. In 2017, the outreach team placed 25 people directly from the streets into permanent housing, 11 into the Emergency Shelter and 3 into inpatient treatment programs.

Alongside on a Continuing Journey Will (above left) has made great strides since first coming to the Rescue Mission. After entering rehab in the summer of 2016, Will worked with Jim Hawley of the Rescue Mission to get an apartment and his driver’s license while working toward stability. After relapsing in early 2017, Will checked himself into rehab and successfully completed the program in September. He is now employed full-time and plans to take classes at Le Moyne College to become a counselor. He is maintaining his sobriety, has reconnected with his teenage children and continues to check with Jim over coffee.

Much More Than a Shelter In 2017, the Syracuse Emergency Shelter had 1,882 single men and women come through its doors for assistance. More than 700 housing placements were accomplished with assistance from community partners. The shelter continues to partner with volunteers and community members and groups to provide in-house mental health and basic physical health assessments. For example, our partnership with Upstate University Hospital medical students for the Women’s HEAL program promotes wellness for the women staying in the shelter.

RESTORING BROKEN LIVES

2017 ANNUAL REPORT 58 RESCUE MISSION ALLIANCE

Volunteers are the critical element of the Rescue Mission, helping in nearly every area of the organization. The Rescue Mission offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities with different levels of time commitment. The Rescue Mission is overseen by a volunteer board of directors, and volunteers play

important roles in serving meals in every program location and assisting in Thrifty Shopper stores. In 2017, volunteers contributed a wide range of skills from quilting and knitting blankets to landscaping and painting to stocking store merchandise.

Freezing Out Homelessness In the depth of winter, 526 runners and walkers came out in Syracuse and Binghamton for the Rescue Mission’s Freeze Out 5K to End Homelessness. Participants raised $44,485 at the January and February events for Rescue Mission programs. The evening 5K is a festive event featuring glow accessories and an after-party.

Scanning Away Hunger Our 25th annual Scan-Away Hunger campaign allowed shoppers at Wegmans and other participating stores to help a person in need at the checkout. With the scan of a coupon supporters provided meals for the hungry. Each $2.24 coupon paid for a fully prepared meal for someone in need. Together we raised over $100,000.

A Christmas Tradition WSYR NewsChannel 9 dedicated its airtime on the afternoon of Sunday, December 3, 2017, for its live telethon to raise funds for the work of the Rescue Mission. The 28th annual Movie with a Mission raised more than $45,000 and was made possible by NewsChannel 9’s donation of airtime and talent.

Diligent Service When we think of extraordinary volunteer efforts at the Rescue Mission, many names come to mind. In 2017, we would like to recognize a man that stands out, Dick Dederick. After suffering a stroke that impaired his speech, Dick attended Onondaga Community College and earned an accounting degree. In 1989, he began volunteering in the Rescue Mission Accounting Department. As of November, he had logged 40,101 hours of service at the Rescue Mission. Dick is a hard worker, as well as incredibly diligent and serious about what he does. His team members will tell you Dick knows exactly where everything is – he is a tremendous help.

VOLUNTEERS

Committed to Contributing

EVENTS


Hitting the Road to End Hunger At the 12th annual Ride and Run for the Rescue, 258 cyclists and 365 runners raised $135,000 – enough to provide 59,615 meals to those at risk of going hungry. The event raises critical funding for meals the Rescue Mission provides over the summer months. The Ride and Run took place June 24, 2017, at Long Branch Park in Liverpool and offered a range of events including a 5K run/walk, cycling routes of various lengths and a family fun ride. Major sponsors AXA Advisors, Welch Allyn, C&S Companies, O’Brien & Gere, along with 30 additional sponsors helped cover the costs of the event and raise funds. 100 volunteers assisted throughout the day by helping with set up and clean up, greeting participants, facilitating activities for children and supporting riders at rest stops.

4,002 volunteers served for

109,894 hours in 2017

Top: A guest receives a holiday meal served by a volunteer at the Rescue Mission’s Food Service Center.

