Christmas Update!

VRROOM! Thank you to everyone who has come to the rescue and called in to help deliver Christmas meals! We have had an amazing outpouring of people who want to help. Isn't great to live in a place where people care about one another. We have a back-up list in case some people have a change of plans or it snows and some people are not comfortable driving. If you would like to be placed on the reserve list, please call the Rescue Mission at (575) 523-7727. Thank you for all your help.

We do have a need for volunteers in other places. Please see below. Thank you so much and may you have the best Christmas and holidays full of hope and love.

We have a need for Christmas Toys for boys! Balls (basketballs, soccar balls, and footballs) are terrific presents that can be great for many different ages!



If you would like to help give a Christmas toy to a child who may not have one this Christmas, bring a toy by the Rescue Mission, 1050 W. Amador anytime before Saturday, December 24th, or help with the toy distribution on Saturday. We need volunteers for two different shifts:



9:30 AM- 12:00 Noon



and



11:30 AM to 1:30 PM







Thank you! Last year, we had 715 children pick out presents! We expect many kids this year! The event is going to be held at Church on the Rock on Solano. They have offered to let us use their building which is much larger than any at the Rescue Mission. Please call LuAnne at (575) 644-9563 or Linda at (575) 522-0203 if you would like to volunteer or have questions. Thank you!

You don't have to be a Santa or Drive a One Horse Open Sleigh

• You can drive a Pinto or Tercel, a Ford or even a Cheverolet




• You don't have to be Santa Claus or drive a one horse open sleigh.




• Have a Fiesta, don't Dodge the chance to Focus on what counts




• Escape the bustle and the hustle and grab your mounts




• Drive down El Camino with a Pathfinder in hand (a map)




• And deliver some Christmas cheer with a delicious hot meal




• For someone dear who may not have anyone at Christmas Time




• Thanks for helping those who cannot come into dine and may not have a dime. (or a Charger).




• Come on time, at 10:30 AM on Christmas Morn if you would like to help remember a Baby was born.

Thank you for considering being a part of someone's Christmas who may not have anyone to see or say "hello" to on Christmas Day. Each year, Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission helps deliver meals to people who normally would receive a Meals On Wheels from the City of Las Cruces. The City programs are closed on the holidays, and that is especially the time that some seniors need a hot holiday meal or a few to last through the weekend. This year we have a special extreme need for volunteer drivers to deliver meals. Christmas falls on a Sunday this year and many of our volunteers who helped at Thanksgiving will not be available. Would you like to help? You can bring some family members along and go to a house or two with some meals. We provide the instructions, directions, maps and hot meals! To help out, please call the Rescue Mission's main number: 523-7727 any time day or night and add your name to the list! Thank you!

If you know someone who is disabled or elderly and needs a meal or few delivered, please have them call the same number so meals can be delivered to them. Thanks!

Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving

"Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good. His Love Endures Forever!"

There is a lot to be thankful for these days. This Thanksgiving, it was wonderful to see all the smiles and joy in the faces of the volunteers. The people who benefited from everyone's generosity and love were also thankful.

I asked one friend who comes to share the great Thanksgiving banquet with the community each year what the meal tasted like. "Delicious". When asked if the turkey was juicy, she replied, "Do you see me using my napkin? If that is any sign. Yes, it is so juicy!" :) Hats off the the many volunteers and especially the incredible kitchen staff and cooks who labored for days to create such a scrumptious meal. They roasted and deboned over 60 turkeys. You all are amazing!

Volunteers delivered 195 delicious hot Thanksgiving dinners to people who requested them. These were people who were elderly, or disabled and were unable to come and share the meal at the mission.

242 meals were served in the Rescue Mission's dining hall at 1050 W. Amador.

Festive place mats and a paper chain decorated the dining hall. They were specially made by a fourth grade class at Hermosa Heights Elementary. :)

A mother came up and requested if her teenage sons could play the guitar and sing! Wow! That was an answer to prayer. That was the one thing missing at the Thanksgiving celebration. Thanks so much! We hope they come back for Christmas.

To all the volunteers who gave of yourself to make Thanksgiving special for others who had no one to share it with, Thanks!!! I hope you all have a great year and a great Thanksgiving holiday. Thank you!!!

DOUBLE YOUR DONATION ! :)

Denver Mattress is doubling any donation during November! They will match a donation given on their landing page:
www.denvermattresshelps.com/elpaso

They are helping Rescue Mission's all over the USA. Between El Paso and ourselves, they will match up to a total of $2,500!

Thanks for your gifts and compassion.

How you can help during the Holidays!

This Christmas, like other years, the Rescue Mission will be giving toys to needy children in our communities. Last year, we had 700 children come to pick out and receive a gift. The gifts have a $15 value so that it is a substantial present. For many families struggling financially, this is an incredible blessing and the only gift their children receive. We may not have enough gifts for all the children who come...this year will be first come first serve first serve rather than giving certificates...but we will do our best.

