The Rescue Mission of Trenton, New Jersey, is the agency in the City of Trenton that serves the truly needy men and women who have no place to turn for shelter, food, and clothing. The Mission provides a safe, clean, warm refuge for the homeless, the hungry, the transient, and the addicted.

The Mission provides services and counseling to encourage individuals to reach their greatest potential. The Mission creates an environment where one can live with dignity, build self-esteem, experience love, responsibility, and hope.

A Personal Message From the Chief Executive Officer:
November 2007

Dear Friend:

Very simply, the Rescue Mission of Trenton rebuilds lives.

A father of one of the Mission's residents spoke with a Mission staff member recently, and had this to say about his son, Ed. "Before he came to the Mission, he was in a shambles ... engaging in reckless behavior." Mary Gay [Mission CEO] said he could come to the Mission, but he refused. She said, "When he changes his mind, we'll have a bed for him." After several police altercations, a stay at a detoxification facility, being hit by a car and living on the streets, Ed finally decided to give the Rescue Mission a try.

"Ed's done very well at the Mission," his father said. "He found the support he needed to fight his addiction. He found a place that would hang in there with him no matter how long it would take. He found a safe place to be." Ed's father is not the only one proud of Ed's progress. "Ed has done very well at the Mission. I see a totally different person in him. I'm really proud of him. His whole attitude toward recovery has changed," said his sister Karen. Today, the Mission staff is assisting Ed in returning to his field of work - he was a licensed barber.

Each and every day, the Mission's staff works to fulfill its mission by creating an environment where residents can live with dignity, build self-esteem, experience love, responsibility and hope. Remaking and reshaping lives is very hard work, but work we take very seriously. It requires clients who are willing to change, a highly dedicated staff, and support from the community.

Not everyone makes it at the Mission, but each year we can point to many individuals who had given in to their addiction but who are in the process of rebuilding their lives because of the work of the Rescue Mission of Trenton.

This year we can point to Ed and Tyrone, who recently completed a stint in our residential facility and is now living in its supportive housing unit. He has reunited with his family and is happily and gainfully employed with The Arc Mercer. His goal is to attain a supervisory position there.

It is only through support such as yours that the Mission can continue to be there for the homeless, the hungry, the transient, and the addicted. We depend on your generosity to ensure that we are there no matter how many times someone needs our help.

Please decide today which level of support is right for you.

Sincerely yours,

Mary Gay Abbott-Young
Chief Executive Officer

P.S. For less than you pay for a gourmet cup of coffee, you can provide a wholesome meal for someone's mother, father, son or daughter.  Please donate online now.