The Union Gospel Mission’s Youth Outreach Program seeks to meet the needs of at-risk children in our community in a variety of ways: Tshimakain Creek Summer Camp, which is provided free-of-charge to children from low-income neighborhoods, year-round partnerships with local youth groups, and a weekly ministry at juvenile detention. Learn More>

Statistics from the National Center on Family Homelessness Learn More>

I’d like for you to take a moment to consider the following statement from the National Center on Family Homelessness and ask yourself what’s missing: “Children who are homeless need the same things other children need to grow up healthy and happy: a safe and stable home; access to quality schools; affordable and reliable health care; healthy meals every day; opportunities to play in safe neighborhoods; strong attachments with caregivers.” Learn More>

Children are resilient. But also vulnerable. By design, they are meant to be cared for, nurtured, protected. Sometimes, however, the plan goes desperately wrong. The adults in their lives lose their way and become incapable of caring for themselves, let alone anyone else. In such crises, children often learn coping mechanisms that increase their chances of survival in the short term but have the potential to damage their spirits over the long haul. Learn More>

Two years ago, Ruby’s life was out of control. An alcoholic, she was hanging out with all the wrong people and realized she had no idea how to raise her four-year-old son, Hunter. In an attempt to give him what she knew he needed – a stable, safe, loving home – she sent him to live with her sister for two years. “I hated being separated from him,” Ruby said, “but I wasn’t strong enough to do right by him.” Learn More>

A friend of mine recently moved, and rather than have a garage sale or pay to have everything shipped, he donated well over fifty percent of his household furnishings to the Mission. I’m not sure he realized the full extent of his gift. Learn More>

At this amazing camp, I fell in love. And the being I fell in love with I met through the fabulous people here. His name is Jesus, and he has captured my soul. Learn More>

As you walk through a day in the life of our thrift stores, notice how the simple purchase of a piece of furniture or the donation of a bag of gently used clothing causes one life to touch another and another . . . Everyday interchanges that make the monumental difference between connection and isolation. Learn More>

DezaRae chose a job at the Union Gospel Mission Thrift Store as part of her overall plan of accountability. "This is about staying clean and sober. This is about helping other people. This is about what God wants me to do." Learn More>

We absolutely love our volunteers. They give us their most valuable asset – time. Learn More>