News » City Highlights
New York City
This month we’re heading on over to New York City! Be sure to visit our city's page for more information about serving with us in the “Big Apple”.
News from the New York City Director
One question that comes up very often when meeting with youth leaders, groups, friends and family, and our ministry sites is how has the past year's recession had an effect on New York City (and in some cases, CSM). It's an issue that's tough to ignore, as many of the stories from the NY Times have to do with unemployment rates in the city, funding being cut, and subway prices sky rocketing. Although New York City has actually not been impacted as deeply as some imagine, (and compared to other cities), the effect can't be ignored in looking at the changes NYC and the people living here have experienced.
We can definitely see a change in many of the sites our groups volunteer at. Instead of serving five hundred lunch, it might be more like six hundred. Many sites that have pantry programs have had a significant increase in the number of families coming for pantry items. Many of our ministry site partners that were smaller organizations continued to struggle with keeping food stocked and simply having enough for everyone which had been a growing problem in the last couple of years. This article from the NY Times last fall takes place at one of the pantries CSM has partnered with (Salt and Sea Mission) and some others in the city that have faced empty pantry shelves. For some of the larger organizations we partner with, a lot of funding was cut, or some entire programs shut down. Across the city, many shelters closed. This article from the NY Daily News looks at one of the only shelters that was left in Queens after funding cuts this fall.
At the same time, many organizations have their highest number of volunteers ever, including many people in the city that have lost jobs, had job hours cut and want to spend their time giving back and becoming a regular volunteer. This article from the NY Times highlights the recent flood of volunteers. The sense of giving back to your community seems to have really caught on and grown.
At CSM, we are thankfully having a full year and had our fullest spring yet! Some of our groups have been more challenged to help NYC and our sites by donating food, blankets, hygiene kits (always a great idea if you are planning a CSM NYC trip!) donating to CSM NYC (see our wish list) or by simply buying some souvenirs or going to a Broadway show to help stimulate the city.
Please continue to pray for New York. Pray for peace among those who are facing uncertainty with jobs, providing for food and shelter for themselves and family members. Pray that we won't put our trust in earthly things, but rely upon God and His provision in times of uncertainty.
- Noelle Sefton, CSM New York Co-City Director
Local Resources
Local News Links
- Helping A NYC School, One Penny At A Time May 17, 2009
- Two Mothers, One Volunteer May 8, 2009
- New York Charges Rent for Working Homeless May 8, 2009
- When American Dream Leads to Servitude April 24, 2007
CSM Urban Updates
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