Left: Dedicated volunteers from the Foundations Transition Program at OCC provided more than 800 hours of service in the Clothing Outreach Center and the Westvale Thrifty Shopper.


The Ithaca Rescue Mission provides a 12-bed emergency shelter, and 25 units of transitional and permanent housing for men and women who have experienced homelessness. At its day center, individuals can come in from the elements, and connect with a case manager, employment resources, spiritual care and other support. The center also houses a community food pantry, and provides prepared meals several times a week when local soup kitchens are closed.

In 2017, the Ithaca Rescue Mission:• Has continued to see incredible increase in demand.

• Has expanded chaplain services including community activities.

• Is seeing increased community support including more volunteers, donations and gifts in kind.

The Right Path Alcohol pretty much ruled Gary’s life for more than 30 years. He started drinking at age 18 and eventually lost everything to alcohol: his 20-year marriage, his family, his home and his job. He eventually ended up homeless and living on the streets for a short while, but the cold winter forced him to seek shelter at the Rescue Mission’s Emergency Shelter. After spending some time in the shelter, he was able to move into the Rescue Mission’s permanent supportive housing, while getting the counseling and coping skills he needed to remain sober. Gary’s daughter never gave up on him through his entire battle with alcohol. After coming to the Rescue Mission, he made a promise to her to quit drinking. The support and encouragement that he has been receiving through the Rescue Mission, along with the close guidance of his case manager, have helped him keep his promise. Gary is now working a full-time job in a food services position. He said, “For the first time in many years I feel a real sense of purpose and independence.” Now that he is employed, Gary is looking forward to getting his own apartment. He said, “Not too many people get a second chance like I did. Now, for the sake of my daughter and my granddaughter, I’ll remain on the right path.”

31,904 meals served





Seeking to Save Rescue Mission outreach staff travel the streets of Onondaga County searching for individuals who may be homeless. They pack a vehicle with warm clothes, coffee, hand warmers and snacks in winter; water, food and clothing in summer. As important as these items are for those on the streets, the primary goal is to help them into a shelter or safe housing. Increasingly, the outreach team is placing men and women directly into permanent housing, often working with community partners. In 2017, the outreach team placed 25 people directly from the streets into permanent housing, 11 into the Emergency Shelter and 3 into inpatient treatment programs.

Alongside on a Continuing Journey Will (above left) has made great strides since first coming to the Rescue Mission. After entering rehab in the summer of 2016, Will worked with Jim Hawley of the Rescue Mission to get an apartment and his driver’s license while working toward stability. After relapsing in early 2017, Will checked himself into rehab and successfully completed the program in September. He is now employed full-time and plans to take classes at Le Moyne College to become a counselor. He is maintaining his sobriety, has reconnected with his teenage children and continues to check with Jim over coffee.

Much More Than a Shelter In 2017, the Syracuse Emergency Shelter had 1,882 single men and women come through its doors for assistance. More than 700 housing placements were accomplished with assistance from community partners. The shelter continues to partner with volunteers and community members and groups to provide in-house mental health and basic physical health assessments. For example, our partnership with Upstate University Hospital medical students for the Women’s HEAL program promotes wellness for the women staying in the shelter.

RESTORING BROKEN LIVES

2017 ANNUAL REPORT 58 RESCUE MISSION ALLIANCE

The Binghamton Rescue Mission provides permanent supportive housing in a 32-bed residence for men who have experienced homelessness, or were referred by a community agency. Residents receive case management, employment resources, spiritual care, three meals a day, and other support services. The Rescue Mission also provides two units of permanent, affordable housing in a refurbished house.

In 2017, the Binghamton Rescue Mission:• Welcomed a new regional director, Jessica Stanis.

• Held its fourth annual Freeze Out 5K, with nearly 200 runners and walkers participating to end homelessness.

• Gathered over 200 community supporters who recognized six residents for their personal achievements at the Binghamton Rescue Mission Hope Awards.

• Provided monthly community meals to men, women, children and families at the United Presbyterian Church.