Each year is a miracle as we do not have this in the annual budget and we pray and watch the miracle happen. We have not run out of presents yet. I am including a video of a past Christmas Toy Give-Away so you can see what it has been like. The amazing organizer of the event is Linda Morgan, phone 522-0203. She has an incredible gift of organizing and is a retired teacher. She can help you if you would like to volunteer or also know what age is lacking the most toys as we collect them. Give her a call!

We give gifts to children from birth to age 18. Soccer balls and basket balls are terrific presents. We have also tried to give mothers and grandmothers gifts as well like lotion baskets and watches, but will not be able to do that probably this year as we expect many more children.

Details:

Christmas Toy Give-Away: December 24th (Christmas Eve) 10 AM -1 PM

Needed: Christmas toys for ages Birth to 18 or money to purchase toys.

Stuffed Animals that are lightly used or new

Books

Volunteers to assist giving out toys

Blankets!

Where to donate:

Toys can be dropped off at Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission, 1050 W. Amador open 24 hrs. a day. Please let them know it is for the Christmas Toy Give Away.

Financial contributions can be made on the website: www.lcgrm.org or mailed to Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission, PO Box 386 Las Cruces, NM 88004. Please designate your gift for Christmas Toys. Checks can also be dropped off at the Rescue Mission, 1050 W. Amador.

Thank you for your help to make Christmas special. Have questions? Please call Linda Morgan at 522-0203.

YUMMY DELICIOUS THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS DINNERS!

This year we will again be serving Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners to anyone who is hungry. Maybe you have helped in the past by delivering meals or serving. For people who have volunteered, this is a great opportunity for you and your family to go together and share your time with those who may not have family or friends this holiday season.

How you can help:

1. We need more volunteers at Christmas than Thanksgiving, but we did deliver over 200 meals last Thanksgiving! We need volunteer drivers to deliver meals to people who are elderly and have requested meals as well as to people who are disabled. This would be on Thanksgiving and Christmas day from 11:30-12:30 or 1:00 PM.

2. We need volunteers to help with serving people who come to the mission, on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Shifts include 10 AM-11:45 and 11:45-1:00 and clean up crew!

3. The Christmas Toy- Give Away mentioned above needs volunteers as well! :)

Bless others by giving financial contributions and food:

1. Drop by any frozen turkeys, ham or food at the Rescue Mission, 1050 W. Amador

We need food for food boxes. Cans of yams, green beans, cream of mushroom soup, etc will be a great blessing for families in need. Anything you like for your Thanksgiving or Christmas meal to make it merry may be what someone else likes too! Not only do we help needy families that come to the mission to receive a food box, we also help other organizations that help deliver food boxes to needy families of prisoners at the local prisoners. Every bit helps!

2. Financial donations can be given at Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission, 1050 W. Amador or mailed to Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission, PO Box 386 Las Cruces, NM 88004

Please tell us exactly where you want your donation to help. Thanks!

Also, you can donate on our website: www.lcgrm.org Click the donate now button. From November 11 to the end of the month, you will also be able to have your donation matched from Denver Mattress. They are matching donations up to $2,500 to help rescue missions feed the hungry. There will be a link at during those dates on our website.

Any questions, please e-mail or call LuAnne at (575) 644.9563

God Bless You will a joyful holiday season!

Dr. Brian Gilbert gives Bill Wheeler, Executive Director, a large check from the money collected for the food drive in August. What a blessing!

Special thanks to the above organizations and churches and individuals who helped children this fall in the Back to School Clothes4Kids Program. You all were incredible and investing in the ones God cares for so much. Thank you.
This fall, the mission like the ants began preparing for the upcoming winter. We were able to do much needed stucco repairs on the misison buildings and purchase new inner spring mattresses that are very comfortable!

Come by the mission and see for yourself!

What an amazing few months we have had at the Rescue Mission. The Bible says to spend time looking at the ants. They work super hard lifting far more than their body weight and they work together to help one another. This reminds me of the way people pulled together to help people in need.

AUGUST- We had record numbers of children who had signed up for the Back to School Clothes 4 Kids Program. Because of the hard work from many volunteers and Wylene Saunders, the Clothing Room Manager and Keisha Velarde, an amazing person who helped get many people involved, we were able to meet the needs and continue meeting them. You may have donated socks, underwear, clothes, or your time to help in these efforts. Whoever you are, you made a difference in a child's life this fall. It's not easy starting school without new socks and underwear. Thanks for making the year a fresh start for about 700 kids in our local area. There were so many organizations and churches that answered the needs. Thank you to all of them. Every bit helped and continues to help.

FOOD TO THE RESCUE!!!!

Dr. Gilbert, a local dentist had a bright idea this fall to help others donate food for food boxes and money to help purchase food for the Rescue Mission. We didn't know we would end up serving almost 2,000 meals over what we normally serve. What timing! Thank you to everyone who particpated and donated money or dropped off canned goods at Bright Star Dental.

