Nashville Rescue Mission November 2013 Newsletter

1. Heart of the Mission
NOVEMBER 2013
It Wouldn’t Be
Thanksgiving
Without You!
Your gifts give hope to
the hungry and homeless
Make this
Thanksgiving special
for the homeless, go to
nashvillerescuemission.org
for a list of the items
being collected.
Mayor Karl Dean
It’s More Than a Plate
Mission In My Words
Volunteer enjoys serving others
page 3
page 6
What About Christmas?
Your gifts make a difference!
page 7

2. So Thankful for You
Your gifts provide more than a meal
Glenn Cranfield
President and CEO
“And if you
spend yourselves
in behalf of the
hungry and satisfy
the needs of the
oppressed, then
your light will rise
in the darkness,
and your night will
become like the
noonday.”
–Isaiah 58:10 NIV
For the countless homeless
men, women and children in our
community, it’s hard to imagine
sitting around the dinner table
celebrating Thanksgiving when
some days you have no idea where
your next meal will come from.
Overwhelmed by the challenges of
homelessness, it’s no wonder many
lose hope.
Jesus knew this—and
throughout the New Testament,
there are numerous examples of
His compassion for the poor as He
feeds the hungry, first with physical
bread, and then with the Bread
of Life. Our Lord was not above
serving others and He calls us to do
the same: to “feed my lambs… feed
my sheep.”
At Nashville Rescue Mission, we
follow the example Jesus set before
us. The men, women and children
we assist not only need a hot and
healthy meal, they are also in need
SHARE
WORTHY
WHAT YOU’RE SAYING
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Join in the conversation:
facebook.com/nashvillerescuemission
@NashvilleRescue
“Glad we got to serve with
@NashvilleRescue today! We
always love serving with you!”
@TNUVolleyball
“Just preached @NashvilleRescue. Four men accepted
Christ! God moved in a powerful
way. #ilovethesemen”
@globalvictory
“Nashville Rescue Mission
Women’s Shelter - LOVE the
ladies there! I feed them lunch,
they feed my soul. I GET so
much more than I give.”
@BittaSweetC
@NashvilleRescue
2 Heart of the Mission
of hope—hope for a brighter future,
one filled with possibilities.
With your help, we provide
them with nutritious food—to
strengthen their bodies and allow
them to experience Christian love
and radical hospitality. Then, we
offer safe shelter, essential clothing
and access to appropriate medical
care—the life necessities all of us
need to survive. Finally, we teach
them God provides all the physical
and spiritual food they could ever
want or need.
As Jesus showed us, hope starts
with a meal—but it is only the
beginning. We’re so grateful for
partners like you, who, in so many
wonderful ways, make it possible
for Nashville Rescue Mission to
feed His hungry sheep. Thank you
and God bless.
“On our way to the Nashville
Rescue Mission to fulfill
Kameron’s birthday wish
to volunteer. She is 10
today! :) #proudmom
#happybirthdaykam”
@amandagmeador
NOVEMBER 2013

3. MAYOR
KARL DEAN
MISSION IN MY WORDS
This year marks my seventh
holiday season as Mayor and
my seventh year participating
in the Great Thanksgiving
Banquet at Nashville Rescue
Mission. Each year, alongside
generous volunteers, I have
had the privilege of serving
Nashville’s homeless men, women
and children with a traditional
Thanksgiving meal. I’m pleased to
be participating again this year.
Service to the community—to the “least of
these”—is an often-overlooked part of what makes
Nashville such a great city. Often the headlines
discuss Nashville as an “it” city or as a “boomtown”
for economic growth. These accolades are great, and
I certainly think Nashville has earned them.
What doesn’t get so much attention is that
Nashville also tops the list as a compassionate and
engaged city. Nashvillians look out for one another,
and they aren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves to help
those who need a helping hand.
Nashville Rescue Mission is a shining example
of that Nashville spirit. All year long, the staff and
volunteers of the Mission work tirelessly to not only
provide shelter and safety to Nashville’s homeless
citizens, but to help change their lives for the better.
Helping those who can’t help themselves—or
just need a little help up—does another thing for
our community. It helps our city grow and prosper.
When we help a homeless man heal his life, retool
his skills and ultimately find work, we build a
more economically secure Nashville—for all of us.
When we help a single mother off the street, assist
Nashvillians look out for
one another, and they aren’t
afraid to roll up their sleeves
to help those who need a
helping hand.
her with life-skills and encourage her to get her GED,
we make her family stronger and Nashville stronger.
All of us have a role to play in ensuring
Nashville’s continued prosperity. By engaging
volunteers and resources to provide help, hope and
healing, Nashville Rescue Mission plays a critical
leadership role. You, as a supporter of the Mission,
are also supporting the broader Nashville community
and for that I would like to simply say “thank you.”
KARL DEAN is the sixth Mayor of the Metropolitan
Government of Nashville and Davidson County.
NOVEMBER 2013 Heart of the Mission 3

