Kids Have Hope Because Of You!
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True-Life Stories of God’s Provision Through You! September/October 2015
2 Cradle to Career 3 Stability and New Life 4 Educating Kids
Kids Have
Hope Because
Of You!
Please visit us at milmission.org
830 North 19th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233
CRADLE TO CAREER
Dear Friend,
I recently heard this story about a young middle-schooler in our Cross
Trainers Academy. She had already experienced a lot of trauma in her
life, including homelessness at Joy House. Thanks to Cross Trainers,
however, her teachers report this precious girl has grown spiritually
and emotionally by leaps and bounds.
The students in her class were
Patrick H. Vanderburgh, D.Min. recently asked to draw a picture
Executive Director of themselves, along with a brief
description. One student wrote
“Music,” another wrote “Beauty,”
and so on. But this precious girl in
my story simply wrote, “I am free.”
“And so we know and
Free. I can’t think of a more perfect
rely on the love God description, not only for this young
has for us. God is girl, but for what Cross Trainers Academy is all about. And that’s why I’m
so excited about our new Cross Trainers campus in Lindsay Heights —
love. Whoever lives
one of the most economically challenged neighborhoods, with some
in love lives in God, of the most at-risk children, in all of Milwaukee.
and God in them.” For decades, the Milwaukee Rescue Mission has ministered to children
like these through tutoring, after-school programs, summer programs
— 1 John 4:16 (NIV) and Cross Trainers Academy. And now, our new two-building campus
means our school will grow from 180 students to 250 students and will
now include a day care for infants, a new high school and, one day,
vocational training for adults in the Lindsay Heights community!
Thanks to you, we’re serving children and adults from cradle to career,
with academic excellence, personal attention and Christian faith, which
permeates everything we do at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission. Breaking
cycles of poverty and setting people “free,” so they can grow into the
lives God called them to — that’s what your caring, compassionate
support means. Thank you for your partnership, and for standing with us
on the front lines, bringing change and the love of God to the struggling
men, women and children of Milwaukee.
Sincerely,
Patrick H. Vanderburgh, D.Min.
Milwaukee Rescue Mission Executive Director
2
STABILITY AND NEW LIFE
Erica’s life was unstable.
“My own childhood was rough and rocky,” says Erica,
27. “My father and stepfather were both abusive.
And though she loved me and worked hard, my mom
struggled financially. She turned to the Lord. I turned
to my friends in the streets.”
From the age of 12, Erica often ran away from home.
“I wanted to live my life the way I wanted to,” she
recalls. But she didn’t count on getting pregnant
at 18. Worse, the relationship with her son’s father
didn’t work out. “Being a young single mother, I was
unable to be a ‘hands on’ parent because I worked
a lot to provide for my children.”
She met and married her husband, but her life still
continued to slowly unravel. Her husband struggled “I’m so grateful for Joy House
with maintaining employment, which led to substance
and Cross Trainers Academy.
abuse. The family continually moved from place to
place. In September of 2014 she’d finally had enough.
If God did not lead me to the
Homeless and “fed up” she knew she needed to Joy House, I don’t know where
change. So, she came to Joy House with her two
I would be.”
children while unknowingly pregnant.
Coming to Joy House was a humbling experience for
Erica, and it allowed her to reconnect with God. Then, educational future and his relationship with the
as she began to grow emotionally and spiritually, her Lord, and everyone comments on his ability and
husband recommitted his life to Christ, quit drinking his natural talents. He loves this school so much
and found a full-time job, and they are now working and never wants to leave. I’m so grateful for Joy
on repairing their marriage. House and Cross Trainers Academy. If God did
not lead me to the Joy House, I don’t know
Erica also enrolled her son in Cross Trainers Academy.
where I would be.”
