Union Rescue Mission - Part 1

Kauri Foundation values taking time to honor and recognize organizations doing remarkable things and changing lives. Recently, Kauri Foundation had the opportunity to speak with Reverend Andy Bales, the President, and CEO of an organization called Union Rescue Mission (URM). URM is a non-profit organization in Los Angeles, California, that aims to provide life-changing services to men, women, and families in the LA county area. Their programs take in single men and women, single parents and families with children, and seniors. As a result, these families and individuals are allowed the time and space to grow into who God created them to be. As a testament to URM's heart, Rev. Bales said, "we never turn away a family or a woman that shows up at our door."

URM's programs and recovery communities prioritize the reunification of families and continued sobriety as a result of their programs. Rev. Bales said their main goal was to "embrace people with the compassion of Christ, that is our goal.. to be welcoming, dignity affirming, and loving." With a home base in downtown Los Angeles and several satellite programs nearby, URM's mission affects the lives of thousands. 

URM has been working in LA county for 131 years, and it is obvious that they have not lost sight of their values. URM chooses not to accept funding from anywhere that might restrict their ability to share the love of Jesus with the people they work with. Choosing to "meet people where they are, but not leave them there." is vital to URM. Their steadfastness, combined with their work's magnitude and scope, is outstanding.