There was a time in my life, a very difficult time, when I wondered if I would need to temporarily stay at a shelter.
By then, I had already served homeless and hurting people for 25 years here at Rockford Rescue Mission. But my traumatic experience, awful as it was, placed me on common ground with the people we serve. I learned what it feels like to be desperate and in need of help, not sure if I would be safe that night. In light of that, as I look at our Crisis Centers, I often think: Would I want to stay here?
Nearly a decade ago, we created Pitney Place, named in honor of Mission pioneers G.O. and Nadine Pitney. It dramatically improved our environment for women and children, whether they are crisis guests or Life Recovery residents. While it can never be home, it’s warm and welcoming.
This summer, with the same thought, we remodeled the Day Room in our Men’s Crisis Center. It had looked about the same since the Mission moved to this location in 1999. Now, it’s been transformed and modernized. It’s a better, safer, more comfortable environment for our guests and staff alike. The cover story in our current issue of The Rescuer newsletter takes you inside the project and lets you hear from the people who made it happen.
To a person experiencing a low point in their life, the way a place makes them feel can make all the difference. The day room in a crisis shelter can’t help but feel a little institutional, but our hope is to minimize that. We want the room to reflect what our guests already receive from our staff, whether they are coming to us for the first time or the hundredth time: a warm welcome in Jesus’ name.
Partners in Hope,
Sherry Pitney, CEO
