Rescue Mission to Open Donation Site

They hear the cries of hunger and homelessness growing louder in the Valley. They roam through parks and under highways hoping to silence them.

Since June, the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission has been delivering hot meals to the more than 15,000 homeless people scattered throughout the Valley. Today at an afternoon barbecue, the mission will host the grand opening of its new Van Nuys outreach office and donation warehouse.

Out of a converted auto parts garage on Valjean Avenue, hope will take shape.

George Oja, director of the mission, said poverty and homelessness have worsened in the area in the past 20 years, while city social services have turned away and failed to address the growing problem.

“For a long time, people focused on the homeless on Skid Row,” said Oja, minister at a nondenominational Christian church in Northridge. “We have to realize the Valley has its own problems. At the mission, we’re interested in trying to solve the problem, not just moving people from place to place and making them disappear.”

Once a week, Oja and a handful of volunteers drive out in their S.O.S. Mobile Rescue Mission van to area parks feeding the Valley’s needy and homeless. This Saturday at noon, the mission brings its services to North Hollywood Park.

The San Fernando Valley Mission, a nonprofit, privately funded Christian organization, is an offshoot of the Oxnard-based Ventura County Rescue Mission. Founded in 1972, that mission operates a shelter, drug and alcohol recovery unit, and job-training center for the county’s homeless population.

Although the Valley mission headquarters does not have a shelter, Oja said he will work with police and other agencies to find people shelter or refer them to recovery.

Anyone interested in being a volunteer or making donations of food or clothing can visit the Valley Rescue Mission headquarters at 6859 Valjean Ave. or call (818) 785-4476.