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About 50 years ago, a Macon police officer thought that jail was not appropriate for some of the men he
encountered as problems on his rounds.
They were primarily alcoholics and homeless, and he believed they needed
help rather than incarceration. So he
rented a room and staffed it with his friends.
He would drop people off there, and his volunteers would counsel with
them as they sobered up.
That simple idea was the beginning of the Macon Rescue
Mission. For many years, the mission was
located where Poplar Street crosses Broadway. Many people remember
the big sign “JESUS CARES” on the top of the building. It says the same thing now on the new
building at First and Hazel Street where the mission moved in 2001.
The original mission to homeless men has continued
uninterrupted all these years. Our
dormitory now has space for 24 men. We
are always full, and often have people on the floor waiting for a bed. We will serve more than 200 men during the
course of a year, and the average stay is about three months.
We are not just a
shelter – we are a program. This
is a place where men can recover and re-enter society as productive
citizens. Our program consists of four
elements:
- Spirituality. We are a Christian organization, and we
believe that spiritual health is the foundation on which all other recovery is
based. Residents attend chapel services and
have access to Christian counseling and materials.
Admission to the Macon Rescue
Mission is not based on religion, age, sex or national origin. All are welcome who express and demonstrate a
sincere desire to recover.
- Work. Residents work in the mission and at our Bargain Center thrift shop. This works toward improved self esteem, the
satisfaction of a job well done – and the acquisition of job skills and a job
reference.
- Counseling. For most residents, substance abuse is the
primary counseling need. Residents are
required to attend Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings.
- Referral. Residents are referred to services that are
available in the community, for example: literacy, healthcare, resume
preparation, etc.
In the 1980s, the mission expanded with the addition of a
program for women. The primary objective
is to provide services needed by female victims of domestic violence and their
children.
Last year (2005), 44 women and 51 children stayed at the
Macon Rescue Mission. We have seven
rooms available for women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
We are more than just a safe house – we are a program. Women attend courses here designed to break
the cycle of abuse and minimize its effects.
They also acquire knowledge designed to improve life skills and other
skills necessary for independance.
These are our two primary programs. In addition, we try do as much as we can of
the other things that people expect a mission to do: providing boxes of food
for those who can’t quite make ends meet, helping families whose homes have
burned, helping stranded travelers, etc.
Often people ask me, “Where does the money come from?” Most of it comes from hundreds of donations
per month – from individuals, businesses, foundations, churches and other
organizations. In addition, we raise a
substantial portion (about 50%) from our entrepreneurial activity: the Bargain Center thrift shop.
Every day, people donate used clothing, appliances,
furniture, and an incredible variety of other items. We offer these things for sale at our Bargain Center thrift shop. The Bargain Center has been operating continuously for more than 20 years. We now have opened a
new location at 3375 Napier Avenuenear its intersections with Log Cabin and Edna Place
We are happy to answer any questions anyone may have
about the mission – and we’re available for anyone who wants to see our
facility in person. |