Finding Purpose Collin grew up in a small town. Without much to do, drugs and alcohol were a prevalent problem. So it’s no surprise that these are what Collin turned to at age 16. But as he got older, Collin’s life began to unravel. He said, “I became a completely broken person — mentally, physically and spiritually.” He then got into legal trouble and was sent to jail. Collin never thought he’d end up incarcerated. While there, he came to the realization that things had to change. After serving his time, Collin went to rehab and then to the Rescue Mission. He said, “When I arrived, my case manager asked me what my goals were, but she didn’t leave it at that. I got lots of support and encouragement to help me reach those goals.” Not only is Collin getting the help he needs to turn his life around, he’s also gained some real friends. “I never had any friends growing up. But now I have several who also want what I want — to change our lives for the better and remain sober.” Collin starts college this fall, planning to work in the medi-cal profession and become a nurse. He now knows that helping people is the purpose he’d been looking for all along. He said, “The Mission has given me everything — hope for the future — and they’ve added faith to my life. I don’t know where I’d be today if not for the Mission. I love this place.”


A meal at the Rescue Mission can be the first step to life change. The Rescue Mission’s Syracuse Food Service Center is open every day of the year, providing breakfast, lunch and dinner to anyone who needs it. Some of the guests are staying in the Rescue Mission’s Emergency Shelter right across the street. Others have housing, but are struggling to make ends meet. The Food Service Center provided 231,462 meals to 9,180 individuals during the Rescue Mission’s 2017 fiscal year. Food insecurity can strike anyone and is a problem we have seen grow in recent years. That makes our Food Service Center more important than ever.

The Syracuse Food Service Center• serves as a workforce training site for the Syracuse City School District and the Rescue Mission’s Willing to Work program.• is the Rescue Mission’s most requested volunteer opportunity, with volunteers serving at nearly every meal throughout the year.• receives food donations from businesses and local institutions, lowering the cost of the meals served.

The First Step to Life Change

Ending Hunger Across Central New York In each of the four communities the Rescue Mission serves, food and meal programs are tailored to fill in gaps in local services. The Ithaca Rescue Mission provides three meals a week in its Friendship Center. Its community food pantry is visited hundreds of times a month. The Rescue Mission keeps a separate pantry for shelter guests and residents in its supportive housing. The Binghamton Rescue Mission provides breakfast, lunch and dinner to its residents. The residents often volunteer to take a shift cooking and cleaning in the kitchen. The Rescue Mission also serves a monthly commu-nity meal at United Presbyterian Church. In 2017, the Rescue Mission and its volun-teers provided infor-mation and resources at this meal to give further assistance to families in need. The Auburn Rescue Mission main-tains a food pantry for the families it serves and typically serves meals at its family events and excursions including its popular Music & Mission summer cookouts. In addition, it coordinates with churches and other volunteers to deliver weekly dinners to families sheltered in motels by the Cayuga County Department of Social Services.

19,477 meals served





MEALS


The Auburn Rescue Mission assists families and women who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless. Services include supportive permanent and transitional housing, assistance with basic needs, housing place-ment, employment and education resources, spiritual care, and positive youth and family activities. The vast majority of families the Rescue Mission serves have experienced significant trauma, mainly domestic violence. Rescue Mission case managers are trained in trauma informed care, advocate for clients, and help them connect with health care, schools and other community services.

In 2017, the Auburn Rescue Mission:• Opened a new 28 housing unit neighborhood with an on-site community center through an expanded partnership with the Auburn Housing Authority.

• Offered numerous youth and family activities, including holiday celebrations, summer camp, recreational activities, and a women’s Bible study.

• Provided case management, housing placement assistance, and meal deliveries for families staying in motel rooms as emergency shelter.

