Hearts of Hope began in 1999 with less than 20 women in the living room of Barbara Green’s home. Today, more than 600 women gather together each year at the National Cowboy Western and Heritage Museum to support the women and children living at City Rescue Mission.

“This is an exciting year for City Rescue Mission and Hearts of Hope Tea,” said Barbara Green, Event Chair. “To date, our accumulative total is over $1 million. What a blessing for the women and children whom we serve at the Mission, but also for the many wonderful women in this great city who have helped to make this happen. I am most thankful to be involved with Hearts of Hope.”

This year’s Hearts of Hope Tea was held Thursday, February 23, 2012 and brought in receipts of more than $161,000 surpassing the event goal of $160,000! The ladies enjoyed a delicious luncheon, while learning about the Mission’s services and the lives God has changed through the ministry. After the program, those in attendance were given the opportunity to contribute to a designated project for City Rescue Mission’s women and children’s ministry.

The program included a testimony from Marta, one of City Rescue Mission’s Bridge to Life graduates. She shared about her battle with drugs before coming to the Mission and how she has been transformed by the programs the Mission provides.

“God fought for me when I couldn’t fight for myself,” Marta said. “He heard my cries. I will always be grateful that God led me to City Rescue Mission – a place He uses to change people’s lives.”

The proceeds from this year’s event will be used to enhance the outdoor park area used by women and families staying at City Rescue Mission. In the past this event has funded the renovation of the women’s day room, a playground and recreation area, a life-skills learning center and the expansion of the women and families shelter.

“We were so blessed by the tremendous response of the women who attended the tea and are thrilled that we have raised $1 million through this event over the past 13 years,” said Rev. Tom Jones, President & CEO of City Rescue Mission. “This group of ladies is dedicated to making the lives of the women and children who stay at the Mission a little brighter.”

The event will begin at 11:45 a.m. at the National Cowboy Western and Heritage Museum. Last year, more than $155,400 was raised during the Hearts of Hope Tea! This year’s goal is $160,000 and proceeds will be used to enhance the outdoor park area used by women and families staying at City Rescue Mission.

Ladies attending the event will enjoy a delicious lunch, learn about the Mission’s services and hear how God has changed lives through the ministry. After the program, those in attendance will be given the opportunity to contribute to the outdoor enhancement project.

For more information about the Hearts of Hope Tea, contact Shellie Holt at (405) 232-2709 ext. 160.

We are collecting men's, women's and children's, hats, gloves and scarves. These items will be wrapped up and handed out to each client living at the Mission on Christmas Eve.

The second way you can help the Mission this Christmas, is by purchasing a new, unwrapped toy for our Christmas Wish Store. The Christmas Wish Store will be set up the week leading up to Christmas and will give parents the opportunity to pick out and wrap Christmas gifts for their children. The Mission has set up a Wish List at Target with toy ideas. You can view our wish lists by visiting www.target.com

Once you are on the Target website, click on Target Lists. Then in the search box type City Rescue as the First Name and Mission as the Last Name. Our wish lists will then pop up and you can view some of the items we are in need of.

All items can be dropped off at City Rescue Mission, 800 W California between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday! Thank you in advance for helping to make Christmas special for the people living at City Rescue Mission.

“Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for the blessing in our own lives, as well as, reach out to others who are less fortunate. That is why we are asking our community to partner with us to provide food boxes to thousands of near-homeless people right here in our city,” said Tom Jones, President and CEO of the Mission. “Fall is a time for us to continue to provide services to those that are in need. It’s a time to be thankful for our loved ones and to pray for those who are less fortunate.”

Anyone interested in helping with the Mission’s Thanksgiving food drive, can purchase the following items and drop them off at the Mission or they can organize a good drive at their school, work place or church. Items needed include: frozen turkeys/hams, stuffing mix, instant mashed potatoes, canned green beans, canned corn, pumpkin pie filling, ready made pie crust. Donations can be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at City Rescue Mission, 800 W California Ave.

The $100,000 grant will be used to fund the Impact Hunger Food Pantry which will be the first of its kind in our area – – a grocery-store-style food distribution center serving the most impoverished in our community with accessible hours and the dignity of self-selecting items. Working in partnership with The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, this format will streamline operations, reduce cost, reduce waste, increase accessibility, and will serve well over 12,000 hungry men, women and children in the first year of operation!

