Union Mission Ministries, Norfolk

01/29/2023

"He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8 (NIV)

01/28/2023

Can you feel it coming in the air tonight? The Phil Collins Experience rocks The NorVA this evening at 8 p.m.

Tickets are still available and all merch sales will benefit our work here at The Union Mission to help those who are experiencing homelessness in Hampton Roads.

01/27/2023

I am
🗹 smart, strategic, and a superb storyteller.
🗹 often accused of liking social media too much.
🗹 the grammar snob about whom your mother warned.
🗹 prone to dreaming about WordPress.
🗹 interested in making a difference, not just making money.
🗹 a jack or jill of all media and master of many.
🗹 devoted to my camera, Canva, creative copywriting, and Christ.

Our Comm Team needs to add an experienced Swiss Army knife / utility player whose destiny includes digital. Maybe you should apply!

01/26/2023

We're grateful for those who have generously provided a meal for the guests in our Bashford Men's Shelter (120 portions), our Women's Shelter (40 portions), or both (160 portions)! Some even helped to serve the meal they cooked or catered.

If your church group, business, or family would be interested in providing a ready-to-serve breakfast, lunch, or dinner for our shelter guests, email [email protected] to learn more.

01/25/2023

“Arthur” was living on the streets and sleeping in bus stops, but on a cold and rainy day, a convenience store worker offered some help:

“‘I will give you a piece of advice—take it or leave it—because I’ve been where you are. Go to The Union Mission and they will help you.’”

“Arthur” is glad he listened. “They’ve helped tremendously. I feel more at peace. They are reminding me what my priorities should be, and I am growing in my faith.”

01/25/2023

🧠 + 💗
Smarts and hearts—members of the National Honor Society at Princess Anne High School (VBSchools) packed 150 (!) breakfast bags for the homeless men and women staying in our emergency shelters. Thanks for providing a meal for all our guests this week. We could not be happier that 10th, 11th, and 12th graders were really excited to help their neighbors in need in this way!

01/24/2023

You'll Be in My Heart

https://youtu.be/ZyT1NpIWJtQ

This Saturday night The Phil Collins Experience performs at The NorVA—and you'll be in our hearts if you buy some merchandise at the concert.

But seriously...the rock icon has long supported organizations that help people experiencing homelessness. In his honor, in every city where they perform, the tribute band supports a local homeless shelter with proceeds from their merch sales. The Union Mission is grateful to have been selected as their charity for Hampton Roads. So, besides hearing some great music and getting a great t-shirt or some drumsticks, you'll be helping a great cause!

-us6350 performs You'll Be In My Heart at Conner Prairie- August 2022

01/24/2023

It's not just for businesses and churches! Several families have volunteered by providing (and sometimes serving) a meal for our shelter guests. Morgan Burnett and her loved ones served up some yummy pork BBQ sandwiches, baked beans, cornbread, cole slaw, cookies, and fruit for our grateful Women's Shelter guests on Christmas Day. And the next day Cathy Howell and her family fed both the men and the women heartily with delicious baked pasta with meat sauce, cheese, salad, bread, and dessert.

It's a big undertaking, but it has a big impact! Choose your own menu or explore options that others have found successful. Our guests love them all! To learn more or to schedule your date, touch base with our Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, Christina, at [email protected].

01/24/2023

Kitchen aides...that's how our Ladies Auxiliary helped out this month. They divided up to conquer a multitude of tasks this lunchtime. Some dished out nuggets and mac and cheese from Chick-fil-A Broad Creek Crossing along with drinks, and desserts for the guests at our Bashford Men's Shelter. Others served lunch to the ladies in our Women's Shelter. A few of the volunteers prepped roast beef, tasty pies, and breakfast bags for tonight's and tomorrow's meals. As always, our Ladies Aux members were a huge help, and our Food Services is hoping there might be a March encore.

01/23/2023

Special thanks to James Home Realty's dedicated crew of volunteers! Our guests at both shelters LOVED the pizza you provided on Friday night, and you served it up with such great smiles!

01/22/2023

As our staff was reminded this week, even when your dreams seem to have died in the desert, God is always up to something new. Trust Him for it in your own life!

01/21/2023

You firmly believe that "you have not because you ask not." You're a strong writer-researcher who is über-organized, cause-driven, and equally good with budgets and people. And little makes you happier than connecting would-be funders with important and meaningful projects they'd love to support.

Yes? You might become our new Grants Administrator and Project Manager. Check out the details by scanning our Employment Page QR—then apply!