New Home and New Hope Lekeisha had a rough start in life. Her mother was too sick to care for her, and she became a ward of the state. Lekeisha lived in 13 foster homes by the age of 12, but was finally adopted at the age of 14. Although she became angry and kept skipping school, her adoptive parents made certain she finished high school. After graduation, she got married. Shortly thereafter, she and her husband broke up. Feeling betrayed, neglected, angry and depressed, she started drinking. Several years later she became pregnant, and although her life wasn’t ideal, she says becoming a mother was the best thing to ever happen to her. Everything was now about her daughters, and she wanted to do everything she could to provide the life for her children that she never had. Since coming to live in one of the Rescue Mission’s permanent housing apartments, Lekeisha is working full time and her children feel safe and happy. She said, “Everyone at the Mission has been wonderful. They helped me get on my feet. They helped me in my job search. They taught me how to create a budget.” To people like you who support the Rescue Mission, Lekeisha said, “My children and I can’t thank you enough. We came here with nothing but the clothes on our backs. You made a difference in my life and my children’s lives. And there are others like me who also need your help. So please keep supporting the Mission.”


Activities Support Hope and Healing For families and individuals facing homelessness or poverty, accessing food and safe shelter can often be a daily struggle. The Rescue Mission’s programs cover these basic needs, but they also strive to address the whole person. Thanks to generous supporters, the Rescue Mission is able to offer recreational and spiritual activities throughout the year.



41 family permanent housing placements

28 housing units opened

182 individuals served

Family Activities Since opening the new Auburn Rescue Mission facility, there have been numerous events offered for the families served. Events included an Easter egg hunt, a trip to Seabreeze Amusement Park, End of Summer Block Party, Polar Express Pajama Party and a Christmas party. Children gravitate toward the community center when school is out, so the staff is always prepared for them – they bake cookies and watch movies in addition to ongoing activities like Bible Study, Youth Group and Family Game Night.

Holiday Celebrations Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter are marked in all Rescue Mission programs with holiday meals and celebrations. In 2017, volunteers and donors gave 1,175 Christmas gifts for men, women and children staying in Rescue Mission shelters or housing.

SHARING JOY


Retreat and Recreation Members of the Rescue Mission’s Crossroads Residence enjoyed regular outings in 2017 including visits to Wash-ington, DC, the New York State Fair and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, which included the Induction Ceremony. The residents also took in a Yankees game, a Buffalo Bills game and enjoyed a Bob Dylan concert at the Lakeview Amphi- theater as well as an Uncle Sam Boat Tour in the Thousand Islands.

Kids Camp In 2017, the Rescue Mission sent 72 children from Auburn, Syracuse, Binghamton and Ithaca to overnight summer camp. For many, it was a rare opportunity to experience swimming in a lake, kayaking, campfires and chapel fun. The Rescue Mission offered the program for children from families it serves as well as from other low-income families. Support was provided by individual donors and the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation.

Crossroads residents enjoyed a Yankees game.

Top: A boy selects a shirt at the Auburn Rescue Mission back to school bash.

Left: A happy Easter egg hunter shows her finds.

Below: Campers get ready to embark on a journey to a fun-filled week at camp.

Growing With Purpose When Yordanys lost his job, his home and all hope for a better life and future, he decided to come to the Rescue Mission. After 30 days in the shelter, he entered the Mission’s Willing to Work program. This intensive program helps men who have experienced homelessness find and keep employment. Participants have their own room and three meals a day as they complete 25 hours of job training every week. Featured intern-ships are in food service, retail, customer service, distribution and maintenance. The Willing to Work program also includes case management help, life skills training and job search assistance. It has helped many formerly homeless men succeed in the workplace and grow into greater security and independence. Yordanys now works for a company that transcribes speech to text for people with hearing impairments. He said, “I love my job. I really enjoy helping people in such a meaningful way.” When asked how the Mission helped, he said, “They not only provided me with food and shelter, they also provided me with the support and the tools I needed to grow and thrive.” Yordanys is now looking forward to getting his own apartment and wants to go back to college and finish his degree. With a broad smile, he added, “I now have a sense of purpose and belonging that I’ve never had before.”

