Christopher Foster
Oxnard, CA
I went through the Ventura County Rescue Mission program back in 2006, and it was truly life-changing. It wasn’t just a good program — it was amazing. Leaders like Carol Robert and Steve Ebinga, along with Tomas and Lodi in the kitchen, held me accountable, challenged me, and believed in me during a time when I really needed it. The program gave me practical skills and helped me see a future for myself that I hadn’t been able to see before. After completing the program, I worked in the Mission’s thrift stores, which led to managing thrift stores for the next 15 years. That experience eventually opened the door for me to step into senior leadership with a local behavioral health organization. I truly could not have done any of this without the Rescue Mission. The foundation I gained there — personally and professionally — shaped who I am today. If you’re currently in the program, keep going. The work is worth it. And to everyone who supports the Mission: please know that lives really do change because of this place. Mine is one of them.

