mission services

from ModestoView December 2022

INTERVIEW Jason Conway Modesto Gospel Mission

By Abigail Power

The Mission Campus

This month we were lucky to talk to a person in our community who helps to impact hundreds of lives daily, especially during the holiday season! Jason Conway is the Chief Executive Officer of the Modesto Gospel Mission and has done an incredible job during his tenure as CEO of engaging with the community and working to expand and innovate existing structures within the organization. We’ve got a lot to learn and a lot to share so let’s hear more about what Jason Conway and the Modesto Gospel Mission are up to for the grand finale interview of 2022’s ModestoView Season! Thank you for all the good you do in this community and we appreciate the magic you create in so many lives during this time of year and all year round. Read the full interview at www.ModestoView.com to read more about the Modesto Gospel Mission!

Modesto View: How did you personally get involved with the Modesto Gospel Mission?

Jason Conway: Born and raised in Modesto, at the age of 27 I found myself homeless on its streets and sleeping in its parks. Battling substance addiction and its resulting mental health issues, I made my way to the Modesto Gospel Mission in 2007 and joined the residential New Life Program. As I progressed through the program, my mind and body recovered from the addiction, and I gained a new mindset and perspective on life. In 2008, I graduated the program and came on staff. During the last 15 years at the Mission, I have worked as a supervisor, senior supervisor, operations manager, director of operations, executive director, and currently as the CEO.

MV: What are some of the programs and various services that you provide to those in need? Can you tell us more about your 18 Month New Life Program?

JC: The Modesto Gospel Mission provides essential services to homeless men, women, and children, including an emergency shelter (225 total beds), meals and clothes, a homeless day program, an after-school program and youth center, and a residential 12-to-18-month New Life Program. Through this program, an individual will attend life skills classes, employment training, work therapy, case management, and work to obtain employment, housing, outside services, and much more. Once completed, the graduate can rent his or her own apartment owned by the Mission for up to a year to build rental history and save for a security deposit on more permanent housing.

MV: Are there any common “myths” or misunderstandings about the Mission that you think are important to dispel with the community?

JC: Maybe not a myth, just a change of how we operate these last 4-5 years in respect to guests leaving the Mission campus during the day. At one point, the overnight shelter guests were asked to leave in the morning and return in the evening, leading to homeless men and women wandering around the city. About 5 years ago we created the Freedom Road Day Program in partnership with a corporate partner to address this situation. Today, we encourage our shelter guests to stay on campus throughout the day and participate in the day program. The day program works with these guests on case management, obtaining housing and social services, and securing government identification documents like social security cards; the guests also participate in group classes and just having fun – board games, ping pong, watching movies, and doing crafts. You would be surprised at how many of our guests are talented artists! Our hope is that nobody is simply wondering around the city with no place to go, and instead is working towards next steps in getting off the streets by obtaining housing and employment.

MV: We’ve heard there’s coffee brewing at the Mission! Can you tell us more about the brand new Volente Café?

JC: Yes, we are extremely excited about our new social and workforce development enterprise operating under the trade name Volente Coffee Roasters. The Mission is roasting coffee beans for sale to the public and operating a part-time coffee café at the old Seasons Event Center on McHenry Avenue which is now Celebration Center Church. The amazing part about this social enterprise is that men and women that are a part of the New Life Program are learning the skills of roasting coffee beans, packaging and shipping, sanitation, being a barista and sales. You can learn more about this wonderful local coffee roasting business and purchase a bag of awesome tasting coffee at www.VolenteCoffee.com.

MV: What is something that you’d like more people to know or might surprise them about the Modesto Gospel Mission?

JC: One of the things we hear a lot when giving people a tour of our campus is – “Wow, I simply didn’t know the Mission was this big and did this much!” One of these programs is our Youth Center that used to be the old Burger King on the corner of Yosemite Blvd and Kerr Ave. Each weekday we have a unique place for at-risk youth ages 6 to 17 to come after their school day has ended. Normally, we see 35 to 40 kids a day and our goal is to give these kids from the Airport Neighborhood a safe place to come to finish homework, learn community and service, have fun, and eat dinner with their family.

