News » City Highlights
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!
Local Resources
- Coalition for the Homeless
- The New York City Coalition Against Hunger
- New York Cares
- NY Times Slideshow: “The March of Nations”
Local News Links
- Answers About the City’s Homeless: Part 3 October 10, 2007
- Answers About the City’s Homeless: Part 2 October 8, 2007
- Answers About the City’s Homeless: Part 1 October 5, 2007
- Goodness of Mercy: BronxConnect shows there’s a better alternative to throwing youth in jail. Sept/Oct 2007
- A Red Carpet for Red Sauce NY Times Video – anyone hungry?
CSM Urban Updates
CSM now has its own blog! Find out what’s happening in urban centers throughout North America, make comments and dialogue with others involved in urban missions.
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