Bridgeport Rescue Mission Volunteer Program

Serving the Hungry, Homeless and Addicted of Fairfield County

We depend on volunteers of all ages to help us fight poverty from the inside out! Here’s how you, your school, church, business, community organization, Youth Group, or Sunday School class can help:

	Sweet Treats
	Help us spread God’s love by making Sweet Treat Packages for dessert. We serve about 200 dinners a day through our main dining room and through the Mobile Kitchen – MANY of those we serve are children. Bake cookies or brownies and package them 2 to a bag (zip-lock plastic bags work best). Can’t make 200 packages? That’s OK … 25, 50, 75, 100 … whatever quantity you, your family, or organization can provide is a blessing – a real treat for those we serve. (Please, NO NUTS!) *No need to call or make arrangements. You can deliver your Sweet Treat packages to 1088 Fairfield Avenue before 3:00 p.m. any day of the week.

	Body, Soul & Spirit Ministry
	*“I needed clothes and you clothed me …” Matt 25:36.* We distribute thousands of pieces of clothing to the community every year. You can help meet desperate needs of the community by touching their body, soul and spirit through our Clothing Ministry. You can help in these ways:

Donate Clothes – Donate gently used clothing for men, women and children of all sizes. Bring your donations to 1088 Fairfield Avenue at the corner of Fairfield and Sherwood Avenues in Bridgeport anytime between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. (Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to make pick-ups.) No need to call ahead. There is always someone here to assist you with unloading your car. We’ll give you a gift-in-kind receipt and we’ll make sure your donations get to those in need.

Winter Warm-Up – Collect coats and other winter wear items for men, women and children of all ages and sizes. We distribute thousands of winter coats, hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves during the winter months. Drop off your new or gently used items anytime between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. No need to call ahead. There is always someone to assist you with unloading your car.

Blanket Ministry – The electricity rates in Connecticut have doubled over the past year. Many poverty stricken families must choose between paying rent or the heating bill! Collect new or gently used blankets that we distribute to the poor and for use in our shelters.

Fill our Medicine Chest – The poor and needy have very limited financial resources. Over-the-counter medications are cost-prohibitive. Collect over-the counter pain relievers, NON-ALCOHOL cold and flu medications, Benadryl, cough drops, sinus medication, antacids, foot powders and creams, sun block and aloe Vera lotions, band-aids, antibiotic ointment, multi-vitamins, and feminine care products

Spread the Word – Help the Mission spread the Good News of Jesus Christ when your group collects New International Version Bibles (complete bible with Old and New Testaments). We also use Christian devotionals, DVD’s and videos, and books, journals and highlighters. Gift cards to any Christian Book store are always appreciated. Deliver your items to the Mission anytime between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Sock Drive – We give away thousands and thousands of socks every year – all year long! White tube socks are best. New and gently used socks are always appreciated. Drop off your new or gently used items anytime between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. No need to call ahead. There is always someone to assist you with unloading your car.

Bare Necessities – Provide the “bare necessities” for the homeless and near-homeless. The underwear we distribute MUST BE NEW PACKAGED. Underwear for men (L, XL, XXL), women (M and L) and children (size 3T and up). We do not accept bras. If you would like to help us meet the needs of bras for women please provide gift cards to Kohl’s.

	New Life Welcome Package
	When people decide to come into our New Life Program they make a choice to give up drugs and alcohol. Most of the men and women who come into the New Life Program have been living on the streets. They have nothing. You can be the first to touch their heart with the love of Christ by providing a package of personal care products. Make 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 packages (we will use approximately 150 packages per year). Instructions for preparing your Welcome Packages:

Women’s Welcome Packages should include: Full size bottles of shampoo and conditioner, full size can of spray deodorant, full size bar of soap, toothbrush, large tube of toothpaste, large bottle of hand cream, hair brush, comb, 2 pairs of white socks, and most importantly, an NIV Bible.
Place all items in a zip-lock plastic bag large enough to hold all the items.

Men’s Welcome Packages should include: Package of disposable razors, full size can of shave cream, full size can of spray deodorant, full size bar of soap, 1 pair of black socks, 1 pair of white socks, new package of white briefs in either XL or L, comb, toothbrush, large tube of toothpaste, full size bottle of shampoo, and most importantly, an NIV Bible.
Place all items in a zip-lock plastic bag large enough to hold all the items.

You may deliver your New Life Welcome Packages to the Mission any day between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

	Overnight Guest Package
	“I was a stranger and you invited me in…” Matt 25:35. We offer overnight emergency shelter to 24 men and 15 women every night. We provide a hot shower, a hot nutritious meal, and a warm and safe bed – shelter in the truest sense of the word. You can touch the lives of these desperate people with an Overnight Guest Package of hotel-sized toiletries. In one year we provide 17,885 nights of shelter – so that’s a lot of Overnight Guest Packages! Make packages in quantities of 25, 50, 100, whatever your group can accommodate. Instructions for preparing your Overnight Guest Package:

		Overnight Guest Package should include: HOTEL-SIZED items of bar soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, and one pair of white tube socks. Place all items in a zip-lock plastic bag large enough to hold all the items.

You may deliver your Overnight Guest Packages to the Mission any day between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Food Drive for 290,000!

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat…” Matt 25:34

We prepare and serve over 290,000 meals per year! Your group can help us keep our pantry stocked with nutritious food for hungry families. Collect the following items and deliver them to the Mission: frozen turkeys, canned hams, frozen hot dogs, (we use these meat staples year round), rice, baked beans, sugar,
canned fruits and vegetables, canned soup, dry pasta, jars of pasta sauce, cake & brownie mixes, cans of ground coffee, instant drink mixes.
We greatly appreciate fresh fruits and vegetables!

You may deliver your pantry food items to the Mission any day between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. There is always someone here to help you unload your car.

	Invite us to Speak
	The members of our ministry team are available to help your church or organization learn more about the issues of hunger and homelessness and how the Bridgeport Rescue Mission is meeting the growing needs. Rev. Terry Wilcox is also available to preach at your church during your Missions Conference or to fill the pulpit when your Pastor is away. Contact Linda Casey, Director of Development, at LMCasey@BridgeportRescueMission.org to schedule a speaker.

	Work Projects
	Because of insurance risks and the fact that our buildings are over 100 years old, we do not have any suitable work projects for volunteers at this time.

Next Steps

Once you have selected a volunteer project that best suits you and your group’s interests, please just follow the instructions. If you have any questions or need any additional information please email Linda Casey at LMCasey@BridgeportRescueMission.org or call at 203-333-4087 Ext. 110.