We are blessed to have our local & statewide media outlets cover different events. Below are the links to those...

• A local non-profit organization that helps assist the homeless, near homeless and others in need in the Pottawatomie County area announced Tuesday they were awarded a $450,000 grant from the Affordable Housing Program.  Read More
  

• Every Wednesday, the Shawnee Rescue Mission feeds the homeless at Shawnee Public Library.  "It's not just us. The whole community comes together, businesses, churches, everyone wants to help," said Glenn Blankenship, the co-founder... Read More

• Unity Health Center announced Friday it has given $175,000 for the purchase of a building to be used as a homeless shelter for Shawnee Rescue Mission at the old Lamar building on Ninth and Louisa streets.  Read More

• First Lady Kim Henry said the Sarkeys Foundation board of directors unanimously approved a $175,000 matching grant to be awarded to Shawnee Rescue Mission for the purchase of a building at Ninth and Louisa streets in Shawnee.  Read More

• A 1995 Seminole High School graduate and full-time career musician, King David, will perform a free concert to benefit Shawnee Rescue Mission 7 p.m. April 16 at Starbucks Coffee, 4725 N. Kickapoo St.  Read More

• First Lady Kim Henry spoke this week to a room full of guests regarding the issue of homelessness and near homelessness in Shawnee during a fundraiser dinner held for Shawnee Rescue Mission.  “Homelessness is not an individual problem, it’s a problem that faces our whole community,” she said. “If homelessness is a community problem, it takes a whole community working together to make a difference.”  Read More

• Shawnee Rescue Mission held a reception and open house this week at the Lamar building, which the mission hopes to purchase as a future “one-stop resource shop” for the homeless and near homeless in Shawnee... Read More

• A refuge.  That’s what three young area residents want for the homeless in Shawnee area. And their determination and commitment to that cause brought the Governor and First Lady back to their hometown Tuesday night to help...Read More

• There is new hope for the homeless and the “near homeless” in Shawnee and the surrounding areas, and Oklahoma’s first lady Kim Henry has vowed to give her support to transform that hope into reality...Read More

• Her eyes glittered with tears, her hands and lips trembled and her voice rose and lifted as “Elaine” spoke about this winter’s bitter cold, her children she seldom sees, the mother for whom she worries and her more than 35 years of on-again off-again homelessness...Read more

• Shawnee Rescue Mission co-founders Glenn Blankenship and wife Melissa Blankenship said 2009 ended on an uplifting note for them that will continue to resonate throughout 2010 and beyond.  As of Wednesday morning, the mission needed one more of the two heating and air conditioning units required to open a day center for the homeless in Shawnee at 506 S. Beard. By that afternoon, they needed about...Read More
  
• Shawnee Rescue Mission announced that it has received a pledge from an individual who will donate one of two five-ton heat and air units the organization needs for its new day center...Read More
  
• When the Salvation Army announced late Wednesday afternoon that it fell short in its collection of toys for almost 200 Pottawatomie County children on its Angel Tree list, Family Promise of Shawnee sent out an e-mail asking for the community’s help... Read More
  
• Shawnee Rescue Mission volunteers have been working continuously to complete the day center at 506 S. Beard and a lot of progress has been made since the first phase of construction was completed in June.  Shawnee Rescue Mission, which did not have a building prior to this one, was founded seven years ago and began offering a park outreach for the homeless five years ago. The mission helps the homeless and others in need... Read More
  
• October 28, 2009...Fall Fest Community Outreach 2009 will go down as a great success for Shawnee and the surrounding area. Shawnee Rescue Mission/Labor of Love Charities and 100-plus volunteers from many area churches and businesses came together for a wonderful day in Woodland Veteran's Park last week. With food and drinks supplied by local businesses, over 3,500 meals were served. At least 550 families were given a wide variety of foods/supplies provided by Feed the Children. Free clothes, coats...Fall Fest Outreach called success
  
• Friday, Oct 16, 2009...Festival to benefit homeless A day of live entertainment, free food, free clothing, games and prizes will be held for children and adults from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 at Woodland Veterans Park.
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x1801868635/Festival-to-benefit-homeless
  
• Monday, October 12, 2009...‘Night in a box’ to increase awareness about homelessness Shawnee area residents are encouraged to give up their warm beds Oct. 30 and sleep in a cardboard box — all to raise awareness for homelessness. The event, “Night in a Box,” is hosted by St. Gregory’s University and will be located on the campus “Mound” in front of Benedictine Hall.
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x366053222/-Night-in-a-box-to-increase-awareness-about-homelessness
  
• Friday, October 9, 2009...Starbucks donation to benefit local homeless Jason Corley, Starbucks manager, center, presents Angie Phillips, left; Brandy States; Melissa Blankenship; and Anthony Rocko, all of Shawnee Rescue Mission/Labor of Love Charities with a $1,000 donation.
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x1692327143/Starbucks-donation-to-benefit-local-homeless
  
• Monday, September 28, 2009...Starbucks to hold evening event Starbucks Coffee Co., Inc., 4725 N Kickapoo Ave., will sponsor a Starbucks Night from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29.
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x1128385302/Starbucks-to-hold-evening-event
  
