Dear Friend,

I love the new year! Whether it’s rung in with celebration or a simple flip of the calendar page, the arrival of January represents a new beginning and a fresh start.

But for hurting men, women and children facing homelessness, hunger and hardship, the new year can be especially difficult. As winter stretches into another month, snowbanks build, the nights grow colder … and the challenges of poverty, addiction, mental health and abuse can seem frozen in place.

For these precious souls, there’s never a good time to be homeless. But this is the time of year when our neighbors most urgently need shelter from winter’s storms — and the storms of life.

At the Milwaukee Rescue Mission, this refuge starts with the safety and warmth of a clean bed and the nourishment of a hot meal. As we meet these basic but critical needs, hearts are comforted … and our guests realize they are safe. Through counseling, education, personal connection and prayer, we help struggling men and women discover and understand the root causes of their homelessness — addressing hardships so they can not only develop the skills needed to overcome them, but to flourish in spite of them.

Most importantly, we share the love of Jesus Christ, the only One who can truly provide a second chance and a fresh start. Broken men overcome addiction and reconcile with loved ones. Women in crisis find renewed hope after escaping abuse and domestic violence. Children see a bright new future, brimming with potential.

Through God’s mercy and through your support, lives are renewed, spirits are revived … and our guests find new beginnings. You’ll see a wonderful example of this in Christina’s story on page 3.

Thank you for your help in making transformation possible for our guests. May God bless you in 2024!

Patrick H. Vanderburgh, D.Min.
President