Lexington Rescue Mission
Before I tell you about the Lexington Rescue Mission, I want to share something with you. I have had panhandlers ask me for change before, but, until recently, I have never witnessed genuine begging. I was sitting on the patio of Third Street Stuff one afternoon when a homeless man walked up. He was barefoot and shirtless, wearing only a pair of tattered jeans. This bedraggled man started begging for something to eat in the most desperate manner I have ever witnessed. I wanted to contact someone who could help this man. But I am new here, and the man was shooed off before I was able to contact anyone who might know where to send him. So when my friend Jeana asked if I would like to showcase the Lexington Rescue Mission, I didn’t hesitate.
The mission’s outreach center is on Glen Arvin Drive, off Georgetown St. This is where I met Laura Connell, their Development Director. We talked for about an hour about all the programs Lexington Rescue has, then she gave me a tour of their outreach facility.
The Mission was started in 2001, by Jim Connell. Laura tells me Lexington, Kentucky was, at the time, one of three communities in the region that needed a rescue mission. The mission was originally located on North Limestone, and you can read their full history here. What struck me was the wide variety of assistance Lexington Rescue Mission offers the community.
They don’t just give food and shelter to the homeless, although that is a big part of what they do. They have two thrift stores which men from their Life Renewal Program volunteer at as part of their work rehabilitation. The Life Renewal Program is a year long residential recovery program for homeless men, based in the mission’s original North Limestone location. There, Lexington Rescue takes 14 men at a time who are struggling with substance abuse and through a four phase process helps them reintegrate into society.
In the belief that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, Lexington Rescue has several programs centered around preventing homelessness. They offer budgeting and housing classes so people can learn to manage their finances and know their rights as a tenant. They also have financial assistance to help with rent and utility payments. In 2008, they kept 67 families in their homes and 138 from having their utilities shut off.
In addition to all this, Lexington Rescue Mission serves over 20,000 meals a year. They have noticed that there is nowhere in their neighborhood to get fresh vegetables, so they started a garden. On the tour, I got to see their new community garden. They started this garden in the back yard of their outreach facility on Glen Arvin. Summer 2009 was their first growing season, and they tried hard to make sure people who came for a meal went home with some fresh vegetables.
There are a number of ways you can help the mission. They recycle paper to cover the cost of prescription medications at their clinic. And they can always use donations of food. If you have any questions, or would like to volunteer your help, please contact Lexington Rescue Mission.
