Madera Rescue Mission continues to shine in 2021
Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune
Jesse Chavez is the executive director of the Madera Rescue Mission.
The Madera Rescue Mission has provided those most vulnerable in the community a crutch to lean on. With faith and commitment, Executive Director Jesse Chavez and his staff are able to serve the community when they need it the most.
“We here at the Madera Rescue Misson are always looking at serving our guest, disciples, and the community the best way we can,” said Chavez.
“We are working at providing more than just a hand out, but also a hand up. Working with many other agencies in Madera, we can make a big difference and impact on our homeless population. The Mission has been here since 1987 and we are not going anywhere soon, our Mission will always be available for those in need.
“The main thing we provide is HOPE for them. Through Biblical principles and sharing the Gospel (Good News) of a loving God through Jesus Christ,” he said.
Chavez and his staff of seven full-time and two part-time employees work to provide food, a hot shower, a clean bed and many other services like clothes, shoes, socks and hygiene products.
The Rescue Mission also provides a vital service to those men, women and children that find themselves without a home for many reasons.
Not only are they there to provide a helping hand, they are determined to be an example within the community.
“It is very important to us to be a good neighbor and contributor to our community,” Chavez said. “We give back by helping Habitat for Humanity on acts of kindness work to help those in need.
“It makes our hard work, patience, working with people and agencies very blessed. We don’t do this for money, we do this because we have a calling on our lives to help others. Many of us have been through what the people that come to us are going through and we have found the way out.”
Despite the prevalence of COVID-19, Chavez and his staff have been doing their best to overcome not being able to have their events and many other changes that were forced upon them.
The annual banquet in October, Thanksgiving dinner in November and the Christmas Toy Giveaway in December were all casualties. The goal is to get things back and running again this year.
And for Chavez and the Rescue Mission, running is literally in the cards as a 5K run is being discussed in the near future. Safety is of utmost concern, so the logistics of the event are tougher than ever before.
But that won’t stop the Madera Rescue Mission from fulfilling its role as a guiding light in the community of Madera. Of course, having the events for the community’s enjoyment is the goal, but the organization needs funds to purchase everything that is given to the community members in need.
“By not having these events it has impacted our bottom line,” Chavez said. “So we are looking at other ways to generate funds to run the Mission. It has not been easy. But we do have regular faithful monthly donors that have not given up on us and we say a great thank you to them.”
With those funds, the Madera Rescue Mission is able to assist individuals, but also organizations like H.O.P.E Ministries-Valley West Christian Center that helps those that find themselves on hard times.
“The Rescue Mission has been a big help to us,” Endora Tinoco said, one of the founding members of H.O.P.E Ministries. “They have given us food to give back to the community and they have been support of us and our mission.”
And without the community’s support, the Madera Resuce Mission can’t in turn give back to those in need.
“I would like to extend to our businesses and ranchers to join us in reaching and helping the people in our community to reduce homelessness in our city.” Chavez said. “With their help and the community of Madera we can make a big difference. We want to see families, children freely and safely use our parks and provide a safe city for all. I see great potential for Madera to be a place where visitors can say, you know Madera is a nice place. We Maderans know our city and want the best for all.”
If you would like to donate, visit the Madera Rescue Mission website (www.maderarescue.org), Facebook (Madera Rescue Mission), or by calling 675-8321.
