[caption id="attachment_869" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="est. 1952"]<a href="http://www.phoenixrescuemission.org/index.html"><img class="size-medium wp-image-869" title="picture-43" src="http://giveyoursole.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//picture-43-300x45.png" alt="est. 1952" width="300" height="45" /></a>[/caption]

The <a href="http://www.phoenixrescuemission.org/index.html" target="_blank">Phoenix Rescue Mission</a> was founded in 1952 by six businessmen from the Phoenix area. In the beginning, they ministered to migrant workers and vagrants. "Homelessness" was not yet a term that was associated with persons who had unfortunate circumstances.  Well, today "Homelessness" is a term and one that many people know but also fail to acknowledge.  The Phoenix Rescue Mission is working hard to change that and we are fortunate to be working with them as the recipients of all the shoes we collect at this years <a href="http://arizona.competitor.com/page/2/?l=right%2F" target="_blank">P.F. Changs Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon and 1/2</a> taking place the weekend of January 15-17.

The Phoenix Rescue Mission has many <a href="http://www.phoenixrescuemission.org/programs/index.html" target="_blank">programs</a>. They range from addiction recovery, family outreach and homeless services and more.  For the month of December the shelter provided beds for 3,627 people, served 23,560 meals, handed out 4,824 food boxes, 6,350 bottles of water and 179 pairs of shoes.  From talking with my contact at the shelter shoes are a major need that will get used.