Written by Karrie Kirschenmann
The San Diego Rescue Mission recently received a $500,000 donation, which will be used for renovating their building. The philanthropy is from an anonymous donor, though the donor’s impact on San Diego has not gone unnoticed.
Founded in 1955, the San Diego Rescue Mission provides rehabilitation services for those suffering from homelessness, addiction, abuse, and poverty. This faith-based organization is currently helping 300 people find their footing and rebuild their futures.
Their vision at the San Diego Rescue Mission is to help troubled people persevere through a nine to 12 month program, which ultimately leads to reintegration into society. President and CEO of the organization, Donnie Dee, proclaimed that their mission is to “get [their patients] sober, job-trained, and off of the streets.”
In San Diego, most do not understand what it is like to be homeless and take their blessings for granted. They expect to awake every morning in their king-size bed, walk downstairs in their two-story home, make coffee from their coffee-maker, and cook a warm breakfast. While all of these blessings are wonderful, working to help others who are less fortunate should also be on every San Diegan’s agenda.
The San Diego Rescue Mission held an event on September 8th and 9th that raised awareness of the living conditions of the homeless. About 600 people spent the night outside on the grass next to Liberty Station to experience homelessness for about 15 hours. The people took shelter under cardboard boxes and spent time collaborating about the city’s efforts to address homelessness.
On September 9, President Donnie Dee stated that “their stories are not so different from our own. They played in Little League, attended junior high, went to prom, and went to college. Poor choices led them to the streets, but our program can lift them up.”
With this incredibly generous donation, the organization plans to update its lobby, expand its classroom space, and update the outside of the building. They also plan to renovate their emergency shelter, which provides food, a warm home, and utilities for women and children.
The organization has about 100 volunteers every day working to help those in need. San Diego is a caring city, with people waving as they walk by and strangers exchanging a smile in the morning.
The San Diego Rescue Mission challenges the entire city to be kind to their neighbors and lend a helping hand to those who are less fortunate. San Diego is a tight-knit city, but kindness will never fail to bring people closer together.
Photo by Perry Grone
