House of Mercy “Home for the Holidays” campaign a success!
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DEC. 23, 2014 Rochester, NY - The House of Mercy is thrilled to announce that, thanks to hundreds of caring people through the Rochester region and beyond, our “Home for the Holidays” campaign has successfully reached its goal, and the House of Mercy will move forward immediately to purchase a new house to shelter the homeless.
Sister Grace making the announcement! (Video provided by Jenny Brongo)
On Saturday, December 20, 2014 -- just five days before Christmas -- the City of Rochester, NY used large machinery to destroy Sanctuary Village, a homeless tent camp created within the city’s limits. Lacking support from any city or county resources, the House of Mercy launched an emergency GoFundMe fundraising campaign, “A Home for the Holidays”, with the goal of raising $60K to purchase a shelter house within the Rochester city limits. Two days later, on December 23, 2014, donations from the GoFundMe and from private independent donors reached the goal, allowing the House of Mercy to begin immediate planning for the new shelter space.
The house will be staffed by the House of Mercy and serve, short-term, as a residence for a number of homeless formerly living at Sanctuary Village. Ultimately, the space will serve as long-term transitional housing for homeless Rochesterians in need of safe shelter.
The fundraising campaign will continue as the House of Mercy, an independent not-for-profit organization, now works to raise the needed operations funds for food, supplies and ongoing maintenance.
“What a way to celebrate the holidays and the Christian spirit of giving,” said Sister Grace Miller, House of Mercy leader and homeless advocate. “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to all those caring people who have given support through money, goods, and spreading the word. You embody the true spirit of the seaso and have made this Christmas miracle possible.”
Anyone who wishes to donate to help fund operating costs for the new house can continue to do so via gofundme.com/SanctuaryVillage. Donors can also donate much-needed goods such as socks, gloves, blankets, toys and food via the House of Mercy’s Amazon wishlist at http://tinyurl.com/HOMwish. All donations are tax deductible.
The House of Mercy, under the leadership of Sister Grace Miller, has been serving homeless of Rochester for 29 years. Our efforts continue to serve the poorest of the poor.
For more information, contact
Sister Grace Miller, 585-259-9580 or 585-455-0961
houseofmercyrochesterny@gmail.com
http://www.houseofmercyrochester.org/
www.twitter.com/houseofmercyROC
TAKE ACTION: Donate to A Home for Sanctuary Village (help purchase a house for the homeless with House of Mercy) | Help Fill a Dump truck with Hope! | Sign the petition! HALT THE EVICTION AND SUPPORT THE HOMELESS OF SANCTUARY VILLAGE IN ROCHESTER, NY
Related stories: "Sanctuary" Photojournalist Arleen Hodge shares from Sanctuary Village | City of Rochester Disposes of Citizens ID's and Other Belongings | Homeless displaced again as City destroys tent city | Stories of Survival & Resistance: a night with Cheri Honkala | Vulnerable Populations/Critical Populations: The criminalization of poverty, homelessness, and dissent | Open letter & video statements from arrested homeless advocates protesting county policies | County Suddenly Breaks off Dialogue With Homeless Advocates | Open letter to Brooks regarding homeless crisis | Sit-In Support at the Civic Center Garage against homeless lock-out | Sister Grace and CW of House of Mercy | 13 Rochesterians | Precarious housing for homless continues at county garage... | "The Throwaways": discussion after the screening | The Deplorable, County-made, Reality of Burials Without Dignity
(photo: Shawn Dowd, Democrat & Chronicle)