4. Your gifts give hope to the hungry and homeless
Most people celebrate Thanksgiving around the dinner table enjoying
a traditional meal of turkey and dressing shared with family and
friends. But for a person without a home, it can be a very difficult time
of year—away from family and friends, reflecting on broken promises,
people they have let down and hearts they have broken.
t a smile on
Your gifts pu d’s face.
hil
a homeless c
4 Heart of the Mission
NOVEMBER 2013
There are more
ng at
children stayi
ow than
the Mission n
w you can
ever. Learn ho
ristmas
make their Ch
n
memorable o
page 7.

5. of pity and spite inside of him. But
this year he’s excited to graduate
from the Life Recovery Program
the day before Thanksgiving and
is especially thankful for all he has
learned during his recovery.
“I am so grateful for everything
the Mission has done for me,”
continues Rick. “I have a solid
relationship with the Lord. I will
soon be starting a new job. I have
re-established a relationship with
my children. I am extremely
blessed!”
WHEN IT COMES to sizable
“It’s not just about serving them
guest lists for Thanksgiving,
a traditional Thanksgiving meal,”
g hand.
the Mission outnumbers even
says Cranfield. “This meal just
a helpin
lending
the biggest of families. With
might be the first step in reaching
all ages
ers of
Volunte
your help, over 5,500 meals will
a man or woman struggling with
WITH YOUR HELP
be served to Nashville’s homeless
homelessness or in the grip of adthis Thanksgiving can be different this Thanksgiving. Volunteers
diction or other life-debilitating
for countless hungry and homeless will arrive early to start preparing
situation and guiding them down
men, women and children in the
for the day’s meals. Every fried
a new path. It’s an opportunity to
Nashville community as their lives turkey must be carved, every potato show them there is hope.”
are touched through the Mission’s
chopped, every pie sliced. So much
Thank you for giving the gift of
annual Great Thanksgiving
time and effort goes into preparing hope this Thanksgiving!
Banquet. While there are many
and serving an extra-special
without homes to go to, there is
Thanksgiving meal.
a place where the door is always
“This is a wonderful time of
open—Nashville Rescue Mission.
year for most families,” says Glenn
It’s through your generosity; the Cranfield, president and CEO. “It’s
homeless and hungry can find a
enjoying time spent together as
traditional Thanksgiving meal with a family, celebrating God’s many
all the trimmings at the Mission.
blessings. Yet, for those without
And it doesn’t stop there. Every day, family or a place to call home, it
those in need can find the comfort
can be very sad and lonely. At
of hot, nutritious food, essential
Nashville Rescue Mission, we
clothing and safe shelter—all bewelcome those who are hurting,
cause of your heart for the homehomeless and alone with the love
less, your compassion for the poor. of Christ. It might start with a
While most come for the delimeal, but after they’ve been fed,
cious Thanksgiving meal, your gifts we want them to leave with
allow the Mission to greet everyone something much greater—
like family. Tables are covered with hope for a brighter future
tablecloths. Walls are decorated
through Jesus Christ.
with messages of hope. Music is
“I’M LOOKING FORWARD
softly playing in the background.
Lisa S
p
Thoughtful steps are taken to make to Thanksgiving this year,”
enjoy encer, WSM
s serv
ing at V weathe
says Rick. For him, being
this an extraordinary day—filled
ra
Thank
sgivin nchor,
homeless on Thanksgivwith special memories for those
g.
ing had only welled up feelings
who call the Mission their home.
“Thanks to Tracy Lawrence
and his annual turkey fry, serving
fried turkey has become a regular
tradition at the Mission during
Thanksgiving,” says Tony Baxter,
food services director. “We will
also serve many of the traditional
Thanksgiving day foods, like dressing, creamed potatoes, green beans,
cranberry sauce and lots of pumpkin pie. It might not be the same
as having Thanksgiving dinner at
home, but it’s pretty close.”
NOVEMBER 2013
Heart of the Mission 5

