Grateful and Hopeful

 

So much has been written and said about 2020!  What more is there to say?  So, rather than speaking of "unprecedented times" with "an abundance of caution," we will allow our two favorite words to greet you during this holiday season, through the end of 2020 and throughout 2021 -- GRATEFUL and HOPEFUL!

We are GRATEFUL to those who have helped us in every way over the past seven years, but especially this year.  We are GRATEFUL to those who continue to respond to our needs and who trust us to carry out this mission efficiently and effectively. We are GRATEFUL to the families who have continued to come to the Center throughout the pandemic. They are the reason for our existence.

We are HOPEFUL that 2021 will bring healing and peace to our neighborhood and our world.  We are HOPEFUL that we can continue to serve our families for many years to come.  We are HOPEFUL that we will always be able to recognize the abundance of God's grace flowing always in all ways!

Thank you and God bless you!

From all of us at Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women

2015: Our Artists

 Any history of the Center would be incomplete without a look at the art class. Click here to view a post from 2015, when art teacher Sr. Mary Culhane, SC, had been teaching the women for only three months.

Remember our first anniversary?

As we continue the celebration of our seventh anniversary, we are looking back in gratitude.  With that in mind, enjoy these photos from our first anniversary in 2014.  

Still Walking Down Memory Lane . . .

As we continue our celebration of the seventh anniversary of Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women, we would like to share these photos from our very first quilting class on October 22, 2013. The women’s skills and confidence have grown so much  from the time Sr. Patricia Reynolds, SC taught them to use a sewing machine until today.  Their quilting projects have been admired (and purchased) by people all over the country!  We are grateful to Sister Pat and to those who have made donations to our quilting program.  

Happy Anniversary!

Today we celebrate the seventh anniversary of the day the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women opened its doors.  In contemplating what might be shared with you regarding our anniversary, we have decided to stroll down memory lane, started at the beginning.  So, please join us by viewing these photos from September 24, 2013.  

The very last photo of the montage shows our dear friends Sister Ursula Carr, SC (on the left).  We want to share with you that Sister Ursula passed away on Sunday, September 20.  We are saddened by this news, but we also know  that the Center has another strong intercession in heaven.  Our condolences to the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth and to Sister Ursula’s family and friends.  Rest In Peace, dear friend!   Click here for the obituary of Sister Ursula.  

As always, we are grateful to all of you for what you have done for us during the past seven years and what you continue to do for us each day!

Congratulations, Dominican Sisters of Hope!

Although we are a few days late with our greetings, our sentiments are heartfelt:  Congratulations to the Dominican Sisters of Hope, Ossining, NY, on your 25th anniversary!  At 3 pm on July 20, 1995, the Dominican Sisters of Hope were founded.  On July 19, 2019, the Sisters began their Silver Anniversary year by declaring a "Year of Hope."  And, if there was ever a time that the world needed a Year of Hope, this is it!  Reflections on their Year of Hope can be found here.  We are especially honored that the Center has been included on the website ("Hope Is: Giving Women a Space to Thrive") and in a calendar to commemorate the Year of Hope.  

The Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women owes tremendous gratitude to these Sisters for their strong and consistent support of this ministry.  Long before the Center opened its doors, Dominican Sister of Hope Catherine McDonnell (at that time, Vice Chancellor for Urban Ministry and Planning in the Diocese of Paterson; now Prioress of her Congregation), was involved in the dreaming and planning that made the Center a reality.  Now, as the Center prepares to enter its eighth year of service to the families of Passaic, the Dominican Sisters of Hope continue to support us prayerfully, financially, materially and in immeasurable other ways.  

While "thank you" seems to be such a small return for all you have done for us, it is all we have to offer.  So, from the women, volunteers, staff and board of the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women, THANK YOU to the Dominican Sisters of Hope!

How are we doing?

We are so very grateful to everyone who has kept us going during the past three months.   Some of you donated funds, gift cards, diapers, garden materials, time and service.  Others just kept checking in, asking how we were doing and/or offering prayers.  So, we’re writing this post in answer to the question, “How are you doing?”

The short answer is, “As always, we are moving forward patiently.”

The longer answer:  “It’s going to be a long road back to 100% capacity, but we are still here to serve the families of Passaic.”

In the midst of the pandemic, we received a “Dig In!” Grant from the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, which has allowed our women to plant their raised garden beds for the seventh consecutive season.  We are grateful to the Freeholders and to everyone at City Green for their efforts to keep the Dig In! program functioning, especially this year.

We are grateful to our special friends who helped to mow the garden area in preparation for the arrival of the women.

We are grateful to Sister Elaine for coordinating the schedule so that we can continue to honor social distancing protocols.

We are grateful to José German of Northeast Earth Coalition for his faithful support.  Although the pandemic caused us to postpone the planting for a month, José responded with immediate assistance as soon as we were ready to go.

Because of these collaborative efforts, we are able to continue our response to the food insecurity of the families of Passaic by providing a way for our women to grow their own food.

Thank you and God bless you!

Enjoy the first photos of the season from our garden:

We're Still Here!

Although you haven't heard from us for a number of months, we are still here!  We continue to provide a peaceful, safe, welcoming place for the women of Passaic to express their needs, to become connected to community resources to fulfill their needs and to strengthen families through educational growth.  We are still guided by the belief that when women are empowered, the family is strengthened. 

The Center had its busiest year during 2019, welcoming close to 3,100 visits from the women of Passaic, bringing total visits since 2013 close to 15,000.  Women continue to come to the Center for English, quilting, crocheting, Rosetta Stone for English, gardening, legal assistance, craft workshops and other educational workshops.  Beginning in February 2019, we welcomed a volunteer, bilingual licensed social worker.  Our garden and our diaper bank continue to thrive, thanks to the grants and donations we continue to receive from our faithful benefactors. 

The Center is in the midst of participating in a collaborative effort to educate our families about the importance of the 2020 Census.  Passaic has been considered a "hard to count" community in previous census campaigns.  Because of the correlation between an accurate census and the benefits that the community receives, organizations that serve the poor are collaborating to educate the residents of Passaic about their role in the 2020 Census. 

Faithful blog readers know that we held our first-ever author luncheon on September 24, 2019.  Over 100 women attended to support the Center, to enjoy each other's company and to meet New York Times bestselling author, Christina Baker Kline.  Stay tuned to this blog and our website for an important announcement next week regarding this year's author at our luncheon, to be held at Rockaway River Country Club on Tuesday, September 22, 2020.  Save the date! 

We are so very grateful to our generous supporters!  Thank you and God bless you!