Contact:
Kelly Stephens
Brower, Miller & Cole
(949) 509-6551
kstephens@browermillercole.com

• Rancho Community Church and the Orange County Rescue Mission have joined forces to meet the needs of the growing homeless population in Temecula and Murrieta

• The new Temecula Murrieta Rescue Mission’s first food box distribution will be held on March 25th at Rancho Community Church in Temecula with the help of 110 volunteers

Temecula, Calif., March 20, 2009 – The Orange County Rescue Mission and Rancho Community Church in Temecula, Calif. have joined forces to launch the Temecula Murrieta Rescue Mission.

The plan for the new mission was put into action in response to an increase in demand for food, shelter, healthcare and other essential services for a rapidly increasing homeless population in Southwest Riverside County in the Temecula Valley.

The Temecula Murrieta Rescue Mission will make its first food box distribution on Wednesday, March 25th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Rancho Community Church. The Temecula Murrieta Rescue Mission anticipates distributing food boxes every Wednesday during the same time period.

“The Orange County Rescue Mission is constantly working to expand our outreach to help families in crisis get back on their feet,” said Jim Palmer, President of the Orange County Rescue Mission. “By combining our resources with Rancho Community Church, the Temecula Murrieta Rescue Mission will allow us to help more people on a daily basis, providing them with a variety of essential services.”

Rancho Community Church, a 4,000 member strong ministry in Temecula, Calif., will be the onsite field agent for the Temecula Murrieta Rescue Mission.

“Without the experience and support of Jim Palmer and the Orange County Rescue Mission, we would not have been able to make this program a reality,” said Scott Treadway, Lead Pastor of Rancho Community Church. “Through hard work and a commitment to service, the Rancho campus will be able to support food distribution, housing and healthcare through the Temecula Murrieta Rescue Mission.”

Hundreds of volunteers from Rancho Community Church have already volunteered to assist the Temecula Murrieta Rescue Mission, providing support and food donations where needed.

Under the experienced leadership and shear passion of Scott Treadway and Jim Palmer, Rancho Community Church and the Orange County Rescue Mission have been able to establish the new program and prepare for active food distribution in just over one month.

“The need in this area is undeniable. We all must be willing to make sacrifices to help those around us,” added Treadway. “I asked our congregation what they were willing to sacrifice to help the people in our community who are unable to help themselves and the response has been overwhelming.”

Despite the success achieved to date, the Temecula Murrieta Rescue Mission and the Orange County Rescue Mission remain in dire need of donations and support from the community.

“We have been very successful working together to get this program off of the ground,” added Palmer. “It is so important for the community to know that we cannot survive without their continued support in the form of donations including money, time and food.”

To make a donation or inquire about volunteer opportunities, please contact the Temecula Murrieta Rescue Mission at (951) 526-1200 or log on to www.RescueMissionTM.org

About Rancho Community Church
Rancho Community Church just celebrated its 40th year of ministry to the Temecula Murrieta Valley, and is committed to teach God’s word and put it to practice in our families, in our church, and in our community. This includes a focus on equipping and mobilizing meaningful and fun volunteer teams to do good together, strengthening families to practice unconditional love in our homes, and providing tangible help to those in need. To inquire about the ministries of Rancho Community Church, please visit our web site: www.ranchocommunity.org.

About the Orange County Rescue Mission
The Orange County Rescue Mission is a non-profit organization that uses Biblical principles in its programs such as relationships, finance, and parenting. The Orange County Rescue Mission’s innovative facilities and programs provide food assistance and shelter in addition to counseling, education, job training, mental wellness, life skill training, and medical services to provide a solid foundation for the transition to a self-sufficient life. To make a donation or inquire about volunteer opportunities with the Orange County Rescue Mission, please contact the Village of Hope at (714) 247-4300 or log on to www.rescuemission.org.