“The Impact Hunger Food Pantry will have a tremendous impact on our community,” said Tom Jones, President of City Rescue Mission. “We want to not only feed the hungry, but to nourish them – – to encourage their physical health so they can be fueled to perform better in school, at work and in life. Good nutrition is a building block for success in all other areas, so your investment will not only feed thousands, but will have an exponential impact on their success for years to come!”

City Rescue Mission provides a variety of social services to the homeless and near homeless including medical, dental, vision care and more. These services are available in collaboration with approximately 30 outside agencies.

“Not only does the Mission provide safe shelter and warm meals, but state-of-the-art health care to our clients,” said Tom Jones, President of the Mission. “This holistic approach to recovery ensures life-long success for clients transitioning back into the community.

Healing Hands provides health care services to clients living at the Mission Monday through Friday. A nurse is on site 40 hours a week and a medical provider is available to see patients 20 hours a week. Services provided include: primary health care, immunizations, women’s health care, health education, family planning, tuberculosis screening, prenatal care and postpartum follow up and simple laboratory procedures. Also available are referrals for x-rays, mammograms, complex lab procedures, HIV counseling/testing, substance abuse counseling and case management.

“We’re always happy to partner with City Rescue Mission,” said Susan Geurin, Healing Hands Program Coordinator. “We share a common goal to help the homeless and to serve people wherever they are in life. We bring health services to them so they don’t have to navigate the complex health system.”

“Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for the blessing in our own lives, as well as, reach out to others who are less fortunate. That is why we are asking our community to partner with us to provide food boxes to thousands of near-homeless people right here in our city,” said Tom Jones, President and CEO of the Mission. “Fall is a time for us to continue to provide services to those that are in need. It’s a time to be thankful for our loved ones and to pray for those who are less fortunate.”

Anyone interested in helping with the Mission’s Thanksgiving food drive, can purchase the following items and drop them off at the Mission or they can organize a good drive at their school, work place or church. Items needed include: frozen turkeys/hams, stuffing mix, instant mashed potatoes, canned green beans, canned corn, pumpkin pie filling, ready made pie crust. Donations can be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at City Rescue Mission, 800 W California Ave.

For more information about the food drive, or if you’re interested in photo or video opportunities, please contact Jennifer Linck at (405) 232-2709 ext. 141.

Current Needs Include:

Men's jeans - ALL SIZES

Men's, women's and children's Coats - ALL SIZES

Women's jeans size 16 and up

Boys Underwear 2T and 4T

Men's and women's tennis shoes - ALL SIZES

Newborn clothes, socks and coats

Diaper rash ointment

Baby wash cloths and towels

Women's Bras - ALL SIZES

Tee time is 8:30 a.m. and proceeds will benefit the Family Resource Center at City Rescue Mission. Your golf game will help build confidence in children and equip their parents to become the role models their kids need.  Cost is $100 per person.

For more information, or to sign up to play, contact Mark Naylor at (405) 842-8224 or email markn@abmautomation.com.

The vision and purpose of City Rescue Mission is realized with each client that graduates from the Bridge to Life program. The Mission is changing lives, thanks to the support of generous donors, and in turn changing our community. Those in attendance saw first-hand how clients are “Stepping into the Future” with success and hope.

“Hopelessness is a terrible thing for any human being to have to experience,” said Tom Jones, President of the Mission. “We believe that there is always hope. At City Rescue Mission we not only offer hope to our clients, but a solution to their homelessness. We want them to build a firm foundation for their future so that they can have a positive impact on their community.”

If you are interested in donating towards the Mission of Hope appeal or attending next year’s event contact Shellie Holt, Administrative Assistant at (405)232-2709 ext 160 or sholt@cityrescue.org. 

The vision and purpose of City Rescue Mission is realized with each client that graduates from the Bridge to Life program. Because of our donors support, the Mission is changing lives and in turn changing our community. Those in attendance will hear how clients are “Stepping into the Future” with success and hope.

“Hopelessness is a terrible thing for any human being to have to experience,” said Tom Jones, President of the Mission. “We believe that there is always hope. At City Rescue Mission we not only offer hope to our clients, but a solution to their homelessness.We want them to build a firm foundation for their future so that they can have a positive impact on their community.”

Tickets and sponsorships are available untilAugust 30th. Tickets are $150 and sponsorship levels vary. To purchase tickets contact Erin McMurtrey, (405) 232-2709 ext. 101. For photo or video opportunities, please contact Jennifer Linck at (405) 232-2709 x141 orjlinck@cityrescue.org