Please note, the IRS requires that gifts by check can be tax-deductible in 2011 as long as they are postmarked on or before December 31. Credit card gifts mailed to SBRM must be receipted in the tax year received, regardless of postmarks. Credit card gifts made online until 11:59 p.m. on December 31 will still be deductible in 2011. Thank you for giving generously!
This time of year is marked by acts of care and concern as our community reaches out to those who struggle. The office sees a regular stream of people stopping by with food, clothing and Christmas gifts. Each day’s mail delivery brings encouragement as we see so many generous people blessing the homeless and addicted through gifts large and small. One gift caught our attention recently as it came with a simple note from “Heather” written on the envelope flap—so small that we almost missed it. It read:
“25 years ago I arrived in SB homeless. I remember having Thanksgiving with you at the Mission. Thank you for the good work you do.”
Our hearts are filled with gratitude: over a place that’s been reaching out to those who struggle for almost 50 years; over a neighbor who remembers receiving timely help and now wants to give back; over a community that continues to give. With more people than ever approaching us for assistance, our prayer, as we extend grace to them, is that they too will move out of need and on to fulfillment and self-sufficiency. May there be lots of “Heathers” in our midst and may God lead them to places where seasons when they needed assistance are but a distant memory.
Rolf Geyling
President
Left to Right: Jim Spencer of Jordanos, Rolf Geyling, and our helpful residents.
Each year we set an ambitious goal for our Holiday Turkey Drive—this year we’re hoping for 900 to meet the increased number of people approaching us in need. We thought we might have stretched a bit too far as we only had 165 by the end of last week. Then Monday came and the day was interrupted by a steady stream of surprises—many times it was one turkey at a time, but other times it was 10, 38 or 42 at a time. We saw over 100 turkeys come in and we’re praying that this would continue. Each turkey means good nutrition and a warm welcome for men, women and children in need of hope. Please continue to remember them as you go about your holiday preparation and know that just because Thanksgiving may be past, we’ll still gladly take turkeys! Many of our friends watch for discounts after Thanksgiving in order to bless those who struggle. Thanks to all who have and continue to participate in this effort. Let’s keep those turkeys coming!
Rolf Geyling
President
Please read this issue of the Milestones newsletter and hear about how Dave, Brenda, and Jay found help and hope at the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission.
We are accepting turkeys, canned food, and monetary donations in preparation for our annual Thanksgiving Feast on Wednesday, November 23 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. We’re planning to serve over 300 meals to community members in need. The Thanksgiving dinner will include turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, pie…and all the trimmings. Approximately 900 turkeys are needed for all of the meals that will be served throughout the holiday season.
Rolf Geyling, president of the Rescue Mission, stated “We’re already expecting this to be one of our busiest Thanksgiving seasons ever. We have seen a 20% increase in emergency meals since the recession began and the need shows no sign of letting up any time soon.”
Donations may be dropped off Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the Yanonali St. office.
We will honor the men and women graduating from our 12-month residential treatment program on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. The ceremony will be held at Santa Barbara Community Church located at 1002 Cieneguitas Road, Santa Barbara. There will be a reception immediately following. For more information, please call 966-1316.
We will hold our tenth annual fundraiser on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at the Rancho Dos Pueblos estate from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. This year’s theme is Back to the Bayou — A Roundup at the Ranch. Sheriff-Coroner Bill Brown will be honored for his committed partnership in the work of recovery through his service as a founding member of the Santa Barbara County Reentry Steering Committee and as a member of the Santa Barbara Fighting Back Task Force.
The Bayou Grand Prize Drawing is a one-week vacation for two on the Big Island of Hawaii, including airfare. All proceeds to benefit the Mission’s Homeless Guest Services and 12-month residential drug and alcohol treatment program. For more information and tickets, please contact Rebecca Wilson at the Rescue Mission 966-1316 ext. 105.
In the last issue of our Milestones newsletter, we specifically requested prayer for two stackable ovens –– costing $6,000. We received a phone call from a longtime donor who gave us the full amount. The ovens were installed last week and have dramatically improved our efficiency. We serve dinner to 45 men in our 12-month residential treatment program and approximately 150 – 200 homeless guests every evening. It was very difficult to do this with only two antiquated ovens, and it certainly limited what we could offer our guests. Patrick Pastoret, our food services supervisor, said “It doesn’t take as long now to cook with these new ovens. In the past it took upwards of two hours to bake four turkeys, with the convection ovens it’s less than one hour to cook 16 turkeys.”
Thank you for praying for us!
