1 COVER 2 OVERVIEW 3 STATISTICS 4 STRATEGY 5 MAP 6 QUOTES 7 QUOTES 8 JOURNAL 9 RESOURCES 10 THANK YOU

THE RESCUE ALLIANCE,

DON’T WALK BY
NEW YORK CITY

JANUARY 2009
1 COVER DON’T WALK BY
CAMPAIGN OVERVIEW
In the spring of 2008, a group of organizations came together
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around the cause of homelessness in New York City. It became

apparent that each brought a unique role to the “continuum
of care” for the homeless community, and the Rescue Alliance
concept was born. There are two main objectives for the
Rescue Alliance: awareness and outreach.
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AWARENESS:
Homelessness is an issue that New Yorkers encounter each
day as they commute to work and travel home. The challenge
for the Rescue Alliance was how to inspire and empower New
Yorkers of faith to actively engage their homeless neighbors. In response to this challenge, the leadership
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developed a unique campaign called “Don’t Walk By”. The Rescue Alliance produced a seven minute movie
and print media package based on the story of the Good Samaritan. Throughout the fall of 2008 the team
worked to promote the campaign, with screenings in over 200 churches. Challenging New Yorkers not
to walk by, the Rescue Alliance instead invited them to participate in one of five outreaches planned for
January 2009. The website, www.dontwalkby.org, served as the vehicle for volunteer registration and
provided information about homeless resources.
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OUTREACH:
The Rescue Alliance planned the daunting task of
walking every street in Manhattan with the motto
of “offering an alternative to homelessness.” The
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ABOVE: Counselors meet with guests to discuss
program options and offer general assistance.
BELOW: Volunteers grab a quick dinner before
heading out to the streets, and volunteers receive

island was divided in to five zones, one for each training before outreach.
Saturday in January. Zones were further subdivided
into approximately 40 separate subzones, with a
team of volunteers assigned to each. Every Saturday,
volunteers met at an anchor church to receive training,
organize into teams, and go out on a “search and
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rescue” mission. The volunteers engaged homeless

people along their assigned route and invited them
to the anchor church or a nearby relief bus. Volunteers
could offer transportation to the church by calling
the Rescue Alliance van for pick up. At the church, a
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hospitality team welcomed the guest and offered a

meal, clothing, and care package. While the homeless
guest was eating, intake counselors from local service
providers spoke with them, explained program
options, and offered general assistance.
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All in all, over 1300 volunteers engaged over 1200

homeless, with over 350 returning with them to the
anchor church. 103 people accepted the invitation
to begin a program or receive medical attention. The
camaraderie among the volunteers, especially among
the Rescue Alliance partners, has lead to exciting plans
for the future. As we work together in this “continuum
of care,” we are developing an effective model to
continue reaching out to and assisting many more
homeless New Yorkers.
DON’T WALK BY

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OUTREACH STATISTICS

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Upper West Midtown Lower Man. Upper East Harlem
January 3 January 10 January 17 January 24 January 31 Total

Engaged on
171 409 228 237 195 1239
Streets & Subways

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Came to church
60 103 87 57 74 381
for meal
Transported
8 29 26 11 19 93
to program bed
Transported

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3 1 2 3 9
to Hospital
Transported
1 0 0 0 1
to Detox

Volunteers 160 220 338 280 351 1379

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ANCHOR CHURCHES: OUTREACH TIMELINE:

January 3 All Angels Church 1:30 – 2:00 PM Team Captain Debriefing
January 10 Calvary Baptist Church 2:00 – 2:30 PM Volunteer Registration
January 17 The Bowery Mission 2:30 – 4:30 PM Volunteer Training
& The Father’s Heart Ministries 4:30 – 5:00 PM Meal for Volunteers
January 24 Trinity Baptist Church 5:00 – 9:00 PM Street Outreach
January 31 St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church 6:00 – 9:00 PM Meal for Homeless
8:00 – 9:00 PM Team Debriefing/Evaluation
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DON’T WALK BY

