September 24 Opening

We will open the doors of the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women on Tuesday, September 24 at 9:30 am and will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 am - noon and 1:00 - 3:30.  Being open only two days per week with limited hours at the beginning allows us to evaluate and update as we go.  We hope to be fully opened by the week of October 21.  If you'd like to view the flyers we are using to advertise the opening click here (for English) or here (for Spanish).  Above all, please keep this new ministry in your prayers.  Thank you and God bless you!

What a difference YOU have made!

Main Room in June

Main Room in August

Thank you to our donors who have brought us this far.  As we anticipate an opening date toward the end of September (stay tuned to this space for the announcement of the date), we are grateful to you for having made our progress possible.  As you can see from these photos, our main room is looking much more like a living room than it was a little over two months ago.  The addition of area rugs, tables, a love seat, plants and prints have really added to the décor. 

This photo of the front porch will assist you in understanding our next donation request. We have a newly-renovated, beautiful front porch in need of some furniture.  Since this photo was taken, we added a small, brown table, with two dark brown chairs (and the posts have been painted).  However, the porch is quite large, and could use a few more chairs and tables.  If you would like to donate these items, please contact Sister Ann Marie at (973) 470-0844 or sam@patersondiocese.org. 
(E-mail subscribers:  If you do not see the photos in your e-mail message, please click here to go to the blog.)

Children's Room

Thank you to our benefactors who have been so very responsive and generous in our previous requests.  We are now looking for items for our children's  room.  It is only about 12' by 15', so keep that in mind as you read the following requests.  We would be most grateful for the following:

• Safety gates: 6' wide for doorway; 3.5' wide for staircase
• "Play area" gate (that is, one that surrounds and encloses an area) for younger children
• Foam tiles (similar to "Edushape" tiles)
• For pre-school children:  new or gently used toys, books, educational computer games, educational DVD's, board games and puzzles
• New coloring books and crayons
• Drawing paper
• Children's table and chair set
• Small changing table that is very portable (or another type of portable changing area)
• Flat screen television

If you are able to donate any of these items, or would like to donate the money for their purchase, please contact Sister Ann Marie at (973) 470-0844 or sam@patersondiocese.org.

Thank you and God bless you!

Computer Room

As we continue the work of preparing to open the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women, we also continue to ask for donations for the ministry.  Today's requests involve the computer room.

 

 As the photos illustrate, right now this room is empty.  We invite you to vision with us:  Picture this 13' x 12' room with at least three Internet-ready computers (laptops or desktops), at least one printer and the appropriate furniture for everything.  Therefore, we are looking for the following:

• Three personal computers (laptops or desktops)
• Monitors for the desktop computers
• Computer desks/stations for each
• Computer chairs for each desk/station
• Printer stand
• Printer

Would you like do donate any usable (perhaps even "like new") computers, desks, chairs or printer to our ministry?  If so, please contact Sister Ann Marie at (973) 470-0844 or sam@patersondiocese.org.

Thank you -- and do not forget to visit the blog to view our previous requests for material and volunteers!

(E-mail subscribers:  If you do not see photos above, please click here to view this blog post.)

Volunteer Needed Now for Garden Project

A high school-aged group of Girl Scouts has offered to plant flowers here as a service project during summer camp in the month of July.  However, we have no garden tools, no flowers to plant and no one to direct the project.  If you know someone who would be able to direct the project -- that is, to determine what flowers to plant and where to plant them -- please contact Sister Ann Marie at (973) 470-0844 or sam@patersondiocese.org.  The time commitment would be limited to planning the project and directing the girls on the day(s) of planting.  However, the girls are in camp only during the month of July, so time is of the essence in starting the project.

Donations Requested

The photo above shows our main gathering room, which is about 25' x 15' with a 10' ceiling, and which we hope to turn into a comfortable space for sharing and learning.  (E-mail subscribers, click here if you do not see a photo above.)  We are seeking the following new or gently used items for this room:

• Couches (preferably two that match or complement each other)
• "Living room" chairs (perhaps one or two recliners in addition to arm chairs or other comfortable chairs)
• Multiple table or floor lamps (including at least two matching table lamps)
• Matching window treatments for five large windows (about 72" x 32") and a combination of one large window with two smaller windows (about 58" x 84" total, pictured at the end of the room above)
• Large area rug
• Bright artwork (perhaps landscapes, seascapes or other nature scenes)
• House plants.

If you or anyone you know is able to donate these items to the Passaic Neighborhood Center for Women or to donate toward their purchase, please contact Sister Ann Marie at (973) 470-0844 or sam @patersondiocese.org.

We will make you aware of other needs in future posts, but here is a preview of what will be included in those requests, should you wish to be aware of them now:

• Desktop computers with monitors or laptop computers (4)
• Computer desks (and chairs for computer desks)
• Computer supplies
• Printer(s)
• Computer supplies
• Storage shelves (about 72" high (or shorter) x 36" wide with shelves at least 18" deep).

We are deeply grateful for your assistance as we continue to prepare to serve the women of Passaic.

Volunteers Needed

As we continue to prepare for our opening, we are seeking volunteers to serve on the staff as receptionists/greeters.  These volunteers should have excellent interpersonal and telephone skills and a passion for working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.  Fluency in both Spanish and English would be a "plus."  Daytime hours (Monday through Friday) are flexible.  If you know anyone who might be interested in this volunteer opportunity, please have them contact Sr. Ann Marie via e-mail at sam@patersondiocese.org or by phone at the Center, (973) 470-0844.