ABOUT us
Who We Are
Mission Corps USA (MCUSA) is a front-line, humanitarian, charitable organization that provides hope, food, supplies and support to the poor and disadvantaged throughout the United States and abroad. MCUSA is organized in a semi-military structure consisting of volunteers known as Missioners. MCUSA’s goal is to serve the well-being of people who are without the basic essentials of living. This is accomplished by using our four core values: Learn, Labor, Lead and Live. We Learn to love and serve others by putting our faith into action. We Labor with a purpose to build relationships with people of all races and diverse backgrounds. We Lead by example so that others will join us and follow. We Live to help change lives and to help make this world a better place.
What We Do
Mission Corps USA offers unique, humanitarian services that help the hurt, hungry and homeless in communities where needed. Services include human services referrals, collection and distribution of food, clothing and supplies for men, women and children, and educational programs that promote health, self-discipline, positive character development, financial literacy, andentrepreneurship. MCUSA believes that its organization can fight the war on poverty by aggressively recruiting members, raising funds and planting chapters to meet the needs in communities we serve.
Where We Service
Mission Corps USA’s programs provide residents in the Tri-State area, Pennsylvania and overseas the tools to change their future through long-term training, education and resources. The relief that MCUSA provides represents a long-term commitment to resolution of economic, social, educational and food assistance needs. Mission Corps USA distinguishes itself by offering assistance where its client base mobilizes - in the streets, shelters, schools - in the community. Over the years, the organization has expanded its services, always with the aim to meet the need and change the story.
In addition to offering meals and counseling, Mission Corps USA partners with neighbors, businesses and friends to work together to enlighten, engage and empower individuals and groups through humanitarian services that make a positive impact in the community, for example:
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Served more than 20,000 meals from The Comforter, a mobile kitchen that delivers meals in the community
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Counseled and mentored over 800 men and women in basic life skills needed to secure employment, improve self-discipline, and develop positive character building values
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Referred 300 men, women and adolescents to partnering programs and services including childcare, food banks, emergency assistance, housing, health and human services, domestic violence, and sober and recovery houses
Headquartered in Newark, NJ, Mission Corps USA is led by Alonzo Herran, President and CEO. Mission Corps USA relies on donations of time, money, and resources to do its work. An average of 91 cents of every dollar Mission Corps USA spends is invested in services and programs.
Why We Started
In April 1996, Alonzo Herran founded Mission Corps USA which was originally organized under the name Christian Corps USA. Alonzo’s desire to help others was motivated by his experiences growing up in Newark, NJ. As a child, Alonzo resided in public housing with his mother and sister where he witnessed and participated in negative behaviors, became a teenage parent, and nearly lost his life. Although he was born and raised practicing Islam, in 1995, he converted to Christianity, became a scholar of the Bible, and began to spread the word of God while serving others. Hence, Alonzo founded Christian Corps USA and spent countless hours ministering the gospel of Christ in his hometown community and surrounding cities while delivering hot meals to the homeless and hungry. With more than a decade of service as the head of Christian Corps USA, Alonzo, with the use of his own finances and some donations, traveled the US and abroad serving the underserved, homeless and hungry with meals and Biblical knowledge. Through The Homeless Outreach team, also known as The Canteen team, Christian Corps operated a mobile food unit to serve 600-1,000 hot and cold meals each week to people in need. Since 1995, the team served over one million meals!
Why We Serve
After traveling and ministering around the world with Christian Corps, Alonzo realized that to truly love and serve the Creator (God) one must genuinely love to help and serve His highest creation: humans. Recognizing the need to serve a larger constituency and to broaden the scope of service without the perception of religious discrimination, Alonzo renamed his organization Mission Corps USA in 2005. Simultaneously, Alonzo relinquished the title of Christian and called himself an Activist or Believer, two titles consistent with Bible teachings that help people to practice their faith with a personal relationship with the Creator. Also, people can work together to help others in need without religious bias or prejudice towards one another. Alonzo believes that this will make us a humanitarian and a better servant of God.
How You Can Help
Today, Mission Corps USA is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) front-line, humanitarian, charitable organization. You and your group can serve with MCUSA any time of the year by assisting with ongoing homeless outreach, community work projects or local family services programs. Everyone is welcome to participate – people of all races, national and ethnic origins, ages, genders, religions and beliefs - including schools, colleges and corporate groups. You also have the option to establish your own mission in working with MCUSA. The Credo of Mission Corps USA is based on the words of Mahatma Gandhi: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”.
The Missioner
God’s servant, doing God’s work,
in God’s way, for God’s people,
in God’s time and place.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”.
-Mahatma Gandhi