THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 18, 1996 TAG: 9604160122
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
When the Rev. Ted Bashford arrived in Norfolk to head the downtown Union Mission in March 1956, he found a rescue shelter deep in debt and workers floundering with their mission.
Now, 40 years later, the shelter has pulled out of debt, restored its commitment to provide a Christian environment for the less fortunate and has become a main source of food, lodging, clothing and religion for the city's homeless.
Most of that can be attributed to Bashford, a jovial 76-year-old Baptist preacher from Portsmouth who once worked as a shipyard welder.
``You always have a battle when you're serving the Lord,'' Bashford has said. ``We're just trying to get our message out about our work and Jesus Christ.''
Today, the Brooke Avenue mission will open its doors to the public to celebrate Bashford's four decades of guidance and the mission's 104-year legacy.
Ceremonies will begin at 1 p.m. when Mayor Paul Fraim reads from a city proclamation declaring April 18 Union Mission Day in Norfolk. Also speaking will be former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs.
From 1:30 to 3 p.m., the men who live in the mission will lead free tours of the seven-story facility.
``This is not only an opportunity to celebrate Rev. Bashford's 40 years of service,'' said Linda Vaughan, the mission's associate director, ``but also to
The Union Mission has been a charitable presence in Norfolk since 1892, when missionaries first located in the old Cumberland Street Methodist Church. Since then, Norfolk's premier charity has moved several times. In 1972, Bashford purchased the former Navy YMCA on Brooke Street. Despite occasional pressure from city officials and downtown merchants to relocate, he and the mission have been there ever since.
The shelter is the only one in the area that feeds and shelters the needy 365 days a year. In 1995, mission staff served more than 135,890 meals and provided lodging for 36,000 people. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Rev. Bashford
by CNB