'They need your support'

Charlotte Amo wiped tears from her eyes Tuesday as she recalled becoming homeless and moving into the Topeka Rescue Mission nearly a year ago.

"I didn't want anything to do with this place because a lot of people — myself included — think that this is a bunch of drug addicts and a bunch of nasty people that we just want to shove under the rug, and that's not the case," she said. "There is amazing staff here that, when you have no hope left, they take you under your wing."

Amo, who lives and works at the mission, spoke at a news conference held in its Hope Center to ask people to open their hearts and pocketbooks to help address significant financial problems that are forcing the mission to reduce programs.

The mission since the beginning of 2019 has experienced an average financial shortfall of about $180,000 a month, it announced in a news release Monday. The total deficit, which now exceeds $1 million, potentially threatens the mission's very existence, the release said.

But Barry Feaker, the mission's executive director, said Tuesday this community responded to Monday's news in a positive manner that makes him think the mission will likely remain open and manage to cover its costs "in some way, shape or form."

Feaker said he felt "deeply humbled" by that response.

He said more than $8,000 alone had been donated since Monday by text message, with most of that coming from donors who hadn't previously contributed to the mission.

The Rev. T.D. Hicks, pastor of Antioch Mission Baptist Church, announced at Tuesday's news conference that commitments to donate $5,000 each had been made by Topeka's Western Hills Church, New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church and Hicks' Antioch church — even though Hicks' church finished last month $1,700 under budget.

"I want to get this out there in front of other pastors and challenge you to believe the word that you preach," Hicks said. "We're overdrawn but we're stepping out on faith to be a blessing, and we're believing God to be a blessing."

Hicks added that he and his wife were personally donating $1,000 to the mission.

Mayor Michelle De La Isla told the more than 80 people attending Tuesday's conference that she had been homeless as a teenager and that, more recently, her oldest child stayed for a time at the Topeka Rescue Mission "when he was at his worst."

"My friends, this is the time and this is the test," Da La Isla said. "Because in order for Topeka and Shawnee County to thrive, our most vulnerable citizens need to thrive. They need your support."

De La Isla asked residents to donate what they can, even if that is only $1.

Those who can't donate money may contribute food or do volunteer work at the mission, she said.

A person doesn't have to be "a genius" to serve the mission, De La Isla added.

"All you have to have is a heart," she said.

The mission since 1953 has served homeless, hungry and impoverished citizens in the Topeka community. Its main shelter is located at 600 N. Kansas Ave.

About 100 people — including about 40 of its residents — are employed by the mission, which maintains programs that provide education of the homeless, children's trauma intervention, Street Reach intervention and assistance with food, clothing, transportation and medical issues.

The mission plans to soon close the thrift store it operates at 1312 N. Kansas Ave., and on or before Oct. 1 will close the boutique it operates at 3400 S.W. Topeka Blvd., Feaker said Tuesday.

The mission is financed entirely through donations, which Feaker said has helped its donors feel a sense of ownership. If the mission were to start accepting federal grants, he said, people might say "you're being taken care of" and stop donating.

Under the current arrangement, Feaker said, people give to the mission "because they want to."

He provided figures indicating the mission has housed an average of 247 people nightly over the past six months while serving an average of 1,380 meals per day to its guests and the community.

But over the past six months, Feaker said, the mission experienced a 42 percent increase in food costs, because of a decrease in food being donated; a 148 percent increase in repair costs to aging buildings; and a nearly 50 percent decrease in financial donations.

Feaker provided figures from the United Way noting that charitable giving nationwide declined 4.4 percent in 2018 compared to 2017 for those giving $250 or less. The average donation made to the Topeka Rescue Mission is about $65, Feaker said.

He said the mission before this month hadn't faced the possibility of closing since 1986, his first year as executive director.

That was the last time the mission sent out a "clarion call to the community" like the one delivered Monday, Feaker said.

Topeka Police Chief Bill Cochran said at Tuesday's news conference that his department's ability to be effective is enhanced by the presence in this community of the mission and Valeo Behavorial Health Care.

If the mission ceases to exist, Cochran said, a lot of outcomes in this community "won't be as positive as they are today."

More than a dozen police officers attended Tuesday's event, where rescue mission resident and employee Martin Molinar drew laughs when he told the audience, "First of all, I'd like to thank God for seeing so many cops and not having to run from them."

Molinar said he came to the mission in late 2016 during a "dark and drug-addicted" time in his life when he had "lost everything."

"The mission showed me a light," Molinar said. "They showed me guidance. They showed me that I can have faith and hope. They showed me compassion, caring, sympathy, and that I'm worth something."

Donations to the mission can be made by mailing them to P.O. Box 8350, Topeka, KS 66608; texting TRMgive to 7799 to donate through PushPay; or clicking on the "Donate Now" button on the rescue mission website at https://trmonline.org/.