You will find pure inspiration in this issue of Milestones, as you read about the amazing changes that take place inside the walls of the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission every single day. Summer Newsletter 2011
The Bible tells us to entertain strangers because they may be angels. We had a close encounter with two special visitors this week. Abby and Kayley sold some of their possessions and homemade brownies. When their parents asked them what they would like to do with all of the money they made, the girls said they wanted to give it to “poor people.” It was just before closing on Wednesday evening, when they arrived with their plastic bags full of well organized currency. We were so impressed with their generosity and even more amazed after we calculated it––a large gift to the Mission! We’re sad to see this special family leave Santa Barbara, but we’re so grateful for their parting gift.
We are very busy at the Mission making preparations for our annual 4th of July Carnival on Monday, July 4 from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. We will roll out the red carpet for homeless men, women and children. Rolf Geyling, president of the Rescue Mission, summed it up best by saying “Poverty doesn’t take a vacation so neither do we.” This has become our mantra for the holiday demonstrated by staff members and volunteers who show up to convert the parking lot into a carnival of games, provide a BBQ dinner, and socialize with our guests. We’re looking forward to embracing and celebrating with those who would otherwise be forgotten on this special day.
L to R: Patrick Pastoret, Bill Bishop, David "Hopper" Hopkins
Today’s Rescue Mission lunch was much like any other day save for a very special guest, Bill Bishop. Bill has been a consistent and quiet presence in the Santa Barbara recovery community and particularly for the men in our recovery program for many years. It would be hard to number the men he has sponsored in his 30 years of sobriety. The men coming through our recovery program often face challenges as they reenter the workforce, Bill’s willingness to employ many of them in his construction business has been crucial in giving them confidence and practical skills.
We couldn’t let Bill retire and move back East without properly honoring him but, like many of our most prized volunteers, he would have refused the banquet, gala, or parade he rightfully deserves. We had to lie just a bit to get him to show up for a simple Friday afternoon lunch with the guys, but we were so grateful to pay him tribute and hear a few graduates and staff speak of his impact on their lives. In the few comments we could get him to make, Bill pulled out his big stack of chips—one for each year of sobriety—and encouraged everyone to stay the course in their recovery. May we never forget how taking things one day at a time can add up so significantly.
Is the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission effective because of its clinical treatment model? Certainly. Do lives get changed in our buildings? Sure. But nothing is more instrumental than the people God uses to impart grace to the men and women He brings to us. Some of them, as staff, are very visible day-to-day, but some of our most crucial team members are those quiet ones, like Bill, who serve as a model and guide through the way they live their daily lives.
Many thanks and blessings, Bill! We will miss you but will be reminded daily of you in the changed lives we see.
Rolf Geyling
President
The students of Providence Hall not only painted the walls that encircle our courtyard, but they also donated signs for each of the doorways. This is the place where our homeless guests congregate and for those who do not attend a chapel service they’re now surrounded by a visual sermon. We are pleased with the aesthetic improvement and so excited that the message of God’s love has become even more accessible to our guests. We know that the word is living, active, and sharper than any double edged sword. A big thanks to the students of Providence Hall for spreading the gospel for us.
Last weekend, there were a number of familiar faces at the Santa Barbara City College Graduation. We congratulate LB and Danny (SBRM graduates and staff) for completing their Certificates in Alcohol and Drug Counseling and are equally proud of Joel, Peter, and David (SBRM graduates) for the completion of their degrees and certificates. These are significant personal achievements for these men on their own journeys of recovery, but we also expect them to benefit untold numbers of people in the future as these certifications raise the clinical level of care we are able to provide for people seeking treatment.
As our vision statement speaks of people “living as productive citizens” and “leading others to recovery,” we celebrate an event like this that so clearly recognizes the accomplishment of these men and the promise it holds for others seeking recovery.
Congratulations, Graduates!
Rolf Geyling
President
Tori started smoking marijuana at the age of seven and entered her first program ten years later. She experienced some clean time but relapsed and started using crystal meth. At the age of 20, she went into another program while pregnant with her second child and stayed clean for six years. Tori relapsed again and turned her house into a meth lab that was soon raided. Her three children were taken in the process. She said they were very angry with her, because they thought she lied to them. Tori told them she wasn’t going to go back to jail but she did. That’s when she knew she needed to change her life.
It was at this time that she heard about Bethel House and was very resistant to the idea. She said “I’d been to programs before, I’m a hooked to die dope fiend and I needed something stronger. I knew that God was the only thing that could save me.” Tori entered Bethel House on February 3, 2010 and at the age of 27 her healing began. Even though she experienced clean time in the past, she never changed her thinking. She said “I came in like a hard little street thug with a bad attitude. I turned into somebody that’s vulnerable, has compassion, and sincerely cares about other people.” Tori graduated in March of this year and returned to her husband and three children. What a gift!
The end of this week comes with much joy and gratitude, and not just because of the beautiful weather! This week the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission held its 2nd Annual Celebrating Partnership Luncheon. During this event we thanked some of the key partners of the Rescue Mission’s work and celebrated what God is doing in our community. How great it was to take a step back and appreciate what we are so blessed to be a part of!
