Holiday Newsletter 2025

Dear Friend, Christmas is a season of hope and joy and at Hope Gospel Mission, that hope is felt in many ways. The air is filled with warmth, simple decorations brighten our spaces and there’s a quiet excitement as the season begins. Special meals are shared, celebrations bring people together and moments of joy remind us all of the season’s meaning. For the men, women and children in our care, this season is truly special. Because of of your generosity, they are surrounded by a safe, supportive community where hope is alive and lives are renewed. Christmas here is a time to celebrate and thank God for the blessings He provides. The celebrations at Hope Gospel Mission are possible because of caring friends like you. Your support provides nourishing meals, safe nights of rest and the chance for healing—not just at Christmas, but all year long. Your gifts go directly to someone to take a step toward recovery from addiction, abuse, trauma or homelessness. I see the transformations firsthand, and I invite you to stop by for a visit and see your gifts in action. Thank you for partnering with us. Your compassion brings hope and joy to those who need it most. May God bless you this Christmas! Sincerely, Sandi Polzin  Executive Director Hope Gospel Mission

For most of his adult life, Vince struggled with alcohol and marijuana. “I’ve been an alcoholic and drug addict since I was 17,” he admits. “I’ve had some periods of sobriety, but I always went back.”

He went through a painful divorce, then cared for his children following the death of his ex-wife. But eventually, isolation and addiction pulled him back into his old patterns. “I wore out my welcome with family, the kids moved in with their grandparents and I was living in my car. I was sick, cold and running out of gas to keep warm. I figured something bad was going to happen — I was either going to freeze or drink endlessly.”

One cold November day, sitting in a parking lot, Vince realized he was outside the Hope Gospel Mission Bargain Center. “I asked God, ‘If You help me, I will welcome You into my heart. Help me be clean and sober.’ Then I drove over to Hope Gospel Mission and started the process to get in.” That was the day everything changed.

It wasn’t easy at first. But in time, Vince says, “I asked God to take away my urge to drink and smoke — and He did. I’ve never craved either since. Every day I wake up here, I’m grateful.”

Hope Gospel Mission’s long-term, faith-based program gave Vince structure, community and a renewed relationship with Christ. “Other rehabs were just 21 or 28 days — you detox, but you don’t change your way of thinking,” he explains. “Here, I’m learning life skills and growing in my faith. I look forward to Bible study every day.”

Perhaps most meaningful has been the restoration of his family relationships. “My kids tell me they’re proud of me. That’s a feeling I’ve never had before.”

To the donors who make this possible, Vince says: “From the bottom of my heart — thank you. This place changes lives. If you want to give somewhere and see your gift work, this is it.”

Vince’s journey isn’t over, but now he’s confident in his path forward: “I know where I’m going, what I’m doing and I’m happy,” he says with pride. “Hope Gospel Mission is a life-changing place.

Healing can take time and does not happen over night. That is what happened for Joanne. While she had a fascinating past, joining the Navy and working on submarines, her heart was not built on a solid foundation.

“I began drinking in high school,” she says. “Later in life, when I found out I was pregnant, I quit for thirteen years and raised my daughters.” Then, when the girls were older, Joanne found herself alone most nights while her husband, also in the Navy, was out to sea for months at a time.

“We lived in a rural area, with no one around and nothing to do, I picked up the bottle again. It was just something to do.”

Joanne’s drinking began just at night and developed to the point where her daughters and husband could no longer support her choices. She tried to quit and even came to Hope Gospel Mission a few years ago. But she left after five months, the urge to drink was too strong.

Then Joanne was faced with a decision. Go to jail for poor choices or go to Hope Gospel Mission. “I came here because I had to,” she admits. “A year long program is a lot to commit to. But I am so glad I did.

Today, Joanne is working hard in her classes and learning how to open up to others. “I am surrounded by caring people and I know they will not judge me for my past but support me to make the right decisions. I am so thankful Hope Gospel Mission is faith based. I need God to build a strong foundation for me to build my new life on.”

This Christmas, Joanne looks forward to reconnecting with her daughters but she knows she still has work to do. “I am still learning about myself and strengthening my faith with the Lord,” she says.

Thanks to your support, Joanne is beginning a new life, this time on a foundation that will help her maintain lasting change. “Thank you,” Joanne says. “Your giving and prayers are making a change in all of our lives!”

At Hope Gospel Mission, the Christmas season isn’t just a meal — it’s a time to come together like family. For many who walk through our doors, the holidays have been marked by loneliness, hardship or memories they’d rather forget. But here, they can write a new story.

The dining room is filled with the warm aroma of ham and all the fixings. Laughter blends with friendly conversation as tables fill with men and women sharing a meal. Staff and volunteers greet each person by name, offering a smile, a handshake or even a hug. In that moment, everyone belongs.

The annual Christmas Community Dinner is more than a tradition — it’s an opportunity to create lasting memories. Friends are made. Hope is renewed. And each resident knows they are cared for.

When you support Hope Gospel Mission you help feed people both physically and spiritually. Thank you for caring.

Christmas Community Dinner
Saturday, December 20, 2025
11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Hope Renewal Center for Men
2650 Mercantile Drive, Eau Claire

Everyone is welcome to dine in or drive thru!

Thank you for making the Annual Harvest of Hope Fall Fundraiser a Success!

We are deeply grateful to everyone who came together in support of our mission.  Your presence and generosity helped create an event filled with hope and inspiration, as powerful stories of transformation reminded us of the lives being changed every day.  Thank you to all of our 2025 Harvest of Hope Sponsors who joined with us to bring help and hope to those struggling in our community.

If you missed the event, it is available for viewing at HopeGospelMission.org/HarvestofHope

Gifts Given in Memory

(Persons being honored are listed first)