A LITTLE BACKGROUND AND HISTORY ON THE ORGANIZATION

Mission SOLANO was started in 1998 by the Bay Area Rescue Mission and Ron Marlette, our founder and Executive Director sleeping the homeless on a bus. Quickly he created our nationally recognized Nomadic sheltering program which means our guests sleep in a different church every night.

Click on an FAQ:

• What is your mission, vision and values?
• What specific services do you provide for the homeless and less fortunate?
• What facilities to you currently have to help the needy?
• What are your plans for future facilities and additional services?
• What events/drives/special projects do you develop and manage throughout the year?
• How much of your service is focused on the holidays versus everyday needs?
• Fundraising and Donations
• How can people get involved – money, other ways? What goods and services are most in need?
• What about specialty programs
• What about companies – do you have Corporate Sponsors from the local area – how are you reaching out to the business community?
• How can people learn more about your organization – contact info, web-site, location of offices?

What is your mission, vision and values?

Our Mission
Our Mission is to minister the gospel of Jesus Christ to the homeless of Solano County by providing food, shelter, clothing, counseling, education and job skills training. To inform the public in caring for the poverty stricken.

Our Vision
Our vision is to provide an economic and spiritual bridge for people striving to regain the basic necessities of life in order to restore hope in themselves and their future while achieving economic stability so that they are able to rejoin their community as full and active participants

Our Values
At Mission SOLANO our ministry is based on:

• Inspiration of hope in those we serve
• Excellence in all we do
• Leadership centered on servanthood
• Respect for persons as individuals
• Integrity and accountability
• Moving our clients toward self-sufficiency
• Commitment to spiritual, emotional, social, and vocational growth

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What specific services do you provide for the homeless and less fortunate?

We begin with the basics, food, clothing and shelter, but that’s only the beginning. We meet one on one with every individual that we shelter to help them work through their homelessness. That can be finances, addictions, bad circumstances. Some need just a little help, and some need a lot. That’s where our New Life and Next Step Programs come in. They are 12-18 month structured programs to help the individual work through their difficulties and move them toward a productive and self sufficient life.

Our food and clothing closets assist the next level of needy; those who may still have housing but can not afford the basic necessities of life like food and clothing. These folks are able to come to our twice weekly food distribution program and to our thrift store and receive free food, clothing and household goods.

At Mission SOLANO we want to be proactive in the area of homelessness. We think it is better to help those in near homelessness to stay in their homes since there are only about 150 shelter beds in the entire county.

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What facilities to you currently have to help the needy?

We presently occupy a small campus at 740 Travis Blvd in Fairfield. This campus hosts our Community Outreach Center, Our New Life Program House and our Next Step Transitional living center.

We have 2 Thrift Stores on North Texas Street in Fairfield, one in the K-Mart shopping center and our newest across from the old bowling alley.

We have an auto donation program that receives and sells donated cars, boats and RV’s.

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What are your plans for future facilities and additional services?

Our immediate plans include a 3 acre, 6 building, 154 bed, Bridge to Life Center to be built in Fairfield. This campus will host a state of the art recovery center, New Life programs for Women, Women with children, single men and intact families. Also included will be a learning center that includes an adult high school and vocational training center moving individuals toward self sufficiency.

In addition, a full service medical clinic will be added.

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What events/drives/special projects do you develop and manage throughout the year?

We have an annual charity golf tournament, donor appreciation banquet, our Great thanksgiving banquet that feeds over 500 people and our very popular children’s Christmas gift give-away that serves 800 -1000 needy children.

We continuously have groups throughout the year that do everything from food drives to undie Monday, where they collect much needed NEW underwear and socks for the homeless.

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How much of your service is focused on the holidays versus everyday needs?

We operate every day of the year 24/7. On a average day we will provide services to as many as 100 different individuals. We provide over 100,000 meals and 17,000 bed nights a year. We do try to make the holidays special for our guests but we always remember that poverty never takes a holiday.

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Fundraising and Donations:

How can people get involved – money, other ways? What goods and services are most in need?

• Money always helps however there are many ways individuals, groups and businesses can get involved.
• It could be as little as a $25 a month commitment to be part of the solution.
• Volunteering 1 – 4 hour shift a week.
• Picking up our food daily
• Making lunches for 25 or 50 people once a week
• Organizing a drive or benefit for the mission.

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What about specialty programs:

• Vehicle Donation
  We accept just about any type of vehicle or vessel. We don’t use and outside management company, so we are able to maximize the gift so that all of the proceeds go directly to the homeless and needy.
   
• Planned Giving
  We have a few different planned giving programs. One of course is to become a monthly partner at as little as $25 a month. And then of course we have a group of CPA’s available to guide individuals in legacy and estate gifts.
   
• Loving Tributes
  Every month individuals give in honor or in memory of their loved ones. This is a wonderful ways to show honor and tribute to that special individual in your life while allowing that gift to help those in your loved ones name.

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What about companies – do you have Corporate Sponsors from the local area – how are you reaching out to the business community?

We are very involved in the business community. We are members of the Vacaville, Fairfield and Vallejo Chambers. Our board has a policy to make every effort to spend our money locally since we raise it locally. In addition, we meet with area business leaders to address the challenge of how to deal with the homeless issues in their communities.

Many of the largest Companies in Solano and Napa Counties have partnered with Mission SOLANO to be part of the solution.

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How can people learn more about your organization – contact info, website, location of offices?

Our main facilities are located at 740 Travis Blvd in Fairfield, you can call us at 422-1011 or visit us on-line at missionsolano.org. Now please bear with us as our web site is being updated but we are in a growing period.

Also, one of our most important messages is not how your listener can help us, but how your listeners can help those in need. Please if you have a need or know someone who needs help please direct them to us.

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