Update! What's up to date.

Next Monday thru Friday, over 650 children will be coming to receive school supplies, shop for clothes, and receive brand new underwear, socks, and tennis shoes! This week, we are preparing The Clothing Room and collecting donations. Thanks to Crossroads Church, we have a new pair of shoes for each child coming! This is amazing. Thank you Crossroads! Members of First Presbyterian Church are doing an incredible job collecting new socks and underwear. :) Thanks so much! Last Thursday, Realators from Las Cruces Realators Association challenged one another to bring school supplies! Thanks to their efforts and people who have dropped off school supplies at various locations and radio remotes, we are gathering more. We currently have enough school supplies for the first couple of days, but need more for the remaining part of the week. If you would like to help, you can donate on-line or drop off school supplies, socks, underwear or clothes at the following locations:

>Curves (on Picacho, Del Rey, or Missouri!)

>Horse N' Hound on Amador

>Katharoz on Foothills Drive

>PrimeTime Fitness on N. Telshor

>Radio Station on Calfornia

>Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission on Amador or The Clothing Room on 1416 S. Solano

We are so grateful for all the businesses, churches, and organizations that are helping to make Back to School successful for parents AND children. Thank you!

Wylene, the Supervisor of the Clothing Room has signed up children for all of the remaining Wednesdays in August after BACK To School Clothes 4 Kids week.

We currently have about 750 kids signed up. We have never seen parents in such need. Volunteers are desperately needed on Wednesdays during the month of August and September to help meet these needs. We need people who can help between 3:00-5:00 on Wednesdays at The Clothing Room. Could that be you?

Besides volunteers and school supplies, we are in need of the following:

GIRLS CLOTHES FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN IN SIZES 4+, 6, 6x, 7,8

These sizes are more difficult to find are are not often donated.

Come enjoy a hot dog and drink on Wednesday, compliments of Der Weinerschnitzel and drop by some school supplies or clothing. We will be at Horse N Hound Wednesday from 4:00-7:00 PM!

It doesn't take much when everyone pitches in to make a difference in the lives of children in our community. Thanks for caring.

Any help makes a difference! :)

Help Needed

This year, we have filled all of the appointments for the Back To School Clothes 4 Kids program. As pictured here, each morning before the Clothing Room opened, we had about 30 people lined up waiting to get in to reserve an appointment for their child. We try to keep everything very organized and pre-register children for the special week. Each child is given a thirty minute time slot to find 3-5 outfits, be sized for new shoes, and try on their shoes and receive new socks, underwear and school supplies.

Appointments are spilling into the Wednesdays that we are open during the school year from 3:00-5:00 for school age children. The children from outside Las Cruces and children that were not able to fit into the special week's appointment book will be able to come on Wednesdays. The Clothing Room is open each week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 9-11. When the regular schedule begins for schools, we will also be open on Wedesday from 3-5 pm. This is for children and their parents to be able to come and find clothes and not conflict with school hours.

So many families are facing hard times this year and have signed up for help. Could you be a blessing to others in need by hanging with us? We need hands to help us hang up clothes, sort school supplies, organize, etc.

Please call Wylene at 642-9619 . Any help would be tremendous. You can come volunteer for an hour, or more. Grab a friend and come have a blast making a difference in someone's life.

We will having about 700 children and their parents pass through. We need help this coming week to set the room up and organize items.

August 8-12, we need volunteers who can help with whatever is needed. These are some of the jobs...Handing out school supplies, sizing feet for new shoes, being a personal assistant shopper helping families find those perfect outfits, handing out socks and underwear, helping with little important things that take time.

Check out the video to see what it has been like to volunteer! Thank you!

HOW DO YOU SPELL SUCCESS?

HOW DO YOU SPELL SUCCESS?

Please click the words above to see a cool, short video!

We expect 650 children ages 3-18 coming for the Back to School Clothes 4 Kids Program. The registration is filling up fast! Would you like to be a part of bringing joy and smiles?
To volunteer, come by between 9-11 on Monday, Wednesday or Friday and see the Clothing Room in action, or call Wylene at 642-9619. We need and appreciate your help! Thank you !!!

Any donations of clothing, school supplies, new socks and underwear for ages 3-18 can be dropped off at the Rescue Mission or Clothing Room. Thank you!!!
1050 W. Amador open 24 hrs. Clothing Room 1416 S. Solano open M.W.F. 9-11 AM. Please tell them it's for Back To School! Thanks!!!

THANK YOU!!!!

THANK YOU!!! Hope you enjoy this little video! This year we experiened the greatest blessing of so many people pitching in to help and so many people who were so generous and gave to make the holidays and everyday special for people who are homeless and hungry. You are amazing. Thank you!!! Your gifts, joy, and prescence are gifts many people will remember and treasure.