UTICA, N.Y. – The Rescue Mission of Utica is grateful to everyone who helped make the 35th Annual Mission of Hope an unforgettable evening.
Held at Hart’s Hill Inn, this year’s event brought together an incredible community of supporters, volunteers, business leaders, churches, and friends who share a common belief: every person deserves hope, dignity, and the opportunity for a fresh start.
One of the most encouraging moments of the evening was seeing attendance more than double compared to last year, a powerful reflection of the growing support for the Rescue Mission’s work and its vision for the future.
Guests learned about the Mission’s plans to modernize the Men’s Emergency Shelter, ensuring that it can continue serving our community for generations to come. The project will create a safer, more accessible, and more welcoming environment while preserving the Mission’s long-standing commitment to caring for those experiencing homelessness and hardship.
The evening featured a moving testimony from Abdul Vohid, the Rescue Mission’s Emergency Shelter Coordinator, who shared firsthand the impact the shelter has on the lives of the men it serves every day. His heartfelt remarks offered guests a powerful look inside the Mission’s work and reinforced the importance of creating a facility that is equipped to meet the needs of both today and tomorrow.
Attendees also heard an inspiring keynote address from David Casullo, CEO of Danelli Partners, who challenged those in attendance to invest in the future of the Mission and reminded everyone that meaningful change begins when communities come together with compassion, generosity, and purpose.
Throughout the evening, guests were reminded that the Rescue Mission is about far more than a building. It is about people finding hope, stability, and a path forward. The stories shared served as a powerful testament to the Mission’s life-changing work and the lasting impact of a community that chooses to care.
While fundraising efforts will continue, the generosity shown during Mission of Hope has already moved the project significantly forward.
Together, we’ve made tremendous progress toward our goal, and every gift brings us one step closer to creating a Men’s Emergency Shelter that will faithfully serve our community for decades to come.
If you were unable to attend but would still like to support the Men’s Emergency Shelter Modernization Project, there’s still time to be part of this important effort. Every contribution helps ensure that the Rescue Mission can continue providing safety, dignity, and hope to the men who need it most.
The Rescue Mission extends its heartfelt thanks to every donor, sponsor, volunteer, table host, guest, and community partner who made this year’s Mission of Hope such a meaningful success. Because of your generosity, the future is brighter, and hope will continue to have a home in our community.