SYRACUSE RESCUE MISSION

From Homelessness to Hope


231,462 meals served




The Syracuse Rescue Mission provides a wide range of programs to end hunger and homelessness, including the 183-bed Emergency Shelter for men and women, and 96 units of permanent housing, including Crossroads Residence. The Willing to Work employment training pro-gram offers 13 units of transitional housing. Shelter guests and housing residents receive case management, and have access to employment resources and spiritual care, and connections to community services. The Food Service Center serves three meals every day of the year, and the outreach store provides clothing to anyone in need. Street outreach staff travel countywide to help individuals experiencing homelessness.

In 2017, the Syracuse Rescue Mission:• Saw the largest spike in meals being served in the fall over the last two years.

• Helped all 13 men in its Willing to Work program gain employment over the course of the summer.

• Was gifted two tiny homes in the Hawley- Green neighborhood to house homeless female veterans from Serenity for Women, another local nonprofit.


HOPE AWARDS “I really thank the Rescue Mission for being there for us. Their support is unbelievable!”

– Malik, Hope Award recipient

At the Hope Awards dinner, guests hear about the work of the Rescue Mission directly from the men, women and children who have come through our programs. Held in Syracuse and Binghamton, it celebrates personal achievements of those served by the Rescue Mission. Honorees share their stories, express gratitude and offer inspi-ration. Fifty-six individuals and families from Syracuse, Auburn and Ithaca were recognized at the Hope Awards, held in the restored historic Marriott Syracuse Downtown – formerly the Hotel Syracuse.• Community Hope Awards were presented to Exelon Generation’s James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Plant, Plymouth Congregational Church, and Cumulus Media for their continued support.• Richard Dederick received the Volunteer Award for the 40,101-plus hours he has donated to the Rescue Mission over the past 28 years.

• Driver’s Village received the Clarence L. Jordan Hope Award for their continued efforts toward ending hunger and homelessness in our community.• Mayor Ben Walsh attended as a special guest speaker.

The Binghamton Rescue Mission recognized six current and former clients at its Hope Awards dinner.• Jennifer Conway, executive director of the Binghamton Chamber, served as the emcee and Jordan Patch, owner of Animal Adventure Park, was the event’s keynote speaker.• A Volunteer Community Award was presented to Jim and Adrianna Rollo for their volunteer commitment.• Visions Federal Credit Union received the Corporate Community Award for outstanding support of the Binghamton Rescue Mission.

This year the Rescue Mission celebrates its 130th anniversary. I’m a bit of a history buff and I enjoy looking through the old black and white photos from the Rescue Mission’s archives.

There are images of Rescue Mission leaders from a century ago. The gentlemen are dressed in suits and neckties from another time; the ladies sport dresses and fancy hats that have long since fallen out of style. Nearly all of them wear somewhat serious looks on their faces, though an occasional smirk or smile peeks through here or there. When I look at past Rescue Mission leaders, I can’t help but wonder what they would think of the world today and how we have carried on their legacy. In the be-ginning the Rescue Mission mostly tended to rowdy, drunken canal workers. Much has changed since then. The numbers and varieties of people we help has grown exponentially. Today, we count addicts, teenage runaways, traumatized veterans and men, women and children trapped in generational poverty among those we serve.

There is a verse in the Book of Psalms that says, “Defend the weak, uphold the cause of the poor and oppressed, rescue the weak and needy, and deliver them.” Despite all of the differences (and years) between myself and those early Rescue Mission leaders, one thing has remained unchanged through the years: the consuming desire of the Rescue Mission to show God’s love to those among us who are weak, poor, oppressed and in need.

Dan Sieburg Chief Executive Officer


EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

The Rescue Mission strives to provide a satisfying and enjoyable shopping experience for Thrifty Shopper customers, and to reach new prospective customers.

In 2017, the Rescue Mission:• Opened a new location in a new market. The New Hartford Thrifty Shopper opened on May 20, 2017. It is the Rescue Mission’s 16th store to open in eight counties throughout New York.

• Launched Lightspeed, a new Point Of Sale system in our stores. The new system costs less money to operate than the previous system, which allows increased proceeds to be directed toward programs.

• Began offering brand new furniture from the Simmons line at our Westvale and Baldwinsville Thrifty Shoppers.

• Held five major sale events. On average, big sale events can increase a typical day’s revenue by 300-400 percent.