MV: What special events or programs do you have planned during the holiday season and coming winter?

JC: The holiday season is the busiest time of the year for the Mission and we have two major special events, our Thanksgiving Bundle-Up and Christmas at the Mission. During our Thanksgiving event we will provide a full turkey dinner that is followed by distribution of warm coats, hats, scarfs, and socks. For the Christmas event we will provide “5 Days of Christmas” in mid-December when we allow families to sign-up to choose Christmas gifts for the entire family; the Mission also has its annual Christmas dinner with gifts on December

23rd, where we normally serve over 2,000 men, women, and children.

MV: How can the community get involved and support the services you provide?

JC: One of the best ways to get involved is through our volunteer program, which you can sign up on our website at www. MyMission.org via the “Get Involved” pull-down menu. From serving dinner to working with the youth center, we can match you with your passion and talents to serve at the Modesto Gospel Mission. Also, you can donate financially through our website as well. Finally, our donations dock is open daily to receive used clothing and food donations.

MV: Lastly, Beatles or Stones?

JC: 100% the Stones – the legendary band that has rocked the world for 6 decades and is still going!

Modesto Gospel Mission

1400 Yosemite Blvd, Modesto, CA 95354 (209) 529-8259 info@homelessmission.org

Christmas Story Comes to Life

One of the best known Christmas stories makes your tongue hurt if you remember the poor kid, with his tongue stuck to the flagpole. That story will be brought to life by the Gallo Center Repertory Company this month as the story comes to the stage. The Based on the 1983 film of the same name, as well as on Jean Shepherd’s book “In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash,” this play about growing up in the Midwest in the 1940s follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher and even Santa Claus himself at Higbee’s Department Store. The consistent response: “You’ll shoot your eye out!” All the elements from the beloved movie are here, including the family’s temperamental exploding furnace; Scut Farkas, the school bully; the boys’ experiment with a wet tongue on a cold lamppost; the Little Orphan Annie decoder pin; Ralphie’s father winning a lamp shaped like a woman’s leg in a net stocking; Ralphie’s fantasy scenarios and more. Adaptation by Philip Grecian, Directed by Patrick Norris December 9, 10, 11 Tix at www.galloarts. org

Please note that this is the stage play adaptation of A Christmas Story, not the musical. Note: This classic also inspired us to take this MJ Mangano photo for the Gallo Center production and make it a little more “Modesto”. - Chris Murphy

Ring the Bell

The Salvation Army needs you. What I like about the Salvation Army is that over 85% of all funds donated go directly to programs that help people directly. This is a really high percentage and you know your donations are being cared for. If you have even two hours to spare, you can ring the bell to collect donations at a place that works for you, your family and friends if you want to do it as a group. Sign up here at www.registertoring.com

The Giving Tree Needs You

By Chris Murphy The Giving Tree has made such a big difference in so many lives. This year the Modesto Soroptimists and Modesto Sunrise Rotary are teaming up to make this better than ever. Located on the 2nd floor of Vintage Faire, right above Santa’s Workshop, you can stop by the tree, pick the tag of a family or person that is in need and you can sponsor that gift. They will take care of the rest, getting it wrapped and delivered to those who signed up. You can also volunteer to work this project if you are able to. Stop by and sponsor a gift from noon-8 pm daily until December 19th

GALLO CENTER REP: A CHRISTMAS STORY

FRIDAY-SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9-11

CHRISTMAS WITH THE RYKERT TRIO

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS CENTRAL VALLEY HARP

ENSEMBLE & CENTER STAGE KIDS

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16

DIONNE WARWICK & THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20

PRESENTED BY: MERCEDES-BENZ OF MODESTO

A JOHNNY MATHIS CHRISTMAS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21

PREMIER PARTNER: DOCTORS MEDICAL CENTER

DAVE KOZ & FRIENDS: 25TH ANNIVERSARY CHRISTMAS TOUR

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23