† Rescue Mission taps Burkett as new Leader of Faith-Based Shelter
September 22, 2006
By Erica Solvig, The Indio Sun
INDIO - For 35 years, the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission has helped countless homeless people rebuild their lives and get off the streets.
Now the mission has hired a new director to help expand their faith-based services for the next 35 years.
The Indio shelter promoted Darla Burkett to fill the executive director spot left vacant when Jim Lewis resigned in May. Burkett, an Indio native, has been the homeless shelter's operations and development director since 2004.
"I have a true interest in and love to serve people," she said.
The rescue mission, 47-518 Van Buren St., is one of two emergency shelters in Indio serving the Coachella Valley's nearly 1,400 homeless people.
Eight candidates applied for the job. The board of directors' decision was unanimous, board chair Jim Aspegren said.
Burkett said she'll focus on increasing community involvement with the faith-based mission and moving forward with the shelter's expansion plans.
No one has been hired for the operations and development position she held. The shelter will have an official installation service in coming weeks. "It's a ministry, it's not a job," Aspegren said. "It's like a calling. You're dealing with some wonderful lives."
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