Past Events
April 25, 2012
Check Presentation - General Motors Components Holding
Kokomo Rescue Mission had a double blessing on Wednesday April 25, 2012. In addition to being able to recognize our faithful volunteers, General Motors Components Holding, Kokomo Operations Manager Steve Hartwig presented Van Taylor, KRM Executive Director, a check for $10,000 from the General Motors Foundation. The funds will help support KRM's Open Arms Shelter for homeless women and children. Steve and Van both spoke about the partnership between KRM and GMCH. The past three Christmas Seasons, GMCH has provided warehaouse space to the Kokomo Rescue Mission to prepare its Red Ribbon Christmas boxes. In addition, GMCH has helped support KRM in other ways as well. GMCH is one of KRM's values community partners.
Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
On Wednesday April 25, 2012 at Grace United Methodist Church, the Kokomo Rescue Mission took some time to celebrate our Volunteers who help make our programs successul. In 2011, volunteers provided over 40,000 hours of service, which is nearly
20.9 man years of help. From serving meals to helping with office duties, from helping clean and refurish gifts for Christmas to teaching a class or Bible study the volunteers at the Kokomo Rescue Mission as helping to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who need to see His love and compassion. We were also escited to announce that Jim, Penny and James Long, were named "Volunteer of the Year" in the Family Category this year by the United Way. To see more photos from the event visit our Volunteer News page...
April 23, 2012
On April 23, 201, the Kokomo Rescue Mission was blessed to be one of six organizations in the Cass, Howard and Miami county area to receive a $1,000 check from the Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill. Here is more about this new "Community Involvement" fund that is sponsored by the Miami Correctional Facility and its food service provider Aramark from the press release: 
"The Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) contract with Aramark, which provides offender food services, has an addendum which allows for 5 percent of the net profits from the sale of “Fresh Favorites” food to be put into a “Community Involvement” fund and to be given away to the community. Fresh Favorites is a special menu of items offered to the offenders for a price. Along with the Community Involvement monies, 12.5 percent of those sales go back to the offenders via the Recreation Fund.
Every IDOC facility using Aramark Food Services will receive this 5 percent and each gets to determine how they want to spend it to benefit the community. MCF decided to split some of the money it’s accumulated up and donate it to the following 6 different charities. Those charities are: In Miami County: Circus City Festival, Peru Public Library, Miami County YMCA, and Ole Olsen/Children’s Theater Workshop; In Howard County: the Kokomo Rescue Mission; and in Cass County: the Emmaus Mission Center. Each was issued a check for $1,000."
February 11, 2012
Walk a Mile in My Shoes
Excitement was in the air on Saturday morning February 11, 2012. The temperatures were in the low 20's with a brisk wind, but the enthusiasm was heart warming.
It seemed the teams of walkers were nearly endless...in all more than 120 teams of walkers comprised of over 1,000 walkers participated in the event.
The 11th Annual Walk a Mile in My Shoes hit a new record in donationrs, by the end of day Saturday the goal of $100,000, had been matched and then some...
The walkers together with the corporate sponsorships brought the total amount raised to just over $131,000!!
Early in the week following the walk, the total was over $133,000 and still growing....donations are still being accepted and the FINAL total will be posted soon!!
Proceeds from the Annual Walk to benefit Open Arms, the Mission's shelter for homeless women and children.
The winner of the Golden Sneaker trophy for the top fundraising team was Rossville Bible Fellowship. They raised $7,135.19. Second place went to Solid Rock Church, the team raised $6,702.57 and received the new Silver Slipper trophy. A new team this year, Chrysler Casting UAW 1166 earned third place and the new Bronze Baby Bootie trophy by raising $2,580.00.
Words cannot express how thankful the KRM staff is for the amazing success of the 2012 Walk a Mile Event.
We are thankful for our generous sponsors, our loving and generous community and especially to our heavenly Father, who continues to provide mightily.
December 2011
Red Ribbon Christmas Outreach
Kokomo Rescue Mission's Red Ribbon Christmas Outreach provided boxes of toys, gifts, food and toiletries for families throughout the six county area served by the Mission (Howard, Miami, Tipton, Clinton, Carroll and Cass counties.)
Volunteers wrapped the gifts and delivered the Red Ribbon Christmas boxes to the homes of 1018 families.
In 2011, the Red Ribbon Christmas Outreach provided 3,184 people throughout a six-county area with food and gifts.
Here are some photos from Red Ribbon Christmas delivery on Thursday December 22, 2011.
November 2011
Thanksgiving - Thursday November 24, 2011
Thanksgiving Day is always a big day for the Kokomo Rescue Mission. Thanksgiving 2011 was certainly no different, the day started early in the Mission Kitchen. Food was prepared and moved across the street to Grace United Methodist Church. Meanwhile, Grace UMC Church Members were already busy getting desserts and salads ready to for the "Great Thanksgiving Banquet". At 9 AM other volunteers arrived to set up and get ready to serve or deliver nearly 700 Thanksgiving Meals.