6. IT’S
M RE
THAN A
PLATE
Volunteer enjoys serving others
“I’m serving more than a plate
of food,” says Kathy, a regular
volunteer at the Mission. “It’s oh so
much more! It’s showing a person
who doesn’t have a home they are
loved. It’s letting a hungry person
know they are valued.”
Kathy has been volunteering
every week at the Mission since
May 2012. “I love giving my time
away,” shares Kathy. “My father
was a veterinarian. Growing up, I
watched him demonstrate care and
compassion to those he served. It
instilled in me a desire to help
others. Volunteering fulfills that
desire. It fills me with joy.”
KATHY SPENT many years living
in Houston, Texas. “There was a
big rescue mission in Houston. I
can’t say I gave homelessness a
lot of thought back then. I donated
blankets and other items, but never
volunteered.” After moving to
Nashville, Kathy began looking
for ways to get involved in her new
community. She found a church
home, volunteered to tutor at a
local high school and found other
opportunities to serve.
“I remember seeing a story
on TV at Easter about Nashville
6 Heart of the Mission
NOVEMBER 2013
Rescue Mission,” recalls Kathy. “It
caught my attention. I pulled up
the website and decided to sign up
to serve lunch one day a week. I’ve
been coming almost every week
since. I really enjoy connecting
with the guests. They are gracious.
I constantly hear them say ‘thank
you.’ I enjoy seeing them smile
when they receive their tray of food.
And on the weeks I’ve been out of
town and missed my day of serving,
many of them will ask, ‘Where
have you been? I missed seeing you
last week.’ It just warms my heart.”
AFTER YEARS of being a teacher,
Kathy now teaches new volunteers
the ropes. “I can spot a first-time
volunteer a mile away,” says Kathy.
“It’s written all over their face. I’m
honored to show them where to
get an apron, how to put on a hair
net and where they can wash their
hands. It’s a great way to meet
people. I’ve made so many new
friends… in fact, they are more
than friends—they are family.”
“This year I hope my daughter
and son-in-law can join me during
the Great Thanksgiving Banquet,”
shares Kathy. “I really enjoy
volunteering at the Mission and
I think they would be blessed to
experience it as well. It’s amazing
to see so many people from the
community give their time and
talents to those in need, especially
during the busy, holiday season. At
a time when many of the guests
might otherwise be discouraged,
they respond differently… they
smile… they are happy. I think
for a moment, they forget they are
homeless and they feel at home.”
IF YOU’D LIKE TO LEARN
MORE about volunteer
opportunities at the Mission, visit
nashvillerescuemission.org/
volunteer or call the Volunteer
Hotline at (615) 312-1544.

