At rock bottom, he got a dream Can you help?
Volume 11, Number 6
of a second chance
K
Holiday food still needed
evin had been clean and sober for
three-and-a-half years. He was
living with his wife and two kids,
had a new car and a good job as a hospital
security guard.
even buy gas to move his car. His self-
esteem had never been lower.
One night in a dream, God showed him
a beautiful world and said it could be his if
Kevin would follow
But little by little, his AA and church Kevin’s wife had Him and get his
attendance dropped off. Soon he was using life together. Kevin
been putting up
drugs again. wanted that peace.
His wife kicked him out immediately. with his relapses He remembered
She’d been putting up with his relapses for for 12 years and staying at the
12 years and was not going to live with
another episode.
was not going to Mission years earlier.
Instead of using
live with another
For the next three months, Kevin lived his next paycheck
in his car, cramped and miserable. episode. on drugs, Kevin
He was still working, but it was hard bought a bus ticket
using a bathroom sink to keep himself — to get him to The Bowery Mission.
and his white uniform shirt — clean. He The moment he stepped through the
spent every penny on drugs, so he couldn’t red doors, he felt peace. And he joined the
program and volunteered for every job at
the Mission.
Today Kevin is working, staying sober
and feeling confident.
“I miss my kids,” he says. “But they
would rather see me straight, sober — making
it, back on my feet. It’s worth the wait. And
my daughter calls me every week!”
Maybe this holiday season, they’ll get
together again.
Your gifts give people second, third,
fourth chances in life. God never gives up
Kevin is working hard at his recovery and on us, so we don’t give up on people.
hopes to see his children during the holidays. Thank you for being part of the miracle!
YES Ed, I want to feed hungry men, women and children in New York City. I’ll help
provide hot, nutritious meals throughout the holiday season. Enclosed is my gift of:
q $15.90 to provide 10 holiday meals and other care.
q $31.80 to provide 20 holiday meals and other care.
q $63.60 to provide 40 holiday meals and other care.
q $119.25 to provide 75 holiday meals and other care.
Name_____________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________
City _________________________State __________ ZIP__________
E-mail _____________________________________ o Home o Office
November 2008 THE BOWERY MISSION’S 1-800-BOWERY-1
www.bowery.org
6,300 lbs. of meat
RED DOOR
T r u e s t o r i e s f r o m t h e MISSIO N : L i v e s c h a n g e d e v e r y d a y s i n c e 1 8 7 9
4,500 loaves of bread
HOW WOULD I KNOW
380 dozen eggs
ABOUT JOY?
335 lbs. of sugar
225 lbs. of butter
110 lbs. of coffee
Return the holiday Linda ruined so many holidays from her past. Now
meal ticket today. she vows to do better.
Thank you!
C
Madeleine’s miracle — p. 2 hristmas was always bad for and learning about God for the first time
Linda, a Manhattan native. in her life.
“Since I used up all my money “The [Bowery] director told me
New Yorkers care! on drugs, there was never anything left-
over for the holidays. I couldn’t even “I used up all my money on drugs.
Dinner at The Bowery Mission
buy my son a Christmas present.” I couldn’t even buy my son a
is as close to home as many
Linda’s 36-year drug addiction Christmas present.”
down-and-out people will get
began at age 17. She dropped out of
this holiday season. Because
high school due to crack cocaine, heroin, I would get to a place of joy,” says
you care enough to give, we can
acid, and morphine use, and struggled to Linda. “I said, ‘I’ve been living in the
offer the less fortunate love,
keep any job. street, using [drugs] to live, what do I
a sense of family and a hot,
delicious meal. Thank you! The only reason she is still alive know about being joyful?’ So when it
is that her parents would let her live (continued on p. 3)
“My Christmas wish” — p. 3 at home when she needed to. When
they passed away, Linda became
homeless.
Over the next decade, she was
in jail, lived in crack houses, was
raped, bounced through recovery
programs and “was doing things
that women usually won’t do.”
She finally hit bottom.
Then she found The Bowery
Mission’s Women’s Center.
It was difficult at first —
following a schedule, doing chores, Linda lived in crack houses, spent time in jail and
getting along with other people, bounced through recovery programs before hitting
Meal ticket enclosed — p. 4
Thank you! Please mail your tax-deductible
check with this meal ticket to: The Bowery Mission,
facing life sober, learning to sit still, bottom — and coming to the Mission.
Murray Hill Station, P.O. Box 2000, New York, NY
10156-1999. Questions? Call us at 1-800-BOWERY-1.
Give online at www.bowery.org
Give food, hope and love this holiday season.

