For my internship I volenteered at a mission in San Bernardino. This mission is a community-based organization that was established in 1994 by five Lutheran churches. The original churches are still supporting the mission today alongside many more community partners. They have special assistance to those in special situations of youths at risk, HIV+ homeless, and homeless men.

The main method of helping the less fortunate is that there is a shelter that is open to homeless men. The shelter is open from the months of November to April. At one time there is the capacity of housing 70 men at a time. Through the six months of operation, there are 200 to 300 unduplicated men that come to the shelter for housing. There are also a variety of other classes that are offered to the public and to the people in need. The classes that they offer are aerobics, computer instruction, sewing and home arts class, English as a second language, and arts and crafts (with a $15 monthly fee).

The mission has an after school program that is provided daily from 3:30 to 6:00 pm. This is available to the neighborhood children and is free of charge. At the moment there are 32 children enrolled in the afterschool program. This program is offered in both Spanish and English. There are volunteers that help out with snacks that are offered at the beginning of the program. At 5:30 to 6:00 the neighborhood children eat a dinner provided by the mission. Through the time that the after school program is in session there are a variety of educational and recreational activities. Some of the special activities that the mission puts on for the kids are field trips, holiday parties, backpacks with school supplies, and gifts provided by donors.

Everyday volunteers prepare a free meal with food donated and grown in the community garden. This meal is distributed from the hours of 12 to 1. Students from the University of Redlands and other volunteers established the community garden. There are 19 boxes that grow a variety of plants. 10 of the boxes are for families in the neighborhood, 7 boxes are for the mission and the free meals that they provide, and 2 boxes are planted and maintained by the after school program. There is a food pantry that on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month, bags of groceries are given out free of charge to people who are in need of food. There are 96 bags that are assembled to be given out. At the back of the property there is a clinic that provides comprehensive primary care services to the community. It accepts a variety of health insurance, but to those that do not have insurances fees start as low as $20. Lastly there is a thrift store where people can purchase donated items. If there are people in need of clothing they can choose clothes for free by contacting the missions office.