How does someone’s unwanted shirt or jeans translate into a meal for someone at risk of going hungry? Thanks to donations of clothing, furniture and household items, the Rescue Mission is able to raise 56 percent of its revenue through sales at its network of 16 thrift stores and salvage operations. This provides crucial funding for Rescue Mission programs aimed at ending hunger and homelessness. The Rescue Mission’s social enterprise system includes a network of donation centers, a regional distribution center, five trucks and 16 thrift stores that stretch from Watertown to Binghamton, and Ithaca to New Hartford. While donated clothing and household items are always given directly to individu-als in need, the Rescue Mission also sells donated items through its Thrifty Shop-per stores in eight counties, as well as the 3fifteen boutique near Syracuse University. Damaged or unmarketable clothing and textiles are bundled and sold on the salvage market. The Rescue Mission is always in need

of donations and strives to make donating as easy as possible. It staffs 15 donations centers, accepts donations at all Thrifty Shopper stores, and offers home pick-up for large items on an individual basis. Numerous businesses, schools, churches and civic organizations helped the Rescue Mission in 2017 by leading donation drives for coats, clothing and shoes. For information on stores, donation locations and more, visit iShopThrifty.org.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

Purchasing With a Purpose

A much-anticipated Thrifty Shopper store opened in New Hartford in 2017.


ONE THING HAS REMAINED UNCHANGED

The Rescue Mission “Good News Gospel Boat” circa 1890.

SOURCES OF REVENUE 56% Stores and salvage operations

17% General contributions

13% Government agencies

5% Program fees

5% Legacies/bequests

2% Investments

2% Other

56%

17%

13%

5%5%

2%2%

WHERE YOUR DONATIONS GO 78% Program services

15% Administration

7% Fundraising

78% 15%

7%

Total Fiscal 2017 Revenue.....................$20,566,805

Net Assets at September 30, 2017........$17,117,479

1 Executive Director’s Message

2 Syracuse Rescue Mission

3 Auburn Rescue Mission

4 Binghamton Rescue Mission

5 Ithaca Rescue Mission

6 Volunteers

7 Events

8 Restoring Broken Lives

9 Meals

10 Sharing Joy

11 Hope Awards

12 Social Enterprise

13 Financial Summary / Board of Directors


RESCUE MISSION BOARD OF DIRECTORSChair: Charles Fennell St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center

Treasurer: Chris Gardner FMF&E Wealth Management, LLC

Secretary: Laura Horian Consultant

Vice Chair: David Allyn Formerly with Welch Allyn

Vice Chair: David Canino AXA Advisors

Graham Brodock Kris-Tech Wire

Carolyn Christie-McAuliffe Integrative Practitioners

Bishop Ronald B. Dewberry New Life Temple of Praise

Alejandro Garcia, Ph.D. Syracuse University

Ryan Issakainen First Trust

Ed Riley Brine Wells Development

Charla Roth Dannible & McKee LLP

Phil VanHorne BlueRock Energy

Nicole Woodall Firley, Moran, Freer & Eassa, CPA, P.C.

Honorary Board Member: Clarence L. Jordan Mercy Works

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Information is for fiscal year ended September 30, 2017

For complete copies of audited financial statements and IRS Form 990, please visit RescueMissionAlliance.org/financials

2017ANNUAL REPORT

RescueMissionAlliance.org

The Rescue Mission - Sharing Hope Since 1887


51 Merriman Street Extension Auburn, NY 13021

315-282-7195


56-58 Whitney Avenue Binghamton, NY 13901

607-201-1030


618 W. State Street Ithaca, NY 14850

607-273-6684

SYRACUSE RESCUE MISSION/

RESCUE MISSION ALLIANCE HEADQUARTERS

155 Gifford Street Syracuse, NY 13202

315-472-6251

The Rescue Mission has always been, and continues to be, a place where people can find hope, steadfast hope.

130 YEARS of STEADFAST HOPE

2017 annual report - rescue mission alliance · 2017 annual report 11 231,462 meals served 90,985...

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