• Monday, September 28, 2009...Park outreach to benefit homeless in Shawnee Since their merging, Shawnee Rescue Mission and Labor of Love Charities have been busy finding ways to address the needs of the homeless in Shawnee. In addition to daily assistance to those in need and free lunches on Sundays at Woodland Veterans Park, the combined organization is preparing for another park outreach at 2 p.m., Oct. 24 in Woodland Veterans Park.
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x366030118/Park-outreach-to-benefit-homeless-in-Shawnee
  
• Thursday, September 24, 2009...Chili's to support local charity Chili’s Bar and Grill, 512 W. Shawnee Mall Drive, will express its support of Shawnee Rescue Mission, Labor of Love Ministries, through a special Shawnee Rescue Mission “Labor of Love” Night from 4 to 10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28.
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x1073708921/Chilis-to-support-local-charity
  
• Thursday, August 27, 2009...Hot dogs lead to fulfillment of dream Two Shawnee charitable missions announced Wednesday that they will officially merge their organizations next week and that they will continue to work toward obtaining up to $1.2 million through a potential grant.
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x1528815800/Hot-dogs-lead-to-fulfillment-of-dream
  
• Monday, July 6, 2009...Reader grateful for rescue mission article I would like to say “thank you” to Johnna Ray for the great article she wrote concerning Shawnee Rescue Mission’s brand new building on South Beard. It’s has been a dream for a long time – and now it is a reality. The doors and windows will be in soon and I am sure there are very qualified people in and around Shawnee willing and ready to help get the inside walls up and storage ready to hold
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x488826357/Reader-grateful-for-rescue-mission-article
  
• Saturday, June 27, 2009...UPDATED: Rescue center hampered by lack of funds The first phase of construction for the Shawnee Rescue Mission’s permanent center, a 6,000-square-foot building at 506 S. Beard, is complete but the funds needed for the second phase have not been found.
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x998788635/Rescue-center-hampered-by-lack-of-funds
  
• Sunday, June 9, 2009...St. Gregory’s student helps feed Shawnee’s homeless What began as an act of love following a chance sighting has grown into a realization of a life mission aimed at making a difference in the lives of the homeless for one St. Gregory’s University student.
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x2085756976/Hotdogs-deliver-hope-to-homeless
  
• Saturday, December 13, 2008...Concert, toy drive tonight at The Corner An “Engage Your City” concert and toy drive is tonight at The Corner, 
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x415877607/Concert-toy-drive-tonight-at-The-Corner
  
• Thursday, November 6, 2008...Fall Festival success for the community To the Editor: Another great Fall Festival was enjoyed as the Shawnee Rescue Mission and many volunteers converged on Woodland Veterans Park with a great “giveaway” for all of Shawnee.
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x1197777244/Fall-Festival-success-for-the-community
  
• Wednesday, October 29, 2008...Fall festival scheduled The November Fall Festival will be held 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Woodland Park, Highland and Broadway Streets, in Shawnee.
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x635416236/Fall-festival-scheduled
  
• Thursday, July 10, 2008...Concert appreciated As a volunteer for Shawnee Rescue Mission, I just want to say “Thank You” to Phil Stacey for the wonderful benefit concert he gave 
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x223006185/Concert-appreciated
  
• Tuesday, July 8, 2008...A Shawnee welcome Rep. Shane Jett, right, presents the governor’s proclamation honoring Phil Stacey (center) Sunday evening during Stacey’s concert at OBU’s Raley Chapel in Shawnee.
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x227136992/A-Shawnee-welcome
  
• Sunday, July 6, 2008...Phil Stacey performs in Shawnee today Phil Stacey is in Shawnee today saying “thank you” in the surest way he knows: through his music. http://www.news-star.com/archive/x390625815/Phil-Stacey-performs-in-Shawnee-today
  
• Thursday, July 2, 2008...Phil Stacey free concert to benefit two Shawnee homeless programs Season six “American Idol” finalist http://www.news-star.com/archive/x1713654837/Phil-Stacey-free-concert-to-benefit-two-Shawnee-homeless-programs
  
• Friday, June 27, 2008...'American Idol' finalist brings show to Shawnee From the platform of “American Idol,” Phil Stacey http://www.news-star.com/archive/x390619872/American-Idol-finalist-brings-show-to-Shawnee
• Wednesday, June 25, 2008...Letters, Faxes, E-mails To the Editor: “WOW” is the only word to use about the summer festival” in Woodland Veterans Park Saturday. http://www.news-star.com/archive/x390618335/Letters-e-mails-faxes
  
• Friday, June 13, 2008...Phil Stacey to give Shawnee concert “American Idol” season six finalist and Lyric Street recording artist Phil Stacey will be in concert at Oklahoma Baptist University’s Raley Chapel at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 6.
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x19915271/Phil-Stacey-to-give-Shawnee-concert
  
• Sunday, June 8, 2008...American Idol finalist to perform at Oklahoma Baptist University 
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x120334618/American-Idol-finalist-to-perform-at-Oklahoma-Baptist-University
  
• Saturday, April 26, 2008...Involvement appreciated To the Editor:
  http://www.news-star.com/archive/x1929890301/Involvement-appreciated