Union Mission in the News
Union Mission needs your help to win up to $350,000 grant from Chick-fil-A
Sep. 3, 2023
CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. —
The Union Mission has been announced as a Southeast Regional Finalist in the 2025 True Inspiration Awards; the award is from Chick-fil-A.
Marshall Davis, Owner and operator of the Godley Station and Pooler Chick-fil-A locations, nominated Union Mission. This recognizes the Union Mission's commitment to helping people end their homelessness.
With more than 2,600 applications, 30 organizations were selected to represent six regions and receive a grant of up to $350,000.
Individuals are encouraged to support Union Mission by voting on the Chick-fil-A app until Sept. 30.
Union Mission celebrates one-year anniversary of The Day Center at Grace House
Union Mission and other community leaders, including Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, celebrated the One-Year Anniversary of The Day Center at Grace House on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 120 Fahm St. The event featured a press conference to highlight the program success and client impact in our community.
“Union Mission has been proud to partner with the City of Savannah and the Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless over the past year,” said Michael Traynor, Union Mission President & CEO. “We have filled a strategic gap in services for the homeless while making an effective and compassionate program to the most vulnerable in our community.”
Union Mission’s Grace House for men has a total of 72 beds including 32 emergency beds, 28 transitional housing units, and 12 beds for previously incarcerated individuals. By expanding services in December 2022 to open the Day Center, it enabled Union Mission to provide homelessness individuals on the streets and squares with basic daytime needs such as food (breakfast, lunch, and a snack), clothing, referrals, access to resources, supportive services, and shelter from weather conditions.
With the ultimate goal of moving people to stable housing, Union Mission provides an environment that offers recreation and relaxation to the homeless searching for stability and safety after carrying the burdens of trauma, substance abuse, and homelessness.
Intending to assist up to 50 individuals daily, Union Mission exceeded this target with a few days over 110 and a recent consistent average of 85 individuals per day. Union Mission’s Day Center at Grace House served 857 unduplicated individuals with 17,930 visits and 35,122 meals served in the first eleven months of operation.
The Day Center at Grace House is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., excluding holidays. It has also been open for extended days during extreme cold and hot weather to accommodate those who needed shelter and food.
SCAD donates over 100 gifts to Savannah’s Union Mission
Dec. 12th, 2023
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Savannah College of Art and Design teamed up with a local nonprofit to help some families out Tuesday.
SCAD faculty, staff and even students partnered with Union Mission at Parker’s house to help bring some joy to families in-need ahead of the holidays.
“Everyone has a part to play in making our community a viable, interesting, dynamic community,” Vice President Darrell Naylor-Johnson said.
Savannah College of Art and Design is joining forces with Savannah’s Union Mission for the 29th consecutive year.
The college donated over 100 gifts to the local nonprofit this time around. Kids from families in-need will be able to choose between a wide variety of gifts this holiday season. Among those, some toys, books, bikes and doll houses here will be given to them at Parker’s House Wednesday.
Some SCAD students tell me it’s acts of kindness like these that motivate them to serve this community, and create a positive difference in people’s lives.
“I feel supported. I feel like we’re not just a school. We’re not just here in Savannah. We’re here, you know, to give back to community and make an impact,” SCAD Student Sophia Lee.
This, all a part of SCAD SERVE, the university’s program encourages students and other faculty to become involved with this community. The school’s Vice President hopes the families receiving the presents understand that they deserve to be celebrated as well.
Union Mission marks World AIDS day with awareness event and free HIV testing
Dec. 1st, 2023
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTGS) — Union Mission is recognizing World AIDS Day to raise awareness today by hosting an event in Forsyth Park.
Shelter officials say they have been housing those in need with HIV for more than 30 years.
The event had several booths to give information, educate, and give free testing for HIV.
E93 FM was also there to help support and raise awareness.
While this is just one day, Union House wants to let people know it’s ok for them to ask for help whenever they’re in need.
“We mainly want the people who suffer with HIV to know that there is somebody here that cares. That cares about their well-being and wants to help them. Uh, there is help here,” said Michael Weatherspoon, Project Manager at Union Mission Phoenix Project Housing.
Union House is continuing to serve the community with many different programs.
Several programs that came out to help them included Coastal Health District 9-1 Department of Health, American Heart Association, and many more.