At the Kokomo Rescue Mission, the greatest wish we have is that no one should have to be alone on Thanksgiving or any holiday. As important as the hot and nutritious meal is, our biggest desire is to extend a warm handshake, have a time of fellowship and have an opportunity to share the love and light of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with each person who comes to the dinner.
The tables are set and final The first shift of servers are ready to start.
preparations are being finished....
Fellowship and a hearty meal and help make the holiday more meaningful.
Sock It To Us! - Wednesday November 23, 2011
The Kokomo-Center School Corporation and the Western School Corporation again engaged in the "Sock It To Us" sock drive to benefit the Kokomo Rescue Mission. On Monday October 3, Jeff Hauswald, Superintendent of the Kokomo-Center Schools, officially challenged Randy McCracken, Superintendent of Western School Corporation, to see which school corporation could bring in the most socks. New, unused socks were collected until half time of the Kokomo-Western Men's Varsity Basketball Season Opening game on Wednesday November 23rd which was played at Memorial Gym in Kokomo.
This year's challenge "netted" 10,449 pairs of sock, beating last year total by nearly 1,400 pairs. Western Schools did raise more socks than Kokomo and Jeff Hauswald, Superintendent of Kokomo Center Schools, sat in the Western student section for the third quarter of the game wearing a Western "6th Man" shirt. The challenge is for fun, the cause is very serious! All the donated socks will be used in the Red Ribbon Christmas boxes that the Kokomo Rescue Mission gives to families in need during the Christmas Holiday Season.
In addition as part of the challenge, the Kokomo Athletic Director, Jason Snyder will be wearing the a Western Shirt at the Kokomo-Western Women's Varsity Basketball Game on December 6. The Kokomo Rescue Mission Staff and Volunteers want to give a big shout out to all those who donated socks.
Ryan Berryman, AD WSC;Randy McCracken, Supt. WSC; Van Taylor,
Exec Dir. KRM; Jeff Hauswald, Supt KCS; Jason Snyder, AD KCS.
Jeff Hauswald, Supt. KCS, in student Western Mascot "Shadow"
cheer block for 3rd Quarter with sock donations.
Yes, We Can
WOW!! is the only word that can describe the "YES, We Can!" food drive this year. The Mission pantries were at a historically short supply before the event on September 11, 2011, the 10th Anniversary of 9-11. The goal of collecting 11 tons of food was met and EXCEEDED! By the end of the day, 22,818 pounds (nearly 11.5 tons) of canned food of every kind had been collected, weighed and was headed to the KRM warehouse for sorting.
Seventy teams, mainly area church Youth Groups and three school groups, went out scavenger hunting for the food. The food was brought back to the parking lot at Bible Baptist Church to be weighed. Teams competed for the most of several different foods, most over all weight of food collected, and the most unusual food. A pizza party followed along with a time of praise and worship and prizes are awarded to the winning teams.
Even after the event, food continuted to be brought into the Mission's front office. The final tally for this year's collection, was over 25,500 pounds well over 12.5 Tons. This year, thanks to our generous community, "Yes, We Can" truly became "Yes, HE Did". Food collected will be used in the KRM Dining Room, at Open Arms and in food orders.
See more about this year's "Yes, We Can!"
July 2011
Beef Up the Mission
Throughout the month of July, at 4-H Fair county fairs, Kokomo Rescue Mission asks those who purchase livestock to consider donating the animal to the Mission. The goal is to acquire enough pork and beef to last throughout the coming year in all our programs for feeding the hungry.
Once again this year we had an enthusiastic cheering section at the Howard County 4-H Fair on Thursday July 14 at 5:30. Generous supporters purchased and donated 3 steer and 65 hogs to the Kokomo Rescue Mission at the Howard County Fair. On Friday July 15 at the Clinton County Fair an additional 8 hogs were purchased and donated and at the Carroll County Fair 4 hogs were purchased and donated. A heartfelt "THANK YOU" goes to all the kind donors who helped "BEEF UP" the mission.
Watch this video to see the action from the 2010 auction, you'll be in "Hog Heaven" with the KRM Family and Friends.
June 22, 2011
Birthday Party for the Homeless and Hungry
On Wednesday June 22, the annual birthday party for the homeless was held in our dining room. Our guests celebrated
their birthdays with cake, donated by J.Edwards and Create-a-Cake, and ice cream, donated by Scoops. St. Luke's United Methodist Church provided birthday cards and gift bags, lovingly filled for men, women or children. St. Luke's also provided fresh fruit, bottled water and balloons so everyone could celebrate in style. We even had a visit from "Humdinger" the Clown, also known as Pat Mills. Our dining rooms served approximately 275 people for lunch and dinner and celebrated birthdays for all.
Kokomo Rescue Mission Releases Book
"You'll see Jesus on My Face" was written by Riley B. Case as told to him by Cynthia Burch, a former resident of Open Arms, the Mission's shelter for homeless women and children. The book is for sale at the Mission for $11.00 and is available at local book stores. To take books to your church for sale, call 765-456-3838. To inquire about having Cynthia speak at your church or women's event call 765-456-3077.