“Cross Trainers has transformed my son in many ways,”
she says. “He’s positive. He’s focused on his
www.milmission.org
3
EDUCATING KIDS FROM CRADLE TO CARE
M any of Milwaukee’s at-risk children are caught in a
tragic cycle of poverty, violence, substance abuse
and homelessness. The keys to breaking this cycle are a solid
education, caring mentors and a firm foundation. That’s why,
with your generous support, the Milwaukee Rescue Mission
started Cross Trainers Academy in 2006, which provides
at-risk children an excellent, Christian-based education that
equips them with academic, social, emotional and spiritual
tools for life.
This fall, the Milwaukee Rescue Mission is excited to
announce that Cross Trainers Academy is now moving to
Lindsay Heights, one of the most economically challenged
neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Our new two-building “North
Campus” will enable us to start a high-quality day care for
infants, serve more kindergarten and elementary school
students, and even create a new non-traditional high school
that will focus on vocational and technical training.
We’re really excited that God has blessed us with the
Milwaukee Rescue Mission North Campus! We believe God
is calling us to the Lindsay Heights neighborhood. And with
your faithful partnership and generosity, we hope to fulfill our
calling to support struggling families and kids in this
community from cradle to career.
4
EER — THANKS TO YOU!
EDUCATION AT THE MILWAUKEE RESCUE MISSION
How YOU provide critical educational opportunities for ALL ages at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission:
Safe Harbor
Your gifts help provide men with classes and training that can
help them break free of addictions, find and keep jobs, better
manage their finances, grow their spiritual life and gain skills
they need to support themselves and their families.
Joy House
Thanks to you, single mothers receive the training, education
and spiritual guidance they need to build better lives for
themselves and their children. This includes job skills training,
Christian education, parenting and life skills classes, academic
instruction and more.
Equip
Many students who attend Cross Trainers Academy and live
in our Joy House, as well as other students and teens living
in the community, also benefit from Equip. Equip is our
department that focuses on building strong families and
providing after-school tutoring to give students the extra
individual attention they need to thrive!
5
FAMILY FOOD
BASKET
WISH LIST
At Thanksgiving, we again will
provide our hungry and hurting
neighbors with food baskets
to help them celebrate the holiday.
Here’s one way you can help!
Some of our most urgent needs
are listed here. If you’re able,
please drop off your donation
Monday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.,
at our Kilbourn Ave. entrance.
Thank you! Provide Thanksgiving Meals
m $20.00 Pick & Save gift cards
for Just $2.04 Each!
m Cans of cranberry sauce Hundreds of hungry and hurting men, women and children
m Boxes of instant potatoes will be looking for help and hope this fall. Children have
m Jars of turkey gravy returned to school at Cross Trainers Academy, and in the
m Boxed stuffing mix coming weeks, more struggling men and single moms with
m Canned vegetables (corn or children will seek shelter from the increasingly colder weather.
green beans)
And every day, all these precious folks are looking for hot,
m Boxed macaroni and cheese nutritious meals. You might think that would cost a lot — but
m Boxed cake mix or brownie mix thanks to hundreds of volunteers and generous donations
m Canisters of frosting from local businesses and friends like you, each meal we
m Applesauce serve still costs us only $2.04.
m Jello or pudding mix
Please give generously today to help provide men, women
m Pickles
and children with hot meals, safe shelter, hope — and
m Peanut butter love — this fall.
m Jam/jelly
m Cans of soup, ravioli,
Spaghettios, etc.
Thank You!
m Kid-friendly snacks (fun fruits,
raisins, crackers and cheese,
granola bars, etc.)
m Oatmeal
✃
m Boxed cereal
m Pancake mix/syrup
m Pop-Tarts
Milwaukee Rescue Mission
6
MEMORIAL & IN HONOR OF GIFTS
IN MEMORY OF: Our deepest sympathies are with those who have lost a loved one. A memorial
gift to MRM is a special way to offer hope to the hurting in the name of a friend or family member.
