FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2008
MEDIA ALERT * MEDIA ALERT
San Diego Rescue Mission Launches First Annual Online
Giving Catalogue
One of the Country's Largest Privately Funded Homeless Rehabilitation
Centers
Creates Opportunity to Give to Homeless and Simultaneously Honor Loved
Ones
San Diego, CA, November 14, 2008 - To kick off the holiday season, The San Diego Rescue Mission has launched its first annual online donation catalogue to give gifts to those who really need them-the homeless. Visitors to www.sdrescue.org will see a prominent click-through link to the online catalogue which allows donors to add items to their cart, check-out, and print or email donation confirmation cards. The donation options, which range from a pair of children's shoes to a year's worth of shelter, food, rehabilitation services and job training for one person, allow Rescue Mission supporters to honor friends and family with donations made on their behalf. In its first year, the San Diego Rescue Mission's online donation catalogue will return annually each holiday season.
The San Diego Rescue Mission's online catalogue features opportunities to give to the organization's major programs. In addition to purchasing Christmas meals and "stocking stuffers" like hygiene packs, bus passes, and towels for San Diego's homeless, donors can support the San Diego Rescue Mission's life-changing programs, including: The Men's Center, The Women's & Children's Center, Nueva Vida Haven, and Partners for Hunger Relief programs. For example, supporters can provide shelter to a weary individual in the Nueva Vida Haven program for $15.06 per night, with donation options for one day, one week, one month, six months, and one year. To support an individual in the Men's or Women's & Children's centers, the total cost is $37.02 per day, or $13,512.30 per year for one person to receive meals, clothing, shelter, medical attention, educational and vocational training, substance abuse recovery classes, daily chapel services, and employment preparation to regain independence and hope. Through the Partners for Hunger Relief program, the cost to recover food from grocery stores, restaurants, churches, caterers, and hotels that would otherwise be thrown away is $48 for 200 pounds of food, with donation options of up to five tons of food at $2,400.00.
Each online donation comes with a printable or electronic card to tell the family member or friend of the gift made to the San Diego Rescue Mission and the county's homeless on their behalf.
Herb Johnson, President and CEO of the San Diego Rescue Mission says, "This is an exciting way for the community to give to those less fortunate, and to honor friends and loved ones. We are looking forward to making the online catalogue available for years to come."
San Diego Rescue Mission Launches First Annual Online Giving Catalogue, page 2
The San Diego Rescue Mission's purpose is to rescue homeless men, women, and children from the streets of San Diego and give them the tools needed to permanently overcome alcohol and drug addiction, domestic violence, and other critical issues that led them to the streets in the first place. Focusing on long-term treatment, the Rescue Mission houses hundreds of men, women, and children and provides shelter, food, counseling, treatment, and work therapy. In addition to its long-term recovery programs, each night up to 60 homeless women and children seek emergency shelter at the San Diego Rescue Mission. All told, the Rescue Mission serves over 3,000 individuals and prepares over half a million meals annually.
Since its inception in 1955, the San Diego Rescue Mission has relied
solely on individual, family, church, business, organization, and foundation
donations, rather than government funds, to run its programs. One of
the largest privately-funded homeless rehabilitation centers in the
country, the Rescue Mission is nationally recognized for its successful
programs. For more information on the San Diego Rescue Mission, visit
www.sdrescue.org.