Beyond an expression of gratitude, the event is also an opportunity to update our partners about the work they are supporting. Rolf shared in his speech, “I view this event as a type of shareholders meeting, so we believe it’s important for us to show how we’ve stewarded your resources.” He went on to share that last year we assisted over 1,750 individuals in deep need through our homeless guest services, outpatient and residential treatment programs. Furthermore, of the 175 men and women who received residential treatment in our one year program, 37 graduated the program last year and another 11 have completed the program this year. Each of these people who have come to us for help have received tangible assistance to address their unique needs, but even more importantly they have experienced the grace of God through His Church. They came here under difficult circumstances and were loved in the midst of those circumstances.
All of this is only possible because people like you have been intent in caring for the men and women who come to us for help. We thank you and celebrate your partnership with us!
Joe Foster
Director of Operations
Photo by Dale Weber
We are holding our annual Easter Feast on Thursday, April 21 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. The celebration will occur in the Rescue Mission’s dining hall. Our staff, along with the help of 40 volunteers, will serve meals to men, women and children in need. Through charitable donations of food items and gifts from the Santa Barbara community, we are prepared to serve up to 300 people.
Joan, one of the Mission’s guests, refused to panhandle. She’d lost her job and her home –– but not her dignity. She kept on searching for work, praying an employer would look at her skills instead of the fact she was sleeping on the streets. If she was careful, she could afford to eat one small meal a day…anxiety is what Joan felt as she calculated how long she could afford even that. Without the Mission’s immediate help, through good meals and a safe place to sleep, she says “Worst case scenario, I would be on the streets and relapsing, which is my worst fear after having seven and a half years clean.” Instead, “I’m going strong. I don’t know where the Lord is leading me, but He’s going to lead me somewhere.” The Mission will put a lot of people, like Joan, on the path to a better life this Easter season.
Anyone who makes even a brief visit to SBRM comes away impressed by the team of people who are dedicated to serving the homeless and addicted. We are proud of the way our residential model and clinical approach have such incredible results, but tools like this are only effective if they are in the hands of skilled and compassionate individuals. Among the best of these has been Dr. Patsy Shealy, who we bade farewell to this week after six years of directing our Bethel House and Clinical Supervision.
Patsy oversaw the establishment of the Bethel House in its new location on Arrellaga Street and this ministry will always bear her unique imprint. She combined expertise as a psychologist with a compassionate heart and an engaging sense of humor that impacted scores of residents, staff, interns and volunteers. Her investment in our staff raised the bar clinically across all of our programs and several staff have her to thank for the certifications they were able to earn under her tutelage. I am so grateful for the many lives we were able to see God transform through Patsy’s efforts and expect to marvel all the more in eternity at those who were indirectly impacted by her and the team she led.
While we grieve her departure, both personally and professionally, we recognize God’s leading in this process and honor Patsy’s decision and the family concerns that are calling her out of the area. She will always be a part of our family and our love and gratitude go with her.
Rolf Geyling
President
Photo by Christie Gabbert
Today is an exciting day for Tom, one of the recent graduates of our Men’s Recovery Program. After a year of challenging self-examination, key life skills training, and vital relapse prevention counseling, Tom is leaving SBRM and moving out into the community. Having already made the move from our Men’s Program to our independent Sober Living facility, he is now moving on to his own place as he begins his new full-time job as Assistant Manager at a local fuel station. What an encouragement he is to those men and women still in the program who hope to follow in his footsteps!
Even more exciting than the present success of independent living and a full time job, Tom is also a stunning example of our vision here at SBRM. Just a little over a year ago, he was homeless in Santa Barbara and lost in his addiction. But today he stands tall as a healthy, productive citizen who continues to rebuild his relationships and who is leading others to recovery. That’s exactly why we do what we do, all to God’s glory!
Saying farewell to a friend usually implies a person but in this case it happens to be a vehicle. The Rescue Mission enjoyed the service of a 1984 Dodge van that was donated to us in 2001. Steve Goralski, our men’s program director, said “It had more miles on it than the space shuttle.” However, a week ago it burst into flames and after dousing the fire with five extinguishers, “Old Blue” is no more. This was the only means of transportation for the men in our 12-month residential program, and we’re in desperate need of a replacement. Please contact Rebecca at (805) 966-1316, if you’re able to help.
These events give community members a firsthand look at what their compassion makes possible every day. Before a tour of the Mission facilities, visitors hear the inspiring testimony of one of our graduates whose life has been radically changed by the 12-month residential recovery program.
Our “60 Minutes at the Mission” events are just one hour and held on the second Wednesday of every month. If you’d like to learn more about the Rescue Mission, please sign up for the next event by contacting Rebecca at (805) 966-1316 ext. 105 today!
