Helping Hands

St. Ann’s Parish has been involved with Helping Hands’ Safe Haven program since its inception. Helping Hands is a nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating the plight of the homeless of Rockland County. Its aim is to help homeless men and women find alternatives to life on the streets through outreach, assessment, and referrals to the support services they need (including housing, employment, substance abuse programs, and medical, legal, and social services).

This winter, for the tenth year, St. Ann’s Parish will again host the Safe Haven Program, on a rotating basis with more than 20 other churches, synagogues, and mosques in Rockland. Each night of the winter months (from November through March) the host community provides a hot meal, shelter from the cold, and, above all, a welcome by friendly faces and dignified treatment that all of God’s children deserve.

Not only have St. Ann’s parishioners hosted the overnights, but they have also provided untold amounts of new and gently used clothing, warm boots, shoes, and toiletries. The bins at the rear of the Church have continuously been filled, thanks to the goodness of our parishioners. These much needed items are then taken to the Interfaith Breakfast Program and distributed every Tuesday morning throughout the year. We often share any surplus clothing with our St. Ann’s Food Cupboard guests. (See list below of current collection needs.)

The Interfaith Breakfast Program of Spring Valley has been feeding the homeless and the poor five days a week for over 20 years. Several of our parishioners volunteer there every week…representing our parishes’ generosity and concern for the poor. Of course the rewards received are innumerable … once a volunteer starts helping, they never want to leave. Friendships are made with our guests, and lives are touched in ways you can’t imagine … the Holy Spirit is truly at work.

For information on how to become involved in either one of these programs contact:

Phyllis Chalsen (845-268-3209),  Deacon Jerry Fenton (845-353-0793) or  Regina Kelly (845-356-4353)
 

Please, NO WINTER or CHILDREN'S CLOTHING, as we have no place to store them! Thank you and God bless you.

For more information, call Phyllis 845-268-3209

Gently Used:
JEANS * SNEAKERS * WORK BOOTS
SWEAT SHIRTS * HOODIES
BASEBALL HATS, T-SHIRTS

New:
UNDERWEAR *SOCKS

Toiletries:
TOOTH BRUSHES *TOOTH PASTE
DEODORANT * TISSUES (Small Packs)
SOAP * SHAMPOO * RAZORS