Support the Ithaca Rescue Mission at Our Registers

During the month of February, GreenStar shoppers can “round up” their grocery totals, by any amount, to donate funds to the Ithaca Rescue Mission, located right around the corner from the West End store. The mission of the Ithaca Rescue Mission is to share hope, end hunger and homelessness, and strengthen communities one person at a time. The Rescue Mission serves those in need in our community through several services. The Friendship Center is a public drop-in center where anyone can come in and get out of the elements, have a cup of coffee or a snack, experience community, and be connected to services. A community meal is served three times a week. The Emergency Shelter provides safety and resources for people experiencing homelessness, and the Rescue Mission also runs a permanent supportive housing program with 25 beds, plus a food pantry that is open six days a week to anyone in Tompkins County.

The Rescue Mission needs the support of the Ithaca community to make these programs happen, now more than ever. Several months ago the Rescue Mission was forced to cut $150,000 out of their budget, which meant reducing staff by 50 percent, closing the Friendship Center on weekends, and eliminating seven beds from the Emergency Shelter.

Through the generosity of the members of our community, the Rescue Mission can continue to provide these services to those most in need and begin to restore the services they have had to cut. The first priority will be to reopen the Friendship Center on weekends.