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SAMPLE ZONE MAP

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ZONE A

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A

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= Bathroom

Directions from church: Walk west on 61st to Lexington Ave, turn left and 8 JOURNAL
walk south to the 4,5,6 train at 59th Street/Lexington Ave terminal. Take
the 4,5, or 6 train to Grand Central-42st St Terminal. Walk east on 42nd St
to 3rd Ave. Begin walking your zone.
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1 COVER WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“The Don’t Walk By outreach is
really about life saving.”
—Team Captain
“This is just another example of the tremendous
compassion New Yorkers have for their fellow
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“I felt like God was calling me in the way

citizens in need, especially those in the
of rescuing me from my past; calling me
faith-based community. The Bowery Mission
home. I was looking for something to eat
galvanized hundreds of volunteers and gave
and I saw the truck, and they asked me
them the opportunity to give a hand up to
if I was hungry, and they made me feel
individuals experiencing street homelessness
welcomed. They brought me to Trinity
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by offering shelter and related services.”

—Commissioner Robert Hess
Department of Homeless Services
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and I felt warmth of love, and almost like
family warmth—like taking someone in for
the first time. I talked to Sandy (Barnett)
and she asked me how long I had been
homeless and what I’d like to do with my
life—and I told her I liked to cook. She

started to tell me about the women’s

center. Vivian walked up while I was eating
my meal. Vivian had warmth to her, and she
asked me if I was interested in coming. And
I said, ‘Where do I sign up?’ So she did my
intake and she walked me to the women’s
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center, and here I am. Home at last. I felt

welcomed the moment I entered the doors
of The Bowery Mission Women’s Center.
And I may never want to leave!”
—Tonya
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Rescued by Don’t Walk By

Grand Central Station

“As one of the pastors at Trinity Baptist Church, it was a joy to participate in the recent Don’t Walk By
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campaign. As a host site I was proud that our building could serve as a training ground for so many
enthusiastic volunteers who willingly gave up their time (many traveling great distances) to meet
the needs of our homeless population here in New York City. Sometimes we need opportunities
and encouragement to put our faith in action. Many of the volunteers I met had never served in this
capacity before.
The Don’t Walk By campaign served as a catalyst for raising up new volunteers and providing the
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support and training necessary to step out of our comfort zones and literally be the hands and feet
of Jesus. After some training we combed the nearby streets for any homeless people who might be
in need of supplies, food or shelter. After the teams had dispersed and later returned to the church,
I was encouraged to see how many people had responded. The love not just from the volunteers
to the homeless, but from the homeless to the volunteers was undeniable. It is always amazing to
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see how love changes hearts. After sharing a warm cup of soup after coming out of the cold, I had a
wonderful conversation with a young man by the name of Mark who told me that he was moved by
the loving people and that he wanted me to pray with him to receive Christ as his savior. Together
with another volunteer we prayed for Mark and made sure that he had a safe place to stay for the
night. I haven’t heard from Mark since, but I’m certain that he experienced the love of Jesus in an
undeniable way that night. I’m looking forward to the next Don’t Walk By!”
—James Leonard
Associate Pastor
Trinity Baptist Church
New York, NY
“I had the pleasure of connecting three times during the
month of January ‘09 with Don’t Walk By, and I’m convinced

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it was worth every effort for me, my family and my church “The Don’t Walk By campaign
family! First, I was reminded of the Father’s heart for the played a catalyzing role in uniting
down and outcast of our society. A new sensitivity toward our church around the mission of
the homeless was revived in me! Second, I watched God do God to care for the poor here in our
a new work of cultivated compassion in my four daughters’ own city. The campaign opened our

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lives. My oldest (20) is now at Moody Bible Institute and eyes to see needs all around us, and
without any prodding from me, found a network of students inspired us to follow Jesus by loving
at her school and Wheaton College that are doing serious people we too often overlook.”
ministry with the homeless of Chicago! In fact, Jenna believes —Jon Tyson
that God has reshaped her ministry calling for compassion Lead Pastor
ministry through her experience on the first week in January