Leaving the Light On
A word from Ed Morgan, President
I believe in miracles “For my kids to be healthy.”
“I was dead. I just had not laid
down yet.”
That’s how Madeleine described
her life when she came to The Bowery
Mission Women’s Center.
I believe her.
Madeleine grew up in an abusive
situation which
This is the first led to a 30-year
time Madeleine addiction to crack
has made it cocaine and
heroin. She admits
past 90 days
she would resort to
of sobriety. anything — lying,
stealing from loved
ones, even prostitution — to get drugs.
But I also believe in miracles.
And we saw one in Madeleine’s
life. This was the eighth program
she had been in — and this is the
first time she has made it past 90 days
of sobriety!
Yes, it’s going to take awhile.
But like the other 17 women in our
women’s program, she knows we are
in this for the long haul. We will
require a lot of her, but we will also
be there to love and support her every
step of the way.
We can only do that because
generous, compassionate people like
you give to keep our Mission going.
During this holiday season, I wish
you all the blessings God has to
offer. Please know, Madeleine and
I and the entire staff are grateful for
your generosity, especially in this
tight economy!
Thank you.
How would i know ...
(continued from p. 1)
“My Christmas wish ...”
happened, I cried. I had never felt joy —
I have a lot now!”
Linda has been sober for 10 months
now — the longest period in 36 years!
Guests from the Mission programs share their holiday wishes ... “I didn’t believe anything they were
telling me,” she admits. “But I can tell
you now. I know how to pray. This
works.”
“Joy and goodwill.” The holidays are going to be tough
on a lot of people this year. A stumbling
Oliver & Becky, lunch guests economy, high food prices and the
housing crisis have left many families
desperate for help. This year, The Bowery
“A necklace Mission can be there for them because of
your generosity. Thank you.
for my mom.”
Elena, 4th grade,
Kids With A Promise
after-school program
Immediate needs
Shelter needs:
• Towels
• Twin-size sheets, pillows
Basic toiletries:
• Toothpaste, toothbrushes
“To be able to share with
• Soap, shampoo, razors
“A good jacket, my students the true
“To be in heaven.” meaning of Christmas.” Interview clothes:
to get out of the cold.”
Jackson, lunch guest Miss Pierre, Kids With A Promise • Suits, ties, dress shoes, shirts
Gilroy, lunch guest
Tutors:
• For the Career Center
Winter clothes:
• Sweaters
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Coats, hats, gloves
• Boots, socks
• Men’s underwear
Thank You!
For more information or to donate,
call 1-800-BOWERY-1.
“Make the high school baseball team.”
“For gas prices to go down.” 227 Bowery, New York, NY 10002
Ed Morgan, President
“I hope I get into college.”
“Wish I could learn more English.” To make a donation online, go to
“To get a job.”
Yael, 1st grade, Kids With A Promise “Get back together with my family.” www.bowery.org
Volunteers from Landmark Church, Jackson, Tennessee
Ricardo, lunch guest The Bowery Mission is a member of the Christian Herald Association.
At rock bottom, he got a dream Can you help?
of a second chance Holiday food still needed

K
evin had been clean and sober for even buy gas to move his car. His self-
three-and-a-half years. He was esteem had never been lower.
living with his wife and two kids, One night in a dream, God showed him
had a new car and a good job as a hospital a beautiful world and said it could be his if
security guard. Kevin would follow 6,300 lbs. of meat
But little by little, his AA and church
attendance dropped off. Soon he was using
Kevin’s wife had Him and get his
life together. Kevin
4,500 loaves of bread
been putting up
drugs again. wanted that peace.
with his relapses He remembered
380 dozen eggs
His wife kicked him out immediately.
She’d been putting up with his relapses for for 12 years and staying at the 335 lbs. of sugar
12 years and was not going to live with
another episode.
was not going to Mission years earlier.
Instead of using
225 lbs. of butter
live with another
For the next three months, Kevin lived his next paycheck 110 lbs. of coffee
in his car, cramped and miserable. episode. on drugs, Kevin
He was still working, but it was hard bought a bus ticket Return the holiday
using a bathroom sink to keep himself — to get him to The Bowery Mission.
and his white uniform shirt — clean. He The moment he stepped through the
meal ticket today.
spent every penny on drugs, so he couldn’t red doors, he felt peace. And he joined the Thank you!
program and volunteered for every job at
the Mission.
Today Kevin is working, staying sober
and feeling confident. New Yorkers care!
“I miss my kids,” he says. “But they
would rather see me straight, sober — making Dinner at The Bowery Mission
it, back on my feet. It’s worth the wait. And is as close to home as many
my daughter calls me every week!” down-and-out people will get
Maybe this holiday season, they’ll get this holiday season. Because
together again. you care enough to give, we can
Your gifts give people second, third, offer the less fortunate love,
fourth chances in life. God never gives up a sense of family and a hot,
on us, so we don’t give up on people. delicious meal. Thank you!
Kevin is working hard at his recovery and
hopes to see his children during the holidays. Thank you for being part of the miracle!

YES Ed, I want to feed hungry men, women and children in New York City. I’ll help
provide hot, nutritious meals throughout the holiday season. Enclosed is my gift of:
q $15.90 to provide 10 holiday meals and other care.
q $31.80 to provide 20 holiday meals and other care.
q $63.60 to provide 40 holiday meals and other care.
q $119.25 to provide 75 holiday meals and other care.
Name_____________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________
City _________________________State __________ ZIP__________
E-mail _____________________________________ o Home o Office
Thank you! Please mail your tax-deductible
check with this meal ticket to: The Bowery Mission,
Murray Hill Station, P.O. Box 2000, New York, NY
10156-1999. Questions? Call us at 1-800-BOWERY-1.
Give online at www.bowery.org