7. CHRISTMAS
WISH LIST*
FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN
What About
CHRISTMAS?
Your gifts make a difference!
There’s nothing more
heartwarming than seeing
a child’s face light up as he
or she discovers presents
under the tree on Christmas
morning. But, there is also
nothing more heartbreaking
than a homeless child
without a home or hope
on Christmas day—or any
other day for that matter.
Last year, you made Christmas a very
special time for homeless women,
mothers and their children staying at
Nashville Rescue Mission. Your gifts
put smiles on faces and filled hearts
with joy.
This year, the Mission anticipates
serving more children than ever before
and with your help, these families can
also have a Christmas to remember.
Of course, it isn’t just about toys—it
is about celebrating the love God
demonstrated for us through the birth
of His son Jesus Christ. This sacrificial
love is the true meaning of Christmas.
With your help, the homeless
women and children who call the
Mission their home can experience
this love. Your gifts will not only help
them celebrate this holiday, it will fill
them with the hope only God can give.
HELP SPREAD
THE CHEER
PICK UP AN ITEM or two off the
Christmas Wish List (tear off list to
the right) while you’re doing your
Christmas shopping.
GATHER A GROUP from church
and bring a craft or host a party at
the Mission to make the holidays
merry and bright for those who
are homeless.
ORGANIZE A TOY DRIVE at your
church, school or workplace to
collect gifts for the children who
call the Mission their temporary
home during Christmas.
Call the Mission’s Volunteer Hotline at
(615) 312-1544 or email volunteer@
nashvillerescuemission.org for details.
WOMEN
- Granola bars/healthy snacks
- Candy bars/gum/mints
- Board games
- Pens/stationary
- Small note pads/journals
- Jewelry
- Nail clippers
- Small flashlights
- Picture frames
- Purses/tote bags
- Cosmetics/perfumes
- Lotions/soaps
- Hair care products for African
American hair including
heavier combs & hair oil
- Women’s clothing
- Hats/gloves/scarves
- Socks/underwear (sizes 6-13)
- Metro bus passes
- Restaurant gift certificates
- Phone cards
CHILDREN (AGES 0-7)
- Learning toys/books
- Baby/Barbie dolls
- Baby toys (rattles, teething ring)
- Musical toys
- Matchbox cars
- Infant and children clothing
- Socks/underwear
CHILDREN (AGES 8-18)
- Hand-held radios
- CD/MP3 players with headsets
- Jewelry
- Electronic games
- Cameras
- Books/personal journals
- Christian CDs
- Remote control cars
- Watches
- Makeup/lotions
- Bubble bath/scented soaps
- Children and teen clothing
Donations can be dropped off at
the Mission’s Donation Center (616
7th Avenue South, Nashville, TN
37203) Open Monday − Saturday
7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
*For the purpose of this list, we
request items be new.
NOVEMBER 2013 Heart of the Mission 7

8. LIVES YOU HAVE
SAVE
THE
DATE
TOUCHED
SEPTEMBER 2013
Mark your calendar for upcoming events at Nashville Rescue Mission. For
more details, visit us online at nashvillerescuemission.org, like us on
Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
49,088
Meals Served
NOVEMBER
20,898
Nights of Lodging
13
RADIOTHON
94 FM The Fish
6 a.m. - 7 p.m.
16
NASHVILLE
PRAISE SYMPHONY
7 p.m. in the Men’s
Mission Chapel
17
MUSIC
WITH A MISSION
CONCERT
Concert at 7 p.m.
at Schermerhorn
Symphony Center to
benefit Nashville Rescue
Mission featuring
Restless Heart, Amy
Grant, Big Daddy
Weave and many more
25
RADIOTHON
Super Talk 99.7 WWTN
5 a.m. - 7 p.m.
PICTURES OF HOPE’S
“Meet the Artist
Reception” at Tom
Bannen Chevrolet noon
26
TRACY
LAWRENCE TURKEY
FRY in the Mission
parking lot - all day
event
27
GRADUATION
FOR MEN & WOMEN
in Life Recovery
Program - 10 a.m.
27
GREAT
THANKSGIVING
BANQUET - noon
28
Thanksgiving Day
2ND ANNUAL MUSIC
CITY THANKSGIVING
DAY RUN/WALK
hosted by What Do
You Run For? Event
Management to benefit
Nashville Rescue
Mission - 8 a.m. start
GREAT
THANKSGIVING
BANQUET - noon
18,807
Chapel Attendance
5,209
Education Hours
4,583
Bible Class Attendance
1,903
Decisions and Prayers
5,950
Volunteer Hours
61
Travel Assistance
10
Program Graduates
DONATE
VOLUNTEER
EMAIL
CONNECT
$2.26 can
change a life
sign up
online today
stay up-to-date on
Mission news
connect with the
Mission online
NASHVILLE
RESCUE MISSION
639 Lafayette Street, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 255-2475 www.nashvillerescuemission.org