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Trinity Grace Church
at ‘DWB.’ My other girls each could tell their own story of New York, NY
how God grabbed their hearts through touching the lives
of ‘those in need.’ Third, I witnessed about 20 from our “The Don’t Walk By training provided
congregation engage in meaningful ‘Matthew 25’ ministry excellent practical tips, but much of
over the five weekends. Again, each has stories of God’s the time was also spent discussing

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intervention and grace to tell. The impact was deep that why we’re doing this, God’s heart
month, and laid a foundation for what I know will influence for the downtrodden, and speaking
our thinking and actual practical ministry until Jesus returns. about the Body coming together for
Thanks to all who made the ‘DWB’ network and ministry such a reason.”
opportunity possible. I can’t wait to see what is next!”
—Volunteer
—Rev. Timothy J. Mercaldo
Associate Pastor

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“I see the homeless as no longer
Church At The Gateway contagious.”
Staten Island, NY
“The people that I met —Becki, resident of
were once someone’s The Bowery Mission
father, brother, uncle, Women’s Center

mother, daughter, sister.
It was wonderful to see
smiles brought back to
faces that were once
hardened and helping
hands extended to those
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“Walking by the homeless is an unavoidable and dispiriting
feature of New York life. In its Don’t Walk By program, the Bowery
Mission sends volunteers to do what we wish we could do 365
days a year—stop and talk to homeless men and women, take

in need. The compassion
I witnessed makes me all
the more willing to say:
‘Here I am, send me.’”
—Anitha, resident of
The Bowery Mission
Women’s Center
“The excitement of
searching the streets for
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them to a warm place where they can eat a good meal, and
offer them the opportunity to get off the streets and into a
safe shelter. Each of these men and women—beaten down by
addiction or mental illness or a grinding life out on the streets—
is a testament to the glory of God. Don’t Walk By treats them as
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such, in a model of Christian charity in action. It was an honor
and blessing to be part of it.”
—Rich Lowry,
Editor of National Review
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those in need exhilarating

in itself, but the fact that
this outreach really trains
the mind to LOOK and
SEE people around you
who are hurting and in
need and trains you to
stop and Don’t Walk By.”
—Volunteer
1 COVER WORLD MAGAZINE: HELPING THE HOMELESS
by ALISA HARRIS
Diamond Jones helps the homeless because she used to be one of them. Coming to New York from Virginia
in her 20s, she lost her housing when she went home to a notice that the apartment was evicting the
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woman to whom she was paying the rent. In two months she went from staying in the upscale Warwick
Hotel, to staying at a roach-ridden hotel with no lock on the door and one bathroom per floor, to sleeping in
subway cars and hotel lobbies. “Not to be all spooky-spooky, but nothing but the grace of God brought me
out of it,” she says.
So now she volunteers to help other New York City homeless—most recently with the New York City Rescue
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Alliance’s five-week effort to engage the homeless on every street in Manhattan. New York may have its
share of needy people, but it also has its share of people who are willing to meet the needs of others. For
example, I’d like to share with you the stories of the New York City Relief bus and the New York City Rescue
Alliance.
The bus is a mobile soup kitchen that starts its day at the Hope Center in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where
volunteers cook soup in vats large enough to drown in and then drive in to New York to serve it. On January
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23 they parked on Ninth Avenue and 28th Street, next to Chelsea Park; opened up one side of their creaky
bus, transforming it into a serving station; stirred hot chocolate with a giant metal paddle; and started to
serve the people who already were there waiting for them.
The staff knew the regulars by name. Some of them seemed on their way to work but seemed to have
nowhere else they needed to be. So they leaned against the park fence, drinking their hot chocolate, eating
their rolls and soup, and coming back for seconds or thirds.
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The staff comes from around the world to serve soup and help the homeless find stability and faith. Anne
Teppo is Flemish—an English teacher who comes from what she calls a “good girl background” and reads
the Bible to volunteers in a chirpy accent. She stayed with NYCR staff when she was traveling the globe and
then decided to move across the Atlantic to work for NYCR. Eric Porter, who was an intern at Walt Disney
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and now lives in New Jersey, said, “I knew I wasn’t happy doing what I was doing in Florida, and I knew I
was called to serve the poor.” Austin Bonds, the director of relief bus outreach, came from a life of drug and
alcohol addiction.
Bonds helped a guy named Mike, whom he first found in the park clutching a bottle. Bonds said Mike told
him, “’Man, I’m drinking. I need to change.’ I just looked at him and said, ‘Today’s the day.’” Now Mike has
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been clean for 60 days and comes from Queens to Manhattan for his outpatient programs six days a week.
Austin said a week earlier Mike told him he was going to give his life to Christ one day: “I said, ‘Today’s the
day for that.’” Mike told me his next goal was to stay clean and get a job: “I believe in Jesus. I believe my life is
going to get better. I have faith.”
The New York City Rescue Alliance’s “Don’t Walk By” campaign unites New York City homeless ministries in
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a five-week outreach to homeless people in Manhattan. They divided borough into five zones and divided
each zone into sub-zones. Team captains led 1,379 total volunteers down the streets, engaging 1,279
homeless people in all, bringing 381 to a church for food and to tell them about the long-term programs
offered by ministries like the Bowery Mission.
Amy Stabeno works with the city government to help the homeless each day, but she finds the faith-
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based outreach more personal and intimate. “In bureaucratic organizations, when there’s nothing personal
it becomes numbers and meeting goals—and those things don’t always necessarily really help the
population that you’re trying to serve,” she said. “Whereas when you know them and love them, they’re
much more likely to really be helped than if they’re another number on a sheet.”
Team leader and Street Light Mission Chairman Paul Yuschak told me the goal is not just to help the
homeless: “While we’re out to meet the homeless and to help somebody in need, it’s also to get the
volunteers’ awareness that there is this issue, and get them fired up so maybe they’ll go home to their
churches and do something and get involved in other organizations. . . . It’s to also instill in them that God
wants them to do something.”
Article reprinted from: http://online.worldmag.com/2009/02/07/ny-journal-helping-the-homeless/
HOMELESS OUTREACH RESOURCES

