A BLESSED DAY!

So much has happened at the Rescue Mission since I last posted on Current News! We had an outpouring of help on Christmas. It was overwhelmingly wonderful. Thank you! The volunteers had a great time too and their smiles brought joy to many people including us who get to help all the time. Thank you! The Christmas Toy Give-Away was also a great success! We had enough gifts and stuffed animals. Despite the snowy day, volunteers came to help. Some were snowed in, but others came just because we called and they wanted to help. Thank you! 415 people received Christmas presents. There were gifts for the mom's, dad's and of course, all the children. Look forward in a couple of weeks of seeing some great videos from these Christmas events.

For now, I want to show you a video from Feb. 8th, a special day. Feed the Children partnered with us to help distribute food, hygiene and Avon boxes full of needed and special items to needy families in our communities. We helped hundreds of people we knew were in need from the Clothing Room, the Rescue Mission and from local schools, and the Community of Hope. Hope you enjoy the video! THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF AT LAS CRUCES GOSPEL RESCUE MISSION AND VOLUNTEERS WHO MADE SO MANY SPECIAL DAYS FOR PEOPLE IN NEED OF HOPE!

Jesus is Alive! Happy Easter!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE! If you were blessed to be able to wake up early this morning and enjoy the sunrise, it was amazing. If you weren't, here is a picture. Each Easter reminds us that God is real and alive. He is risen! As a song says, "He touched me, and oh the joy that floods my soul. Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole." May the risen Saviour touch you today and bring healing, hope, forgiveness and new life. Happy Easter.

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!