Expansion and Inclusion

This past week Harvest House voted to begin an expansion that will vastly expand classroom and office space in the New Hope Education Center.  It will also bring the Baby and Children’s Ministry to the Jefferson Avenue location.  The shift will increase space for the Baby and Children’s Ministry as well.  With these changes, more can be offered to the community.  Even with obvious benefits for the community, this decision was not made easily or lightly.

I think that it is appropriate that this major decision was made during Holy Week.  Harvest House began on a leap of faith.  This expansion shows that Harvest House is willing to continue to make leaps of faith.  Faith is not something often associated with public learning institutions.  Lawsuits have made headlines as to what can be allowed in our public schools when it comes to spirituality and religion.  Therefore, many are nervous to include anything spiritual in school, but would rather incorporate equal spiritual and religious exclusion.

However, I think that it is spiritual fortitude that continues to propel Harvest House.  Faith has not taken away all issues and challenges.  But, it is the confidence that faith breeds that has allowed Harvest House to continue to grow and change even during tough economic times.  This expansion sends a clear message to me: “There is still work to do.  There is still more to learn.”  No one becomes spiritual just by walking into Harvest House’s doors.  It is through spiritual belief that Harvest House is able to offer different things than regular educational providers; we will soon be able to offer free clothing and children’s items, educational programs, and medical care.

With this decision, I hear a resounding “yes” to inclusion.  I hear a “yes” to faith in ourselves and faith in God.  The "yes" to inclusion means that no one is forced to think or feel a certain way about God or religion.  But, I think it is clear how spirituality and faith have played an empowering role in the history of Harvest House.

Being Resourceful

Harvest House took part of a recent 3-day Mobile Safety Net Resource Fair in South Buffalo, NY.  These resource fairs are great events because they bring a variety of service providers to one building. 

It can be frustrating to try to solve a problem when you are referred to different offices repeatedly.  I once spoke with a woman who had been referred to our dental clinic only to find that it wasn't open that day; when she was met with this roadblock, she proclaimed, "I'm just going to pull out the tooth myself!"  When someone is pushed to his or her limit, bad decisions are easy to make.

The safety net event gives the individual the chance to stay in one place while having his or her questions addressed.  Representatives providing housing assistance, legal assistance, health care assistance, food assistance were in attendance.

Harvest House strives to address as many needs as possible under one roof.  However, this may still not be enough.  Even with multiple services in one building, people seem to walk around with blinders on.  Living in the present has its disadvantages.  I spoke with men and women who would respond to me, saying, "well I don't need that right now."  Certainly that is true.  How about your friends? family?  How about in a few years?  No one is impervious to the economy, nor harm.  No one expects to be homeless, hungry, sick, uninsured, or uneducated.  But, it happens every day.  Do some research, keep your ears open, don't plan on perfection.  Plan for these troubled times, it can stop you from trying to pull out your own tooth.

Check out community services available in Erie County, NY at: http://211wny.org/Erie-County/Service-Category-List/

Leap of Faith

In January, The Buffalo News ran an article about a former New Hope Education Student.  Yanely Rayes was a student of the Medical Office Assistant Program.  She gave up much more than most for a chance to succeed.

Rayes left her family in Puerto Rico, feeling that she had a better chance to prosper in Buffalo, New York.  However, she found the land of opportunity to be paved in difficulty.  She was living in a homeless shelter until she found work as a gas station cashier.  Rayes became pregnant with very little to support a child in her new home.  She waited until she was 7 months pregnant before she called her family in Puerto Rico; she was met with surprise when her mother flew over the day before the child was born.

The critical point in her story came after the baby was born.  Yanely's mother made a deal that seemed shocking to me:  she would take the baby back with her to Puerto Rico, leaving Yanely by herself; however, the baby would be returned whenever she got a good job. 

When I read this, I was filled with emotion.  Different thoughts ran through my head: "How painful it must be for a mother to let someone else take her newborn child away!"  But, I now think about this situation in a different way.  I have no doubt that Yanely was filled with pain during this time.  But, I also see an impressive amount of confidence and trust in herself, as well as her mother.  Rayes had enough confidence to think that it was only a matter of time before she got a good job.  That speaks volumes today.  Recent college graduates are struggling to get ANY job, much less a good one.  They are staying in school or hibernating until the economic climate warms up.  However, Yanely was able to get a job through Kaleida Health on her 21st try!  This is not a job atmosphere for the faint of heart.

I see spiritual fortitude every day at the New Hope Education Center.  Students walk into New Hope in their teens or in their 60s.  Both have made a goal to learn continuously, to keep their minds free from stagnation with the goal of getting a good job.  It takes a lot of self-confidence and determination to struggle free of financial dependency.  For Yanely, it took a determination as if her life or the life of her child was in jeopardy.  And in a sense, it was.  What a leap of faith.

To read the article in The Buffalo News, click the link below: http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/buffalo/article300501.ece

Do Something

As I sat at the reception desk awaiting a learner for our Literacy Volunteers drop-in center, two men I had never seen before approached the desk.  When the Good Neighbors Health Center is open, it is not unusual to have a few confused patients wandering around.  But, these two men wanted a tour of our facility.  One of the men was the father of a volunteer who is involved with ministry in Haiti.  The other man was a Haitian pastor.  It is their dream to open up a free/reduced cost medical clinic in Haiti, outside of Les Cayes. 

If you ever come to the Good Neighbors Health Center in the East Side of Buffalo, NY, you immediately see the need.  Our clinic, is first come first serve; it is not uncommon for someone to stand in line 1-2 hours before we even open.  During the winter months, it can be especially cold.  But, for those without insurance, it is one of the few affordable options for adequate health care. 

The two men previously mentioned were telling me that they fully expected those needing medical attention to walk the 7-8 hour walk from Les Cayes to the medical clinic about to be constructed.  While Buffalo and Haiti have different needs, this really puts a new perspective on the sacrifice some people make for medical care.  The doctors of Good Neighbors make a sacrifice/donation by giving time in order to give medical services for free.  However, the more we all sacrifice, the less the empoverished few will have to sacrifice.  If we were able to provide more affordable health care, less and less people would need to walk for hours or stand in line for hours to see a doctor.

This issue can seem overwhelming for anyone (including me).  How do we bring structural change to the health care system?  How do we bring about enough change to make people healthy and able to take care of themselves?  A few Harvest House volunteers watched mayor Corey Booker speak at the UB Center For The Arts.  Mayor Booker's message was simply, "Do Something."  Through the consistent small acts of individuals, much can be accomplished.  This is evidenced by Good Neighbors as well as Harvest House in general.  Individual professionals are giving 3 hours a week to bring care to those who would not have it without them.  Many are waiting for you to contribute. . . DO SOMETHING.