Melody Bierwirth is the development officer for The City Rescue Mission. She has held the position over a year and a half.
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
Fundraising, writing grant proposals to private and public sources, public relations and networking. “I help direct policies and aid programs in development when necessary.”
WHAT PROGRAMS ARE THEY TWEAKING?
The downtown shelter (an emergency refuge for the homeless) and the long-term recovery unit program at the McDuff Avenue campus need occasional restructuring.
NEWEST GOOD DEED
Currently, Bierwirth is piecing together a grant for an after-school program for the children of mothers living on the campus. It will also be open to neighborhood children.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
The mission accepts only homeless persons.
HOW DOES THE MISSION WORK?
“People come to us through the downtown shelter and travel through the intake process. They must fulfill their legal obligations first. Classes in anger management and addiction counseling are offered. We include education and training. It takes about six months to a year depending on how deep-seated the problem is. Next is transitional housing.” Single-family dwellings nearby are property of the mission for those needing assistance.
HOMETOWN
Houston.
EDUCATION
A student at the University of Phoenix, Bierwirth is seeking a bachelor’s degree in business management.
FAMILY
The Westside is home to Bierwirth, her husband Rich, a chief in the Navy, and their children, Muriel and Ryan.
HOW SHE CAME TO WORK AT A MISSION
“I started out in the working world as a switchboard operator for a small hospital and kept going into phone-related work; I was a buyer’s assistant and a receptionist. I got involved in finance at a rescue mission in California and discovered I had a knack for direct mail.” Bierwirth’s talents lead her into doing more communications-based work for the mission. Upon her husband’s transfer to Jacksonville, Bierwirth landed a position at City Rescue as a grant writer.
TINSEL TOWN
While on the West Coast, Bierwirth had celebrities to help hawk her cause. Actor George Kennedy was the mission’s spokesperson. “He liked us because we helped addicts clean up their lives. He had a son who died of an overdose.”
WHY WORK FOR A MISSION?
“I became addicted to the idea that my work meant more than a paycheck and could have a positive effect. I know that because I’m doing my job, they have this place to come to. I couldn’t imagine going back to the corporate world where the bottom line is everything. When I get discouraged, I read our old newsletters to remind myself of the success stories because that’s the reason why we’re here.”
HOW SUCCESSFUL IS THE PROGRAM?
“Of the people who graduate from the program, 90 percent continue to work and live successful lives even three years after leaving the program.”
WHAT’S ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE SUCCESS?
“Not everyone who starts the program finishes. It’s a strict program. They have to be ready to change their life and willing to do the work it takes to get where they want to go. We’re dealing with individuals who have displayed little discipline in their lives and they’re thrust into an environment where lots of discipline is involved. It’s similar to the [Alcoholics Anonymous] 12-step plan. Each class is four to five weeks. They have classwork, tests, chores like working around the kitchen or doing lawn maintenance. Some of these individuals have never been responsible for anything. Many are second or third generation welfare recipients whose safety net is not there anymore. They have to deal with personalities, too, because it’s a dormitory environment. They are learning everything they should have learned early in life and adults are not as easy to teach as children.”
WHAT’S THE TOUGHEST PART OF YOUR JOB?
“The most challenging aspect is getting the message out. The mission has been around since 1946 but people don’t know who we are. We don’t have the strong message that we need to have. I have to start from scratch when I contact someone because I have to educate them about who we are and then relationship-build.”
WHO DO YOU ADMIRE?
“Linda Lanier, executive director of the Sulzbacher Center, because she’s focused, articulate and really good at what she does. I’m really impressed by that.”
HOBBIES
Reading action/adventure novels, riding bicycles, swimming and being outdoors are favorite pastimes. Family films or repeats of “Get Smart” always get two thumbs up. For a hearty meal, she prefers Tom & Betty’s Restaurant.
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Bierwirth is a member of Jacksonville Community Council, Inc., The Civic Roundtable, Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition, Florida Coalition for the Homeless, The National Alliance to End Homelessness, The Housing Roundtable and part of the not-for-profit task force of the Chamber’s Downtown Council.
JOY RIDE
“I like to drive around downtown just for the fun of it on Saturdays. My kids love the Skyway — they think of it as their own personal roller coaster. I hear about the glory days when everybody used to shop downtown and I would love to see it come back.”
—by Monica Chamness