The News-Press reports on Robert Raseta’s recovery from a lifelong alcohol addiction in this article:
Last week I was chatting with Molly*, one of the residents in our Bethel House recovery program. As you might imagine, our conversation touched on the upcoming holidays and how she was looking forward to a markedly different Christmas than last year.
She had a hard time reconstructing the series of events, but the tale involved drinking, living in a tent under an avocado tree, arguments with family, drinking, hitch-hiking, angry phone calls and more drinking. What was clear is she woke up behind a dumpster at Denny’s. The relative emptiness of a parking lot usually packed with breakfast customers gave way to the realization that it was Christmas morning.
Her Christmas breakfast consisted of coffee and food in a takeout container handed to her by an irritated manager with the expectation that she would go away. She thought of her daughter waking up that morning and receiving Christmas presents from family members who had made the gut-wrenching decision to keep Molly away lest she do any more damage.
A painful, lonely memory like this is something Molly may only be able to share because of the hope that this Christmas might be different. Life got more difficult before it got better, but in the three months that she has been with us, a process of hope has begun. Through our Family Day program, residents begin the process of reconciliation with their families and Molly is hopeful that this will happen for her. As Christmas holds the prospect for a long-awaited visit with her daughter, we are praying not only for this, but that God would do a larger work of restoration as she goes through the recovery process.
Molly and her family are one of many who are working to restore what has been lost through addiction. Please join me in praying that the simple Christmas wish of being with family would be realized for them and that this would only be a small part of the reconciliation that is to come.
Rolf Geyling
President
*name changed for privacy.
The power went out recently. We responded to it like one usually would when it’s a mid-afternoon interruption—wandering into the lobby and wondering aloud a bit over what might have caused us to suddenly loose our electronic lifelines. Assuming that it would probably come on any minute, I returned to my office and started to venture into some tasks and housekeeping I could do without the computer.
But it didn’t come back on.
It was getting dark as we closed up the office and our guests for the evening were gathering on the sidewalk outside. A walk into the kitchen showed me that not everyone in the building was as hamstrung as I was in not having any electricity. The gas appliances were still working and the residents on kitchen duty had flashlights in hand as they went about preparing dinner—after all, the power would probably come back on any minute.
But it didn’t. The utility guys down the street told us they were waiting for a major part to get flown in. It would be that way until morning.
Once or twice, I’ve wondered what we would do if something like this ever happened—and now I know.
Without awaiting any executive conferences and decision, the staff and residents got ready for the 200 community members in need who join us for dinner every evening. The generator someone found in maintenance didn’t start up right away so there was a brief experiment with opening up all the window shades to light the dining room with headlights of cars parked outside. They finally got it running (phew) and were able to light the room (albeit dimly) with a few temporary lights. Any and all residents were on hand and they used every flashlight, glow stick, and even the occasional cell phone screen to help our guests through dinner, showers and to bed.
It was peaceful. It was remarkable. No chaos or stumbling about—people working together and guests enjoying the novelty of the evening. It so clearly demonstrated the heart of our work and the passion this team has to extend God’s love and grace to people in need. Nothing comes in the way of that; it doesn’t get put on hold because of little thing like not having electricity in the building.
It leaves me so proud of our team (thanks, Kevin and Rick) and so moved to be a part of it. Thanks for being a part of making this possible.
Rolf Geyling
President
Rolf Geyling and a new volunteer, Billy Baldwin.
I love the way we kick off the holidays here at the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission. For as long as anyone can remember, we hold our annual Thanksgiving Feast on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. For our family, it serves as a memorable start of the holiday season.
On the one hand, it’s not very different from what we do here every other day of the year—providing food and care for those who are hungry. But thanks to many who give their time and resources, there are special touches which we trust communicates the incredible love God has for the lost, hungry and broken.
As the date approached, more and more people dropped by with turkeys and food for the feast. While most people only get one day to savor the aroma of their dinner in the oven, we enjoyed the aroma for the better part of a week as our residents got everything ready and even found time to decorate the dining room. On the day of the feast, we were joined by a dear group of volunteers—many of them regulars who’ve been coming for years—who helped us welcome and serve the hundreds who came for our feast.
I pray that those who came got more than just a plate of delicious food. I hope they felt the love and concern of our team as they interacted with them. I hope they sensed the extra time and effort that went into making the day special. I pray that each guest was able to experience God’s great love for them and that this brings hope.
I am so proud of our staff and the work they do each day, but something as big as the Thanksgiving Feast lies beyond our capabilities. We can only do it because people GIVE—their time, their resources and their prayer. All of this giving is a moving thing to see firsthand and I can’t think of a better way to start off my holiday celebration.
Thanks and God’s blessings!
