Merry Christmas!

Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

You shall find the babe wrapped in

swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Luke 2:12

Wishing you and your family the peace, joy, and love that came to earth on Christmas!

Thank- you!

As you can see, the Thanksgiving meal was quite scrumptous and the turkey was so juicy. Wow!Thank you to the cook, the wonderful volunteers that helped prepare and serve this Thanksgiving feast. 528 people are also thankful that got to partake of this meal on Thanksgiving. Each person received a special meal served to them at their home, if unable to come, or as they sat down and took off a load. We appreciate everyone who shared their thanksgiving with others! Thank you!

THANK YOU!

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL WHO VOLUNTEERED AND GAVE OF THEMSELVES THIS THANKSGIVING!
AND THANK YOU, TO ALL WHO GAVE TURKEYS, FOOD, AND FUNDS TO PROVIDE THANKSGIVING!
WHAT A BLESSED COMMUNITY WE LIVE IN!
245 MEALS WERE DELIVERED TODAY TO PEOPLE WHO NEEDED THEM BY VOLUNTEERS! HUNDREDS WERE SERVED AT THE MISSION. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

MANY ARE THANK-FULL!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Zoom, Zoom Turkey Run!

Drivers Needed!

Have you wondered what you could do to express your thankfulness this Thanksgiving?

"It was the best volunteer experience I ever had!", one person exclaimed last year. Volunteer drivers deliver hot Thanksgiving meals to people who are elderly and do not have means to get a Thanksgiving meal. Each driver is supplied a map, driving directions, and the individuals name and how many meals are needed. Those that request meals normally receive Meals on Wheels, but the city is closed on the holidays so the misison provides meals to those who want them.

If you are interested in delivering meals, or in serving a Thanksgiving feast during lunch for people in need of a Thanksgiving meal at the mission, please call the front desk at 523-7727.

You can call anytime 24/7.

Thank-You!

Over 482 smiles! Back to School Success

One of the most amazing blessings to help our community was this years Back To School Clothes for Kids Program. Each year, we have helped about 400 children and their families prepare for school. The volunteers in the Clothing Room put aside the newest and best clothing throughout the year for Back To School. Never have we been able to give each child a pair of new shoes, and a new back pack. We pick out one child in the family. This year was exceptionally different! Because of all the people- individuals who gave and dropped by new socks, underwear, school supplies, and shoes.... and a number of wonderful groups....Crossroads Church, Curves members, Kohls, First Presbyterian Church, La Mesa United Methodist Church, Faternal Order of Eagles, La Mesa United Methodist Church, Mesilla Valley Christian School, Southwest Chapter of NM Thrivent Financial, St. Paul's Methodist Church, Taylor Road Turkey 4-H Club, Sierra Vista Community Church, Mesilla Park Community Church, Sunday school classes at First Baptist Church and University United Methodist Church, and others, we were able to fit each child with a brand new pair of shoes! They also picked out their own clothing, received 4 pairs of
new socks and underwear, a backpack and school supplies. Another amazing thing was the number of people who volunteered and filled in for the regular volunteers who could not come. We had volunteers from Strivent Financial Services, Kohls, and Mesilla Valley Christian School and even some kids who had at one time gotten help from the Clothing Room. Everyone worked really hard to make it work. On the last day, we saw over 100 children. We had people who had not registered, but needed clothes and shoes. So, we had them come on Wednesday afternoons from 3-5 when we help children in school. We had an additional 45 children come in 2 hrs. and another 32 children come this past Wednesday, so in all 514 children have received great clothes, shoes, under garments, and school supplies to start off the new school year. What a blessing for these families, children, and our community. Thank you for making a difference.

Pictured above is a delicious carrot cake one mother brought over on our very last day of Back To School. She was so grateful for the clothes, shoes and school supplies her 2 sons had been able to pick out. She had driven all over town looking for assistance, and nobody could help her. She just happened to see the Clothing Room and was so happy she came back and expressed her gratitude. Thank you!

