The Rescue Mission of Roanoke has become a fixture in the region. It began as one couple’s mission to help others. The beginnings were humble, a small store front in downtown Roanoke. As the need in the area grew so did the mission. It is now a multifaceted organization that not only shelters the homeless, it offers addiction treatment and job placement help.
Over the years the needs of the community have changed. The mission now offers health care services to the uninsured and services that help people find jobs. Each new program is planned and never executed until the Mission is sure that it is fully funded. We want to make sure we can fulfill our promises because these people have been let down so many times, Joy Sylvester Johnson said.
The Mission has faced its share of controversy with the city and neighborhood it calls home even as the need for its services continue to grow.
In this Looking Back from 2008/2009 we delve into the history of the Rescue Mission of Roanoke.
The Looking Back documentary series aired on a local cable station. Its goal was to tell the stories of the region’s landmarks and institutions.
New Moon Creative Media, LLC, the parent company of the New Moon Network, produced Looking Back for Cox Communication to tell the stories of the region’s landmarks.
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