Every year the average American throws away 65 pounds of clothes. Meanwhile, there’s an average of 42 general items laying around homes, collecting dust from disuse. But getting rid of these unwanted items could be as easy as donating them to The UGM of Salem Mission Store where 100% of proceeds from community purchases fund programs […]
Beginning at the age of 12, a drug addiction slowly unwound Merci Rickett’s life. Surrounded by a home of dysfunction, neglect, and substance abuse, this was the only life she knew. Drugs that began as a gateway to social acceptance grew into a means of coping with her turbulent life, numbing her hurt and insecurities. This addiction gripped Merci off and on in her teens and early 20s. She was clean for a span of 15 years, but […]
Only half buoyed by a lifetime of apathetic “foxhole” prayers to get him through tough times, and a thirst for alcohol that casually began at the age of 14, Chuck Reynolds’ resolve was rapidly chipped away by the time he reached his early 50s. “She drank a little, drugged a lot; I drank a lot, drugged a little,” said Chuck, […]
Frank helps guide Nick to his chair, taking his bag for him and setting it down on the table between them. Nick takes a seat, folding up his white cane and holding it in his left hand. Nick is Frank’s mentor – a term he believes is insufficient concerning their relationship. After only a few […]
The community response following the public launch of our capital campaign, “Hope Has a New Address,” is bulldozing expectations. The Harvest Celebration event generated over $1 million in a single day, outstripping projections and paving the way for the groundbreaking of the new Men’s Mission in October of 2019. In total, $7.9 million has been […]
“I’ve been a builder all my life. It’s what I do,” Mark Rosales says. A former subcontractor, his foundation crumbled after losing his fiancée, father and brother in a span of months. Growing up in some of Los Angeles’ roughest neighborhoods, Mark was a witness to humanity’s disrepair. “I’ve seen the things man is capable […]
David Box, a volunteer at UGM of Salem, has been donating his barber skills at the Mission for over four years. In 2014, David decided he wanted to get involved by offering his unique skillset, so he scheduled an appointment with UGM’s Volunteer Coordinator. “I came in and spoke with someone and thought maybe there’s […]
When Shirley arrived at UGM’s Simonka Place for Women and Children last spring, she knew her way around. This was her fifth time here and her second in our New Life Fellowship recovery program. However, this time something was different. Shirley was finally ready to succeed. Since she left the program in 2015, Shirley says, […]
The sun is finally here and warmer weather means more chances to get outside. Here at UGM, staff also encourage men and women in our program to get outside too. Physical activity and finding healthy avenues for fun is an important part of the recovery process. “In recovery, it’s important for our clients to find […]
A note from Sarah, Simonka Place for Women & Children’s Learning Center Administrator As the Learning Center Administrator at Simonka Place, I help women every day to gain skills for ongoing success after graduating the New Life Fellowship program. Part of the NLF program is taking classes in our Learning Centers. These include life skills, […]