Way Station — Local services in Joshua Tree

To correct several reviews, Way Station IS NOT a church. It is a non profit in violation of separation of church and state; the US constitution entitles everyone to religious freedom and not profits are obligated to not require anyone to be a particular religion to receive services. When the proper authorities catch up, they will not be allowed to receive tax exempt status, without drastically changing their unethical and illegal tactics. Actual churches feed the community without discrimination against non christians. Be very careful of this place if you are in need and vulnerable; please don't bring çhildren.They feed a large number of christians in need; this does not give them the right to violate separation of church and state and non profit status regulations. The obligatory "bible study" (violation of federal non profit regulations) is a sit down with an ego maniac unethical, Bill Gothard type, standing at a bully pulpit, talking at you for 90 minutes....i shuttered to think of how his dangerous indoctrination, "i don't obey my dr, i obey god" has sabotaged puplic health in regards to Covid19... ....lunch and food bags, and general organization earns one star. If you are not christian you might be uncomfortable because as they dangle bags of food, they expect you to declare allegiance to their 🤮🤢 jesus with them (i frequently thank Jesús as he works in the fields of salinas valley, as he harvests produce, and endures the elements for less than minimum wage; Jesús does not require allegiance he asks for respect) My mother is a devout Episcopalian, has been employed with her Church's amazing food program, Union Station, and would be deeply offended by this place. My Messiah is MLK. It is illegal and an ethics violation to operate a non profit prostelitizing religion, unless non profit is a church. This violation has gone unchecked for years as they prey on the vulnerable. The demographic in the Morongo Basin includes people who are very poor, addicted to drugs, and seriously lacking education, & are thus naive and susceptible to cult christianity and lack sophistication of separation of Church and State, to comprehend just how evil this place and the men who operate it are. Morongo basin is home to many ideologies including Jews, Muslims, Buddists, Pagans, Atheists,.....Way Station is not equally hospitible to non christians and they are not allowed to discriminate or force anyone in front of a preacher anymore than i have the right to force any of them to attend a fire ceremony, the Buddist temple, visit an Ashram, go to confession, or perform Wiccan rituals......,. The last time i was at Way Station, A Medi Cal representative was there for public outreach; she was so appalled by the way i was treated, she handed me a twenty dollar bill, as i fought back tears, so i could get out of there without going hungry. I could fill pages with violations and psycho crazy situations and ethics violations. i am disable and time and pain constraints; i am blessed to be fed from my garden, friends, ethical charities presently- i had none of those things years ago when i lost my home to a fire. If you donate clothing, they will put in the dumpster, and not given to a charity that can use them. Refused my offer to transport to another charity. Thankfully, and ironically, the Mormon Church has never allowed me to go hungry and they know that i am not cristian and disagree with their doctrine. The Lutheran Church, very close to Way Station, has an ethical food giveaway that does not require you surrender your soul at the door. Human Services and Pacific clinics have food or can direct you to food giveaways that don't manipulate people with their King James version of reality. Reason i urge folks not to bring children? Google Bill Gothard. Controlling evangelicals are...

The Waystation is a boon to the needy! If you don't mind a little 30 minute dose of holy ghost power (or if Jesus is your Jam!), you can have free breakfast and lunch Tuesday-Friday, plus take home a box of free food once a week. Occasionally they open up their donation closet, I've found tons of amazing clothes there. Every second Friday is the USDA hand out. I've never felt put out by the staff/volunteers even tho I'm Transgender, some are even downright friendly! I've never inquired, but I'm pretty sure they can point you in the direction of various services for the homeless. If you're down and out do yourself a favor and give the place a day in court. Their lunch dishes are hands down the best I've had of any similar institutions I've...

I had financial hardship, about 3 years ago. I am trans and Jewish. I felt out of place and very uncomfortable, but i really needed help. The time commitment to listen to King James bible preaching is time away from improving your circumstances. The lunch was nice, but i did feel out of place. When i received bags of food the guy, hippy looking with pony tail, said a prayed out loud but then paused as if was supposed to praise Jesus too. I said thank you and he grunted. I was wearing my star of David pendant and this was extremely discriminatory and offensive. I encountered this same guy under different circumstances and he was horrible on that...