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DEAR VOLUNTEERS,
On behalf of The Rescue Alliance, New York City, we want to thank you for your support of the Don’t Walk
By Campaign; we touched more than 1,200 lives on the streets of New York. It was because of you the

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homeless were fed, and this outreach brought a true revolution of hope.
It was amazing to see the Body of Christ throughout the city come together to seek out and serve those who
suffer on the streets. Volunteers from more than 200 churches linked arms to make this campaign a true
success. The 1,400 volunteers that were trained and mobilized through the Don’t Walk By campaign were
phenomenal because they put Christ’s command to serve the “least of these” (Matthew 25:34-40) into action.

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Our partners: The Bowery Mission, The Relief Bus, New York City Rescue Mission, Streetlight Mission and
Street LIFE Ministries are very grateful for your church’s generosity to host this outreach. These are resources
and ways for you to volunteer with homeless outreaches. Please stay posted on our website:
www.dontwalkby.org. We will be posting new items, resources, and updated calendar information about
future campaigns with The Rescue Alliance in the very near future.

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HERE ARE FIVE WAYS TO
GET INVOLVED AS WE PREPARE
FOR THE NEXT PHASE

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OF RESCUE ALLIANCE:
THE BOWERY MISSION &
KIDS WITH A PROMISE

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Website: www.bowery.org
Email: info@ bowery.org
Phone: (212) 684-2800

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THE RELIEF BUS
Website: www.reliefbus.org
E-mail: hope@nycr.org
Phone: (800) 736-2773

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STREET LIFE MINISTRIES
Website: www.StreetLife.org
Email: SLM@StreetLife.org
Phone: (718) 539-2324
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STREETLIGHT MISSION
Website: www.streetlightmission.org
Email: volunteer@streetlightmission.org
Phone: (908) 337-0137

NEW YORK CITY RESCUE MISSION

Website: www.nycrescue.org
Phone: (212) 226-6214
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THANK YOU
FROM THE RESCUE ALLIANCE, NEW YORK CITY