Leopoldo Aliposa, Stacy & Kathy Cramer Cheryl Jakubik Ronald Romanowich
husband
Jay Cravens Bill & Sandy Kelley Jean Sandoval
Irving & Arvilla Allen
Mitchell Fischer Steve Koons Darwin L. Schmalz
The Bayer Brothers
Thelma Flowers Deborah Ann Larocque James & Marion Schmitz
Orval & Barbara
Bonita Fowler Brian Mau Bernardo Soto
Borchardt
Dr. George Fueredi Kathryn Mayer Marcie Teuteberg-Taylor
Audrey Burant
Jesse Ryan Gamache Sue Miller Robert G. Tilley III
Donald John Carpenter
Brad & Crystal Elsa Nennig Florence Wagner
David P. Chyla
Ronald Gundersen Donald Peterson Janusz “Nick” Zajda
Michael Cianciolo
Bonnie Hines Tim Repensek Olive
William “Bill” Clifford
Louise Hrovat Tom Riepenhoff Our parents
Jean Cotrone
Curtis Huntemann
IN HONOR OF: A gift to MRM is a great way both to provide hope and to remember a birthday,
anniversary or other special occasion!
Betsy Anderson Dan Mulder
Mark Best’s 80th Birthday Tony Paredes
Crystal Custalow Elizabeth & Richard Schuck
Doug Hein Donald Zach
The Marriage of Kira Meyers & Peter Heintz Lauren Ann
Patty Hillmann’s Retirement
✃
MY GIFT TO HONOR SOMEONE SPECIAL
Please designate my gift in honor of _____________________________________________________________________
OR in memory of _____________________________________________________________________
Please return this slip along with your gift and the enclosed remit.
The names published on this page represent gifts to the Milwaukee Rescue Mission, www.milmission.org
received from June 1 through July 31, 2015, greater than or equal to $25. 7
TUTORING KIDS, CHANGING LIVES BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
David F. Oury
Throughout Reiauna’s life, her mom emphasized three things: faith in God,
President
reading the Bible and the importance of a good education. Those values
took on increased significance in 2012, when she was just 15. Jeffrey Lueken
Vice President
That year, Reiauna’s mom lost three of her aunts and her father. The
tragedy took a big emotional toll on her. At the same time, the number Michael Andaloro
of hours she worked as a dialysis technician Treasurer
began to decrease, causing further stress.
Sherri N. Kasdorf
Soon, the financial and emotional toll
Secretary
were too much. Reiauna and her mom
found themselves homeless and came Carol M. Kuyers
to Joy House. Assistant Secretary
“When I was at Joy House, I was too old Ervin M. Martens
to attend Cross Trainers Academy,” says Chaplain
Reiauna, now 17 and a senior in high school. “But I remember seeing the
John S. Cain
kids at the school, and I realized immediately that one day I’d like to come
back and help them.” William A. Eisner
One year later, after her family left Joy House, her chance came. She Richard G. Galling
returned to Cross Trainers to tutor 2nd and 3rd graders. “It was my way
Roosevelt McKinney
of giving back after Joy House helped my family,” she says. “Tutoring
these kids really touched my heart,” she says. “A lot of these kids have Warren D. Pierson
never had anyone spend so much time with them. Some may have even Eric J. Van Vugt
felt neglected. But here, we really work hard to make a difference in their
lives. I’m grateful for the chance to give them hope and to encourage Members Emeritus
them to keep pushing forward.”
Karl F. Gengler
Today Reiauna’s future looks bright. She just finished a summer internship
with the Medical College of Wisconsin, and after she graduates from Phillip A. Hardacre
high school, she plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison to Robert W. Jensen
pursue her dream of becoming a surgeon. But no matter what her future
holds, she hopes to continue serving the kids here at MRM through Robert K. Mitchell
Joy House and Cross Trainers Academy.
MISSION STATEMENT
In response to God’s grace through Christ,
we compassionately serve men, women
and children who are homeless, hungry or
poor to help them become whole in body,
mind and spirit for the glory of God.
830 N. 19th Street | Milwaukee, WI 53233 “. . . whatever you did for one of the least
(414) 344-2211 | www.milmission.org of these brothers and sisters of mine, you
did for me.” – Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
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