rescue mission Program details

Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley provides emergency food and shelter, youth and family services, rehabilitation programs for the addicted, education and job training programs and assistance to the elderly, poor and at-risk youth. The Rev. David L. Sherrard is executive director.

Beginning: The Christ Mission Settlement was founded in 1893 by W.J. Price at 408 E. Federal St. as a learning center for adults and underprivileged children. In the 1900s it began feeding and housing homeless men and women. In 1960 the board split the work into two divisions — Christ Mission Goodwill Home and Rescue Mission Inc.

Locations: The residence center is at 962 Martin Luthern King Jr. Blvd., and the distribution center is at 2246 Glenwood Ave., both Youngstown. The residence center provides overnight sleeping spaces for men and also has a men’s residential program. There also are arrangements for women and women with children and families. The Rev. Mr. Sherrard said the mission offers six meals a day — meal times for residents and meals for the public. The distribution center gives out food, clothing and appliances.

Fiscal year statistics: The Web site, www.rescuemissionmv.org, lists these figures for the last fiscal year: 111,993 meals served; 23,078 overnight stays; 698 food baskets; 2,302 individuals provided with home furnishings; and 6,488 individuals provided with clothing.

Future: Mr. Sherrard said the Rescue Mission received eight-plus acres from the city of Youngstown for a new two-story, 10,000-square-foot facility. Plans are being developed for a capital campaign.

Changing faces: Mr. Sherrard said clients at the mission are changing. In years past, it was a white male in his 50s with an alcohol problem. Now clients are 50/50 between men and women, in their 20s and have drug-driven problems. Though the economy is bad, Mr. Sherrard said the mission has not seen a big increase in numbers.