12Local Men to Graduate from Springfield Rescue Mission’s New Life Program

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Rescue Mission (SRM) is holding a graduation commencement and celebration for 12 residents of its Men’s New Life Program. 

The community is invited to the event, which will be held on May 2 at 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of East Longmeadow, 50 Parker St., East Longmeadow. A reception with refreshments will follow the commencement ceremony.

“We are so proud of these men,” said Springfield Rescue Mission Executive Director and CEO Kevin Ramsdell. “With faith, hard work and determination, they have made great strides in getting their lives back on track — a cause for celebration for the entire community.”

The New Life Program is a long-term (up to one year or more) program built around a Christ-centered curriculum designed to help participants resolve diverse and intersecting problems so they can return to the community and sustain a productive life. 

Graduates of the Men’s New Life Program stay for 12 additional months or more in the SRM’s transitional living program, where they live in an alcohol-free and drug-free environment and receive meals and case management before making a full transition to independent living.

SRM offers much-needed services for the poor and people experiencing homelessness in greater Springfield. Services provided free of charge include an emergency shelter, mobile feeding program, rehabilitation/transformation center, transitional living facility, clothing, medical services, Christian counseling, financial literacy, workforce development, high school equivalency and more.