Stories that Inspire.
Victories to Celebrate.
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DIRECTOR’S NOTE – How long does it take to break a bad habit?
I’m confident anyone who reads this knows what it’s like to break a bad habit, whether it’s to quit caffeine, stop negative speech, or resist road rage. When I was growing up, my father made the decision to stop smoking. He said it was one of the hardest things he ever did, but didn’t want…
Luis continues to build ‘spirit mind’ after graduation
About a year ago, Luis was 20, battling addiction, and coming off of two years in and out of jail. He had started hanging with gang members in high school, where he was introduced to meth. He cleaned up for a bit, but after graduating and going to work in the fields, Luis started using…
Deja comes to work at the mission after addiction, loss strike her family
Six months into her new job managing Santa Maria Super Thrift, the Mission’s thrift store, Deja is seeing how the trauma she experienced as a daughter of an addict, can result in a perspective that’s helpful in her role. Deja grew up locally with two younger siblings-their mother was addicted to heroin. “It was pretty…
Kylie revels in seeing god work in clients’ lives
“I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you came to visit me.” Matthew 25:35-37. When Kylie Alsin was in college, she felt…
Dallas graduates program, begins his next chapter in life
It’s been nearly a year-and-a-half since Dallas got to the Mission, and as a recent graduate, he barely recognizes his past life, which was consumed by drugs, homelessness, and mental illness. “When I came into the program, I was a junkie and I never had a job in my life and I never really followed…
New program manager “taking the bull by it’s horns”
When Luke looks back at the several jobs he’s had in his 15 years of work experience, he points out one fork in the road that could have changed the trajectory of his career. One that, if he had taken a different path, would have likely never led to his role as the new Program…
James overcomes childhood trauma, seeks out life change
Despite being raised by a family who considered themselves Christians, James never had any desire to follow suit. As a 7-year-old, James was molested by a self-professed Christian man. “My whole family was Christian, but I didn’t want to be a Christian because I found out that the person who molested me was able to…
David warns against being too prideful to ask for help
David grew up “basically with a single mom,” although he also had a stepfather for some of his childhood. He was smart, but avoided showing it at school. “I didn’t want to look uncool,” he said, “so instead of being the smart kid, I was more of a bully. Because of the problems going on…
Expanding our reach: Women’s program to open in the Fall
Since 1999, the Central Coast Rescue Mission has been a beacon of hope to the community, for those who have burned every bridge, tried dozens of times to quit, and are mere shadows of who they used to be. Our white and blue triplex at the North end of town has been there for those…
After a stumble, Marco returns to the Mission
After nipping a drinking problem in the bud when he was young, Marco spent a decade as a music director and playing keyboards in the church band. He led praise and worship for years, and did well, until the pandemic hit. When church services ceased, Marco felt a shift in him. “I got really complacent,”…
Gregory calls Mission program ‘saving grace’
Gregory started drinking and smoking when he was just 12 years old. By 14 or 15, he was using amphetamines. “There was a gang of kids who always played together in the neighborhood-kickball, baseball, whatever,” he said. “We always hung out, just like brothers and sisters. Then all of us got addicted to drugs. We…
Looking forward to a new year at the Mission
As we enter 2022 at the Central Coast Rescue Mission, we’ve been considering the many peaks and valleys of 2021, and what’s coming up in this year ahead. We’ve become experts at pivoting when faced with challenges outside of our control. We wish the pandemic was over. All year staff and volunteers have risked their…
