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New York City
This month we're heading on over to New York City!
Be sure to visit our opportunities page for
more information about serving with us in "The City that Never Sleeps".
News from the New York City Director
CSM New York has just finished wrapping up a busy summer season…and is
looking forward to another busy year! We spent our second summer in New York welcoming
34 different youth groups to the city and partnering them with over 30 different
organizations in New York: from Bronx, to Manhattan, to Brooklyn.
It’s safe to say that CSM NYC has had a lot of growth since the site
opened in 2006. For me, one of the greatest things in being here the past nine months
has been seeing some of that growth. It’s phenomenal to think of all that has been put
together since the very beginning of the site.
The biggest areas of growth that I have been able to witness myself
while I’ve been here are the growing relationships with ministry sites in the city. Being
able to consistently serve with sites this spring and continue on into the summer, I have
noticed volunteer coordinators beginning to really recognize who CSM is and ask for extra
help when needed.
One of these programs that we were able to volunteer with this summer is
called Father’s Heart, which is located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in what is called
Alphabet City. Father’s Heart offers various services for people in the area, including a
hunger prevention program (which has a Tuesday and Saturday soup kitchen), ESL and parenting
classes, and a job training program for at risk teens. Last December, I first encountered
Father’s Heart on my second day in New York. I went to volunteer for the Saturday lunch
program and I was completely blown away by not only the mission of Father’s Heart, but the
amount of love and care that poured out of the coordinators while the program was run.
This spring and summer, we were able to begin consistently partnering with
Father’s Heart on their Tuesday soup kitchen that was open for kids and their families. We
would also take groups to Alphabet Scoop, which is an ice cream shop that is run by Father’s
Heart and employs at risk teens to give them job training skills. Here is some feedback about
Father’s Heart that students and leaders left at the end of the week:
“Father’s Heart/Alphabet Scoop: I thought it was absolutely awesome how
they started the business just to help keep people out of trouble. I also really loved the
kid’s night program on Tuesday; I’ve never seen kids that excited about dinner and games who
come willingly on their own.”
“A highlight from my week was at Father’s Heart: it was amazing praying over the kids and
families as they left.”
“The people at Father’s Heart: what you do touched me very much. They way you care and handle
the children is heartwarming, and you have created a great atmosphere.”
“I liked how Father’s Heart reached people on different levels. Physical with food, spiritual
with prayer and guidance, and socially with job training at the ice cream shop.”
Recently, Father’s Heart was in the news when an
article
was published about Alphabet Scoop. Please join me in praying for this amazing ministry,
and our site here in New York as we continue to grow and seek partnerships with other
organizations like Father’s Heart.
- Noelle Sefton, CSM New York City Director
See pictures from this past summer!
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