About Us

Meet Our Leadership

Welcome to Rockford Rescue Mission

A Message from our CEO Sherry Pitney

Hello and welcome to Rockford Rescue Mission!

2024 will be a special year for us, as we celebrate 60 years of serving people in our community who are homeless and hurting. Every single day from 1964 until today, Rockford Rescue Mission has provided shelter, food and so much more.

Then and now, we believe in care and recovery for the whole person—physically, mentally and spiritually. The Mission has never hidden the fact that we are a Christian ministry, motivated by sharing the love, care and hope of Jesus Christ with anyone within our reach. Every person bears the image of God and is worthy of compassion and true help.

We know not everyone in our community believes exactly as we do, but the beautiful thing about Rockford Rescue Mission is that we can all meet needs together anyway. We are a crossroads—a place where churches, businesses, civic organizations and service-minded individuals can lock arms and serve our neighbors.

If you are hurting, please know that there’s help and hope. Here’s a starting point.

If you feel called to serve—through volunteering, financial support or even joining our staff— please know that the opportunities are many and the impact is eternal.

Partners in Hope,

Sherry Pitney, CEO

Our Leadership Team

Sherry Pitney
Chief Executive Officer
Shannon Sohl
Chief Administrative Officer
Ted Tomita
Chief Development Officer
Padraic O’Neil
Director of Facilities
Eric Dykstra
Recovery Services Director
Radeance Grover
Retail Director
Jen VanZieleghem
Human Resources Director
Sarah White
Works! Center Director
Abner Arevalo
Recovery Services Supervisor
Jennifer Jacobs
Hope Clinic Supervisor
Leona Tennin
Homeless Services Supervisor
Sabuj Sarker
Volunteer Supervisor
Lisa Lebrecht
Food Services Supervisor 

Our Board of Directors, 2024

Ann Dittmar | Chair
Retired: Attorney

Warren Slabaugh | Vice Chair
President: Heartwood Creations

Doug Warren | Treasurer
Trust Officer: Midland States Bank

Noel Sterett | Secretary
Attorney: Dalton & Tomich

Wendy Barthel
Human Resources Specialist: Rockford Public Schools

Dr. Terry Buzzard
Physician: Physicians Immediate Care

Tim Clauson
Senior Manager, Playgrounds: Kids Around the World

Renade Cossey 
Retired: Rockford Rescue Mission Program Director

Council of Elders

Rev. Robert David Aldridge
Retired Presbyterian Pastor

Rev. Peder Carlson
Retired Presbyterian Pastor

Rev. Gordon E. Hanstad
Retired Baptist General Conference Pastor

Rev. Mark Hunter
Interim Pastor: Total Faith Community Church

Pastor Lee McClanathan
Retired Pastor

Richard Todd
CEO, Todd Transit

Give a Gift

Your generous gifts touch and change lives. Just $2.05 feeds one hungry person in the Rock River Valley.