Our Mission & Vision

Connecticut Outreach Rescue Mission was established in 2012 in NYC by founder Serena Waller, who noticed new and gently used items being discarded on the streets of Manhattan. Recognizing this, she began collecting these items and distributing them to women's shelters in New York city, living by the adage that one person's trash can be another's treasure.

After moving to Connecticut in 2014, Serena continued her mission, focusing on helping refugees from Central and South America by preparing pro-bono immigration documents and providing clothing and food to those in need.

In 2017, following Hurricane Maria's devastation in the Caribbean, she organized her first hurricane drive for Dominica, marking a significant expansion of her efforts. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Connecticut Rescue Mission and the donors initiated a Secret Santa program, offering hope with new clothing, toys, and school supplies, for underprivileged children.

Serena also partnered with Urban Impact in 2021 to feed the low income women and children in the Bridgeport Projects. Over the past 5 years, she has supported COVID-19 victims through monetary assistance, shipping barrels of clothing to Caribbean nations, and hosting free clothing giveaways at her home. Additionally, she has collaborated with DCFS families to furnish their homes, when they are out of the shelter care and assisted VAMA victims with their immigration paperwork.  Serena most recently returned from Egypt, after serving on a mission team with Sudanese refugees, helping them gain employment by administering skills. This  has touched her heart in so many ways, that she is now on a mission to take a medical team to the Sudanese Community in Egypt 2026. Serena is committed to providing immediate aid and long-term recovery support to communities affected by natural disasters, prioritizing stability and community rebuilding through impactful programs. Join us in making a difference today!