Last Week of Registration For Back to School Program

The Clothing Room's special Back to School Program has one week of registration left. Those days are Monday, July 28th and Wednesday, July 30 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. If you know of anyone who would like to receive school clothes for their children K-12 and they live in the Las Cruces School district or attend school in Las Cruces, please have them come over to register for an appointment. If they are unable to go to The Clothing Room to register, please have them call LuAnne at 644-9563. We try to have 4-5 outfits available per child. The clothes are new or lightly used. We also try and give each child a pair of shoes, new socks and underwear, and school supplies. Children pick out their own clothing with their parents on their pre-registered appointment time. We know what a blessing this is for families in our community to receive this boost to start the school year! It really helps!
Except for the special Back to School Program week, the Clothing Room is open Monday, Wednesday & Fridays from 9-11:00 a.m. It is open from 3:00-5:00 p.m. during the school year for children who are attending school so that they can pick out their clothing after the school day. Please e-mail us if you would like to help volunteer, donate, or want more information at lcgrm@qwestoffice.net Thanks!

Thanks!

Tremendous work has been done at the mission this summer because of people like you that care! THANKS! It's amazing to see everyone coming together and helping. We are still able to serve scrumptious meals three times daily to whomever needs one because of the overwhelming response to our needs. This summer, we have more male guests than we ever have had in the past. We have even had to open the overflow mattresses a couple nights.We appreciate everyone's cooperation, good-will with one another, and incredible outpouring of help during this challenging time. Great thanks! SPECIAL THANKS AS WELL TO BRAD AND ALL THE GUYS WHO VOLUNTEERED TO CUT DOWN DYING AGAVE, RE-DO ROCK AND MAKE THIS MISSION BEAUTIFUL. YOU GUYS DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB. MORE SPECIAL THANKS TO THE CLASS AT MESILLA PARK COMMUNITY CHURCH FOR TURNING A DRAB ROOM INTO A PLACE OF JOY FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES . WE APPRECIATE YOU.

Old to New! More Recovery House Pics!

The View!

The Room with a view!

Bring on the food! Before it was a feeding frenzy for creatures with 4-8 legs. Now, human beings with changed lives will enjoy meals together.

Wonderfully, colorful and bright! Bring on the dirty clothes from lots of volunteer participation.

It's Done! New Life Recovery Transitional House

Thanks

to

everyone

who

had a

vision for a run-down, unusable building. Your gifts, labor of love, and persistence have transformed the building into a new transitional living house for 8-12 men. Now men, who are undergoing the same cleaning, renovation and renewal in their lives and have graduated from the 120 day phase one of the New Life Recovery Program will have a place to continue growing, building confidence and life skills, and building connections and relationships with the community. We appreciate each person who has had a part in making this transitional house a reality.

It's Sparkling!

I wish you could come by the mission and take a whiff of the sparkling clean lobby or see the shiny new stainless steel washroom equipped with a new Hobart dishwasher! (F.Y.I. if you ever would like to stop by and get a tour of the mission, you are very welcome!) What a blessing God has blessed us with to have such a sparkling clean facility, a temporary home for anyone who needs a place to stay or anyone who is hungry and needs a meal. Special thanks to the local chapter of Companies for Christ International who blessed the mission with a complete stainless steel dish washing room and new dishwasher. Fred, the dish admistrator is so excited to do dishes because it takes less time and elbow grease. WE appreciate you so much. Thanks!

Charity

Thank you for showing tangible love and charity. Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission is a charity because through your gifts and volunteerism, people in our community from all walks of life have experienced tangible love. You have not just said, "I love you". You have expressed it by real acts of mercy from the heart. Thank you for all the lives you have touched-
69,326 meals were served to hungry people in our community, 7,304 people shopped for free at the Clothing Room and received 108,478 items of clothing last year donated by you. People who had no place to go found warm shelter. In 2007, there were 20,655 nights of men's lodging and 5,857 nights of women and children's lodging. Thanks for giving love to those in need. Happy Valentine's Day!