01/21/2023

Wanted: Computer geek and data freak who prizes donor relationships, customer service, and gratitude. If that's you, consider applying for our new position in Donor Relations: CRM Database and Reporting Coordinator. Your duties will be to keep our supporters' records clean and up to date, create and run reports that summarize financial giving, and enhance our current operations. Want to learn more? Scan the QR code—and maybe apply! Or share the post with anyone you think might be interested.

01/21/2023

If you, like God, often do your best work in the dark and would like to help neighbors in need, our Women's Shelter has open positions (full-time and part-time) for night-shift Shelter Managers. These front-line care providers help assure that the homeless women getting back on their feet here experience a safe, supportive, and spiritually enriching environment, even long after sundown. The work isn't always easy, but it is rewarding. Check out our job listing with the QR code in the graphic.

And please share the post with anyone you think might be interested.

01/20/2023

Do you love the smell of Lysol in the morning? Can you always pass the white glove test? Are you and bleach good friends? If Clean could be your middle name, you might want to join the Operations Team at our Women's Shelter / Women and Children's Shelter. We have a full-time opening for a service-oriented hospitality professional to cover housekeeping, laundry, and overall cleanliness of our facility. Interested? Check out our QR job listing. And please share the post with anyone who might be interested.

01/20/2023

If you wake up early, happy, and ready to help others going through a tough time, our Women's Shelter has open positions for day-shift Shelter Managers. These front-line care providers help assure that the homeless women getting back on their feet here experience a safe, supportive, and spiritually enriching environment. The work isn't always easy, but it is rewarding. If this sounds like you, check out our job listing with the QR code in the graphic.

And please share the post with anyone you think might be interested.

01/19/2023

If 2023 has you looking for a purpose-driven paycheck, we may have a job for you! The Union Mission is hiring front-line shelter workers to care like Christ for those fighting homelessness, as well as new development and communications staff to help support our ministry efforts?

Could you be our next colleague? Check out our Employment Page with the link in the graphic or the QR code.

01/18/2023

💙 📣 👂 🙏 💙

01/17/2023

Our December Above & Beyond staff awardee is Theresa Tambussi, our Wellness Program Director. She's always known for being compassionate and putting others' needs before her own, and this act of love is a perfect example.

On a 56* day, a 120-pound man came into the Wellness office shivering from the cold, noting that his jacket was dirty and needed to be washed. All he was wearing on this chilly day was a t-shirt and a light workout jacket. The shelter staff found nothing in the clothing closet that would fit his small frame, so Theresa's colleague visited our Thrift Store looking for some warm clothing. When she returned, she found the man already at lunch—toasty in a stylish jacket. Theresa had given him the coat off her back! As her nominator noted, If this doesn't embody Christ's love, I don't know what does!

We could not agree more! Thank you for living what you believe, Theresa!

01/16/2023

The Union Mission administrative and support offices and Donation Drop-off are closed today in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Our emergency shelters remain open. If you are homeless and need help, call 757-627-8686 to check for availability, services, and resources.

01/15/2023

...[T]o those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by Whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. —I Corinthians 1: 2b–9

01/14/2023

Looking for a fun service project for your family, club, church group, Scouting troop, or business?

We recommend HOME TOTES, sturdy plastic tubs filled with useful kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and cleaning supplies.

It's expensive to set up housekeeping—and that's especially true when you've been homeless. When you're finally able to move into your new home, you need just about everything to get started. That's why our former shelter guests tell us all the time: the HOME TOTE they get as they start their new life is a real blessing!

It's a year-round project for us, and you'll find more information and our packing list at the link in the graphic. If you can participate, just let our Volunteer Engagement Coordinator know how many HOME TOTES you can provide. Contact Christina at [email protected].

01/13/2023

They just keep rolling! Our friends from Insight Global did such a great job with our stairwells last November that we invited them back for another painting party. Now six of our Bashford Men's Shelter dormitories look clean and bright, thanks to their seven hardworking volunteers. Thanks for helping us refresh our living spaces for 2023!

01/11/2023

As Scrooge said, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." So will we, but without all the decorations. Special thanks to our friends at Beach Beacon Baptist Church for organizing and packing up our holiday decor for storage until next December.

01/11/2023

Matthew's experience is not uncommon. Quite often, homelessness is the sad result of a medical emergency or chronic poor health that interferes with steady work. We're grateful for all our partners who help provide healthcare, mental health counseling, and wellness services to those who need them most.

01/10/2023

We're STILL thinking about yesterday's delicious lunch provided and served by MISSION BBQ. Staff from their Norfolk and Virginia Beach restaurants came out to our campus to serve up pulled pork and barbecued chicken, baked beans, Maggie's mac and cheese, cole slaw, slider rolls, drinks, and desserts to our shelter guests and our staff as well. Needless to say, we all ate it up!

