The City Rescue Mission's Maplewood Center The Mission currently runs the largest shelter for women and children in Michigan's capital area.  However, the need soon outgrew the facility's limited capacity.  Since the number of women and children among the homeless population only continued to increase, the Mission soon saw that to fulfill this need, expansion of the current facility was necessary. In 2006, the City Rescue Mission finalized the purchase of the former Maplewood School from the Lansing School District.  This building, which had been empty for some years, was going to have a new purpose: to provide a safe haven for homeless women and children.  Maplewood, originally constructed in 1910, needed modernization to bring it up to current codes, as well as renovation to fit it for its new purpose.  In the fall of 2007, the Mission received the building permit and began construction as monies came to put toward the building project. Today, funds have come in to finish Phase One of the building, which completed renovations for the west wing and included the underlying structural changes for the entire building (electrical wiring, new roof, new boiler, and an elevator to make the facility barrier free). Once occupancy is granted, the Mission will be able to house single women at this location, allowing us to shelter more mothers and children at our current women and children's shelter.  The need to complete the building still exists, and we are within sight of our fundraising goals.  $700,000 was needed to complete renovations and a generous supporter has committed $350,000 in a matching fund.  For example, every $50 that comes toward this project will be matched, in essence equaling out to a $100 donation.  Any monies given beyond the $700,000 will be used for Mission operational expenses. To donate online click here.  If you'd like to volunteer at Maplewood, just fill out our online form  or email volunteers@lcrm.org.