Jobs Housing Program

Homeless Day Resource Center

Family Food Festival

Summer Camp

Klothes for Kids

Breakfast with Santa

Operation Warm Heart

Street Revivals

Thanksgiving Dinner

 

 

 

Outreach includes programs aimed at short-term and/or non-residential solutions to many clients needs.  It includes special events aimed at reaching new homeless and needy populations, a transitional housing facility, a one-stop resource center and outreach to homeless children in the community.

"If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation the old things passed away, new things have come," (II Cor. 5:17)

 


Jobs Housing for Men and Women -

The Mission can house up to 20 men and 8 women in a affordable transitional living facility.  The clients live in a separate dorm from the emergency shelter that provides lockers to store personal belongings. The fee is $60 a week for the program, which includes three meals a day, chapel services and evening classes, use of laundry facilities, and counseling. The applicant must have full-time employment and remain drug and alcohol free.

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Homeless Day Resource Center- HDRC 

In 2003 and 2004 the parks, sidewalks, and library in the downtown area were playing host to hundreds of homeless people.  The city was beginning to worry about a negative image and approached the Mission for a solution. Surveys conducted by the Mission revealed that many of its clients lack transportation, making it nearly impossible to efficiently find the resources needed. 

The Panama City Rescue Mission responded with a one-stop-center to bring resources to the centrally located clients.  Through our partnership with local human service agencies and the Hunger and Homeless Coalition of Northwest Florida, we provide a range of needed services at one location. The day center also gives the opportunity to minister to these clients to better assist them in changing their lives. Life Management,  Workforce Center and social work students from FSU provide services daily to an average of 80 people per day--a number that has doubled over the HDRC's first year of operation.

Located at 515 E 6th Street, the Day Center now hosts the Homeless and Hunger Coalition of Northwest Florida.  Hours are Monday through Friday 7 am to 4 pm. Catholic Charities currently oversees the management and coordination of resources and agencies.

It now features computers with Internet access and a play center for children

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Family Food Festival

Many needy children depend on free and reduced breakfast and lunches at Bay District schools, however when school's out, families often do without or struggle to provide these meals during summer.

The Mission, along with area partner agencies teams up each summer in June to provide an information fair and food giveaway at the Mission's campus.  Families will be able to browse services available to them at agency booths.  The Mission will also distribute food boxes, made possible by the annual Postal Food Drive. 

The festival will be held at 609 Allen Avenue. There is no need to pre-register for this food giveaway.  But there is a qualification process.  Please see staff and volunteers on June 19th for more information. To volunteer, click here.

Family Food Festival Frenzy Serves 101 Families

 

In 2008, 101 families (111 children and 174 adults) received free food boxes & the vouchers to receive two more just like it to help them get through the summer.  45 children signed up for the Mission's summer day camp and Klothes for Kids. Partner agencies, such as Angel Food Ministries, Bay District Schools, Council on Aging, ADC Tutoring and more were on hand to serve these families with valuable information.  

 

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Mission Makes Summer Special for Needy Children


School’s out! It’s time for summer camp.  Most homeless and foster children would love to experience traditional summer day-camp, but what about . . .the fees?

The Mission provides a special camp opportunity for homeless and struggling families for children who have completed Kindergarten through 5th grades. 

Children do crafts, play games and learn of Jesus' love for them.

June 23-27, 2008

9 am to 1 pm

The camp will be held at our women and families campus, Bethel Village.  Please call 769-0783 to register-- ONLY June 1 through June 19.  

To volunteer, click here.

 

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Mission Clothes Needy Children for School Through Klothes for Kids Program

Getting ready for school school should be exciting, but for some kids, fancy jeans and expensive binders are just out of reach due to family financial problems.   Ordinarily, they don't have a chance to shop at the mall as other kids do.   Thanks to the support of dedicated volunteers and favorable response to the annual clothing drive, we are able to clothe hundreds each year.  

To volunteer, click here.

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Operation Warm Heart

Operation Warm Heart is an effort we take on each year as an effort to help those on the streets during cold nights...We have some homeless people in our area that for one reason or another refuse to utilize our services and spend their nights on the streets...During the winter...when the temperature drops in the 30's we take our truck around town to some of the areas in which we
know these people stay...we usually have pastries, coffee, blankets and jackets to hand out in an effort to keep them from having difficulty with the weather. 

To volunteer, click here.

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Mission Hosts Interdenominational Revival Aimed at Needy and Homeless   

April 2008, the Mission held our Spring Revival in the courtyard.  37 volunteers came together to provide messages and to perform. 247 guests attended and 14 people were saved!

 

"Old Rescue Missions have a heritage of outreach to their community thorough street revivals. It’s a practice we do not want to let die here in Panama City.  It’s a wonderful opportunity for outreach to the homeless and to our community.  It’s also a great way for Christians to exercise their faith through joining the Mission in their quest to seek the least, the last and the lost,” Executive Director Rev. Billy E Fox said.  

Praise God, He is breaking the bondage of sin and setting captives free!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Above: Chris Godber shared his musical talent with our guests.

Photos by Carol Fox, who added:

"You can't judge a person by what he 

looks like.  Our clients can bless us if 

we slow down and just bring respect 

between us.  I believe his well worn 

Bible in his hands is comforting to me. 

I look at him differently. He has a 

mental ill label but how does God 

label him?....I want to see our 

clients through His eyes...."