Thank you, Mission BBQ for your community service and your support! What a privilege it is to be honored as front-liners in the fight against homelessness!

01/09/2023

A lot of donors think that their banking totals determine their ability to give, but other creative ways to give can reduce your tax burden and bless your favorite charities. It's never a mistake to consider your options: http://ow.ly/6bf750Me1rH

01/08/2023

"I will reflect on all You have done and ponder Your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who works wonders; You display Your strength among the peoples." —Psalm 77: 12–14

01/06/2023

If you're a fan of Genesis (the band, in addition to the book of the Bible), you may know "Another Day in Paradise," the 1989 song Phil Collins Collins wrote to raise global awareness about homelessness. His powerful call to action won the 1991 Grammy for Record of the Year, and you can hear it performed live on Saturday, January 28, thanks to The Phil Collins Experience, featuring frontman Terry Adams, Jr. and a 13-piece tribute band.

In honor of the rock icon's dedication to the cause, at each venue The Phil Collins Experience partners with a local homeless program to inform the audience of its work and also donates all proceeds from merchandise sales. We're truly grateful to be the beneficiary of the show at The NorVA this month. Get your tickets at www.thephilcollinsexperience.com/tour-dates.

01/05/2023

Sometimes our donors bless us with special gifts that are too good not to share. Mr. Cowan sent us a clever poem with one of his donations. It's entitled "Thirty-Five Dollars."

There were souls to save so I decided to go fishin’.
Sent a few dollars to The Union Mission
So they could do with it whatever they could.
Not a big fortune, but can do a little good.

Thirty-five dollars from one old geezer
Can’t be classified as a real crowd pleaser
But as it’s been said many times before:
Jesus gets a little and makes it much more!

I hope this small donation causes some wound to heal,
Feed the hungry, provide a bed, a shower, and a good meal.
As stated by The Lord Jesus and placed in a Book so fine:
“You do to Me what you’ve done to the least of Mine.”

01/04/2023

✝️ The Union Mission is, at its heart, a ministry. You do not need to be a Christian to stay in our shelters, but we hope to share the love and care of Christ in ways that make you want to walk with Jesus by the time you are ready to leave. 💖

01/03/2023

Members of the Tidewater Professional Network closed out 2022 with smiles and service. These longtime friends cheerfully served a delicious dinner to our Bashford Men's Shelter guests on December 29th. They have a real heart for our ministry since a former TPN member once stayed in our shelter as he got his life back on track. Thanks for caring and sharing!

Volunteerism is good business. If your group would like to help out here at The Union Mission Ministries or Hope Haven, contact Christina at [email protected]. We've got lots of opportunities for corporate service in 2023!

01/02/2023

The Mission's administrative and support offices and Donation Drop-Off are closed in observance of New Year's Day.

Our emergency shelters remain open. If you are homeless and need help, call 757-627-8686 to check for availability, services, and resources.

01/01/2023

Wishing you a new year blessed with God's presence and power!

01/01/2023

Welcome to 2023!

12/31/2022

You've got until midnight to make that one final gift of 2023 to The Union Mission Ministries. But why wait a few more hours? Make your tax-deductible online donation now at http://ow.ly/QI8850MenQS

12/30/2022

The Union Mission Thrift Store's New Year's Eve Day Sale is a fabulous opportunity to start 2023 in style for less. Come pay just half price for all new clothes in the Thrift Store, and sales benefit our ministries! Open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

12/30/2022

Early New Year's resolution: VOLUNTEER more.

We'd love to help you get started here as a Union Mission Volunteer. The first step is to attend an orientation meeting. Our next one is Saturday, January 14—so save the date or register now!

12/29/2022

We understand. Life gets busy and good intentions get put on hold. The good news is that you still have time to make that end-of-year gift to The Union Mission Ministries. Every dollar you donate offers practical and spiritual help and hope with those facing homelessness. Share the love of God with a neighbor in need. Please give generously today! http://ow.ly/UkHL50MenkM

12/28/2022

Charity Spotlight: Union Mission Ministries, Norfolk will be our designated charity on January 28th at The NorVA performance.

HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
Hundreds of homeless and hurting men, women, and children with nowhere else to turn come through the doors of The Union Mission every month. Their stories are as different as they are. A hot meal, a place to shower, clean clothing, and a safe place to lay their heads help to restore their feelings of dignity and self-respect. Most of all, they find practical help and spiritual hope for a better tomorrow.