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What's New
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  A Note from Our Director
                      Colleen Knauf  

 

Here we are celebrating our 12th year of service to legal refugees who arrive in Rochester, NY through the Refugee and Immigration Department of the Catholic Family Center. Believe me when I say that I never thought that I would be moving furniture! Saint’s Place has grown to assist hundreds of new refugees arriving each year in Rochester; families who are struggling to find a new life outside of their country because of persecution, war and other inhumanities.

I could not have accomplished any of this alone. Through the combined efforts
of a small paid staff and a large network of volunteers, Saint’s Place is able to provide assistance with furnishings for their homes, instruction in English, a fully accredited child care center for refugee children and a clothing closet  where the families come out to “shop”, at no cost, for much needed clothing. From the generosity and hard work of our volunteers who work in our house at 46 South Main Street, Pittsford, to the drivers and furniture movers, to the tutors who faithfully show up each week at the Greek Church of the Holy Spirit, to our Advisory Board members who support us in our decision making, to the grant writers and the fundraisers, and to those who donate space, we thank you! Without our volunteers, we would not be able to serve the 1,000 plus deserving people that we do each year. We offer quality services and a caring support system that will empower refugees to become self sufficient, self reliant and productive members of our society.

Many people support us in numerous ways. Our heartfelt thanks to the numerous foundations, places of worship, businesses, organizations, schools, universities, the United Way, and individual donors who support our mission.
Additionally, we are grateful to those who provide new items at Christmas—
over 1,000 gifts were donated this past December. Our donors are many and
we are overwhelmed and humbled by their support.

In these turbulent times, our need continues to grow while the resources to
support our work do not keep up with the frenzied pace of newly arrived refugees. We pledge that we will use your hard earned gifts to help the vulnerable people we serve every day.

May we remember all those who have been uprooted from their homes and communities: people who are compelled to flee for their lives, to leave their land and culture, and live apart from their families. With them, we mourn their loss of dignity, community, resources and employment, but celebrate God’s goodness in bringing them to a community committed to helping them get back on their feet.
 

Plight of the Exiles

So many of us are constantly asking Jesus Christ what He can do for us. There has to come a point in our Christian lives when we start asking, "Lord, what do you want me to do for you?" Jesus Christ did not die for us just so we might go through life merely receiving. God created us so that we might know Him and invest our lives in giving. During this time of Lent, my thoughts turn to the plight of the "exiles" by asking the following questions:

We who are so richly blessed in the goods of this world, can we begin to explore the possibility of shedding some of our possessions?

Saint's Place needs donations of household items, furniture and finances. We need metal or plastic shelves to store donated clothing. A previously donated warehouse is no longer going to be available to us. Do you know of an empty building that we could use?

How can we live in solidarity with those in need, offering them hope?

Setting up housing for people who have none, offers a start that otherwise would have been impossible. Strangers to our country are less lonely and afraid when we extend our hands to them. Their self confidence increases when they are treated as human beings. None of us have more right to live than anyone else. Soon, there will be amputees arriving from Sierra Leone in need of medical care. We will be right there waiting to welcome them to America. After all, this could be any one of us, our children, our brothers and sisters.

Are we willing to risk change in our daily lives?

Donating material things is easy; giving of our (precious) time is more difficult. We have displaced families living in unfamiliar territory with strange food, language and customs. They had no vote in many of the decisions affecting their lives. Can you spare the time to befriend them? Can we stop the blur of rushing and running?

....  Think about what you might do to be more closely united with the exiles, the poor, the imprisoned, the refugees, the homeless...

Wish List

Our most critical needs this week:

  • New underwear and socks for men, women, and children of all sizes
  • Men's winter coats and boots
  • Additional volunteers to help out in our clothing closet sorting donations as they arrive

Our Newsletter Committee is looking for a few good writers to join our team. Our goal is to be able to publish and distribute a Saint's Place newsletter four times per year. Please call Colleen Knauf @385-6860, if interested.

We are pleased to announce that Saints Place is now included in the United Way’s provider list. This Fall, please ask your United Way Representative for a donor designation form and enter #2401 for Saint’s Place.  Together, we can change lives.  Thank you for your generous support.

Please stop by our convenient location @ 46 S. Main Street or call Colleen Knauf [385-6860]