Home Again

On May 3, 2014, the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission experienced a devastating loss. Early that morning, a fire that started on the adjacent property swept through the shelter and destroyed the Mission. Thankfully, through the sovereign protection of God, all of the families escaped without injury. They were moved to a temporary location where the Mission’s caseworkers could still minister to them. The property, however, was declared a total loss. The fire destroyed the Mission’s emergency shelter, vehicle fleet, clothing warehouse, and food pantry—all essential aspects of the Mission’s ministry to the homeless in our community.

That’s when you, the Grace Church family, responded in compassion. Over the course of two weeks, you donated more than $15,000 worth of clothing and hygiene products in generous support of the Rescue Mission. Those donations helped keep their thrift store afloat, which supported the ministry while they continued construction on a new facility.

Just over a year later, that new facility is completed and ready to serve the community. “Home Again” is the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission’s new family shelter, located at 8756 Canby Avenue in Northridge, just a few blocks from CSUN. This 90-bed, family-centered shelter will triple the amount of guests the Mission is able to serve, as they offer the same compassionate education and biblically-based counsel that will equip these families to get back on their feet.

Just as Grace Church stood with the Rescue Mission at the close of the last chapter, we want to stand with them at the beginning of this new chapter and welcome them “Home Again.” To that end, over the next two weeks we will be collecting donations of clothing and hygiene products that the Mission can sell in their thrift stores to support their ministry. If you would like to help, please bring gently used (or new) items of clothing to church over the next two Sundays. General hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, toilet paper, and even diapers are also welcome. The Mission will have trucks in the main and north parking lots to accept your donations.

The San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission continues to serve the Lord as they minister compassion to those who are often overlooked and forgotten in their time of need. What a blessing it is for our church family to be able to do for this ministry what they so often do for others. Let’s welcome the mission home again.

For more information about the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission, contact the Local Outreach office at 818-909-5721. To contact the mission directly, visit sfvrescuemission.org or call 818-785-4476.