End of Month December 2023 - Get The Latest From Andy Bales On What's Happening at URM

I want to give you an end-of-December update as my teammates kindly reached out to me while I work remotely from my office in Iowa, my new home.
As you know I will continue to be President, and CEO of Union Rescue Mission until December 31st. At that time, my dear friend, a very trustworthy businessman, and church leader, Jeff Hudson, will take over as interim President and CEO until a successor is found. I believe we're in good hands with Jeff.
They requested one last selfie-end-of-month video, so I want to share that December was great. It was incredible as I spent much of my time at the mission. In fact, I just returned from a 12-day stint that I would describe as bittersweet. It was sad, but also a bit of heaven because we received numerous thank-yous. One young man even called me "papa" and gave me a hug during dinner. The overwhelming gratitude and time spent there was truly bittersweet.

It was the hardest decision for me to leave, leaving behind so much good work, many good friends, and fabulous teammates. However, we received considerable media attention in December. We hosted a Christmas party for our Union Rescue Mission staff on December 10th. On December 14th, we bid farewell to donors in Pasadena at Flemings, where my farewell video brought tears.

Leaving behind such a faithful crew of donors, supporters, volunteers, and friends is tough, especially those who made our work possible. Additionally, we successfully organized the Christmas store, where families from all three sites shopped for their children, affirming their dignity and bringing them joy during Christmas.

We had a fantastic Christmas Eve dinner on the rooftop and numerous other Christmas parties. Our efforts were covered by BBC News regarding the unfortunate deaths on the streets and how it's reshaping homelessness policy in LA. A notable article in the LA Times highlighted our work addressing homelessness, emphasizing the need for immediate shelter, recovery, mental health services, job retraining, and community support.

I also had the opportunity to speak with Conan Nolan on NBC, which was a long-held aspiration of mine. You can check out the video if you get a chance. However, none of these life-saving, life-changing Christmas events would have been possible without your support. Thank you immensely.

This will be my last end-of-month video, but I'll remain connected with the mission as a donor, friend, and consultant whenever needed. Remember, you will continue to make a difference at Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles. It's a very special place, changing lives every day due to your tremendous support.

God bless you, and thank you.
Andy Bales