Prayers needed for those in TENT CITY in Lakewood NJ

AS YOU CAN SEE THE TOWNSHIP HAS SENT A BULLDOZER TO DEMOLISH SOME OF THEIR HOMES. iF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE PLEASE VISIT THEIR SITE.PRAYERS ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED AND MAYBE EVEN A FEW PHONE CALLS TO OUR LAWMAKERS TO FIND OUT WHY THEY CANT BUILD THESE PEOPLE A SHELTER.

WANT TO KNOW MORE??  CLICK ON OUR LINK TO THEIR SITE.

Mr Nosey sitting on donated walker

Thank you Debbie for donating this item for Fr John.Due to his back giving him pain and throwing his balance off when walking the doctor recommended him to use this.This walker he also uses when he is in stores

The Transtional House Women - Update

The boiler in the Transitional House began to have major problems with all the cold weather.  When the the property was inspected for repairs,  some structural damage was discovered.    As a result, the State wants this property to be converted into individual apartments so they are up to current housing requirements.
 
The women from this  House are being moved into other transitional housing, which includes People First apartments.  They all are still in need of goods in their new locations as each housing situation has very limited items.

All the moving at once  is causing lots of upheaval  for the TH staff -  as the dust settles we will be delivering more stuff to them.  We will continue accepting donations and arranging pickups in the next few weeks after do an inventory and determine how much more we need.

Again - thank you to all the women and their families who stepped up for these women!!  We couldn't do it without each and everyone of you!

UPDATE

THE BOY WHO RECIEVED THE GUITAR FOR CHRISTMAS STILL LOVES IT AND THINKS ITS THE GREATEST GIFT EVER>PLAYS IT DAILY>

THE LITTLE GIRL WHO RECIEVED THE PINK BOOTS FOR CHRISTMAS CLEANS THEM OFF DAILY AND IS HAPPY WITH THEM

SEVERAL WOMEN FROM THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSE HAVE MOVED INTO THEIR VERY OWN APARTMENTS .THE WOMEN  WERE SO THRILLED ALSO TO RECIEVE THE MAKE UP
                                             THANKS TO ALL THE GENEROUS DONATIONS THESE WOMEN CAN START OVER.

ITEMS NEEDED

BABY ITEMS AND BABY CLOTHES NEEDED, We have several young inexperienced moms to be due in April and May who have basically nothing.
CHILDRENS TOYS WANTED PREFERABLY FOR UNDER 6 YRS OLD
CHILDRENS SOCKS NEEDED

HAVE A NICE VALENTINES DAY!

A FEW OF LAST WEEKS DONATIONS

TOTAL OF 15 HEART SHAPED BOXES OF CANDY FOR MAIL BOXES

PICTURE OF A FEW BOXES OF CANDY I LEFT IN PEOPLES MAIL BOXES AND ONE FOR MY MAIL MAN.MAILBOXES I PICKED AT RANDOM.(BEFORE THE BIG SNOW STORM)

ON THE WAY BACK FROM PUTTING VALENTINE CANDY IN MAIL BOXES

PINE RIDGE RESERVATION WISH LIST

IF ANYONE CAN HELP PLEASE SEND ITEMS TO PASTOR  KAREN   -C/O RETREAT  CENTER /51 EAST HIGHWAY 18  PINE RIDGE  SD.  57770
                  Items Needed*
 1. desperately need food for the many children that go to the center daily. Many times this is the only place where they receive 1 hot meal a day. Many children come here to give the grandparents a break. As many elderly grandparents are raising their grandchildren. Many parents struggle with alcohol and substance abuse.
2.flash lights with batteries and candles since many families have no electric
3.blankets since many families have heat in only 1 room of the house if they are lucky
4.hats,gloves and socks for children and adults
5.desperately need first aid kits for families, as many do not even have a bandaid and perixode if a child cuts them self.
6.soap,tiolet paper,tooth brushes with tooth paste
7.any baby items be it clothes or bottles etc..as there are quite a few pregnant moms with nothing that visit the center also

Any donation of any of these items would be deeply appreciated. There are about 50 children who go to the center with no socks, no gloves etc..a week.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

 

Thank You to Toms River Township Visionary Lions Club

Thank you to Don Bray, President and Toms River Township Visionary Lions Club for the huge donation of winter coats!!  Your generous donation will keep lots of folks warm thru this bitter cold winter.  

MR NOSEY IS HAPPY FR JOHN IS HOME FROM THE HOSPITOL

The Very Tip of the Iceberg..........

I never think to take pictures - but Pat bugged me (SMILE) so here it is - a couple of photos for the Transitional House ladies - The bags in my SUV are just a very few of the enormous amount of donations from generous women from many NJ counties.  I just happened to remember Pat's request while waiting to meet Peaches.  The infant seat and push toy are just 2 of the many items from One Small Wish.  

The Transitional women will be an ongoing project for us - especially as they mainstream to their own dwellings.  This is a pet project of mine and I want to thank each and every woman I met during this process - you guys are all terrific and generous to a fault!!!  

A few pics - 

The women were thrilled and couldn't believe total strangers cared enough to want to give them the comforts of daily living.  BOO-RAH!!!!!!
 
 

Fr John back in the hospitol

Even though he is in the hospital for being anemic and having bronchitus again he keeps up with the news.Here he is reading the Philadelphia newspaper

IF YOU FEED THE WILDLIFE IN THE WINTER

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CONTINUE BEFORE THE STORM COMES.WILDLIFE ESPECIALLY BIRDS HAVE A TENDENCY TO HANG AROUND WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN FED,INSTEAD OF SEARCHING FOR FOOD.

A GIANT THANK YOU TO SUSAN FROM HELEN

Thanks to Susan 's perseverance and calling several differant people affiliated with getting heat for the elderly on the REZ.Helen now has heat!!Helen has called her sponsor(our volunteer)3 times to tell her to please make sure Susan knows how warm she is.So I thought I would let you all know there is one less person in the freezing cold on the reservation thanks to Susan.Without donations this would not of been made possible.
For anyone who would like to donate to help an elderly person have heat please go to the ONE SPIRIT website page on the internet.

UPDATE ON ONE OF THE NATIVE AMERICANS OUR VOLUNTEER SPONSORS

Helen was so excited to move to a bigger apartment. After 1 month her rent is now 475.00 a month that included everything. Yet it is to much money for her on her small social security check. This is the life for those on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Their income if any is barely enough to pay for rent plus afford to buy food. Helen now has relocated to a broken down trailor which she can financially afford but only has a small heater in her bedroom..She has been spending a lot of time under her comforter. She told our volunteer it is freezing in the trailor. Their weather right now is colder than ours and it was snowing when our volunteer talked with her . It is sad to think in USA there are many who are cold and hungry tonight. This is why we try to encourage people to please donate to local food banks or reputable organizations who are honestly trying to help those in need.
There are many like Helen on the reservation. One Spirit is an Organization who actually tries to reach those who have none or very little. If you would like to sponsor a needy family on the reservation(which has the poorest people in USA)please go to their site. This site is where our volunteer found Helen. Since she had seen first hand the poor living conditions on her past visit in October.

RECENT DONATIONS

THANK YOU'S

Thank you Mary from Forked River for several more blankets for the women in the TRANSITIONAL HOUSE.
Thank you Lorie and Tim from Lakehurst for the children's clothes.
Thank you Debbie for picking up items that I was unable to get due to me not feeling well.
Thank you Maria for telling us about the family who needed gloves and socks for their children.