Interior Decorating Minds Requested

Grace House, our partnering organization that provides a transitional home for former inmates, has a new residence they are in process of fixing up for use. They would love to have a group of people go through the residence and provide interior decorating ideas.  This residence is pretty drab on the inside, in its color schemes and window coverings, etc, so they thought brightening it up with some cool new colors, complimented by new  window covering designs (that are durable) would help the future residents feel more at home and less transitional.  They also anticipate that some light finishing work, such as upgrading light fixtures, trim, doors, windows and other details would be necessary as well to compliment the decorating, so volunteers are also needed for that. 

Grace House's goal is to collectively go through the property, combine ideas, create a budget and a plan for completing them, thereby turning the house into a place that feels like home, rather than a transitional shelter. It will go a long way toward helping the men who will live there gain an appreciation of their surroundings and replicate that in the places they will ultimately move on to.

If you're interested in providing interior decorating ideas and/or interested in providing some light finishing work, please email agencyrep.northridge@gmail.com.

Reminder for the Grace House Christmas Party

Reminder: Gifts need to be at Grace House by December 9th. Please call their office at 585-473-9070 for a drop off day or to schedule a pick up time.

Interested in learning about the Grace House Christmas Party? Click here for details!

Cleaning a Kitchen

A couple of weeks ago, the Hall/Congdon/Spear group geared up to serve at Grace House. They wore their cleaning clothes and buckled down for two hours cleaning one of Grace House's kitchens. They may not always enjoy cleaning their own kitchens at home, but with happy and willing hearts they applied the elbow grease needed to get the job done.

You may think that cleaning a kitchen does not have far reaching results, but we sometimes underestimate the power of "simple" service.

Grace House's Director wrote the group an email thanking them for their service. Here's a snippet of what it said:

I wanted to thank you and your team for the work done in the kitchen this past Sunday.   As I periodically ponder the enormity of tasks that must be administered in our ministry organization, I know that there aren’t enough hours in the day sometimes to pay attention to them all, especially a dynamic ministry such as Grace House, whose doors are open 24/7.  I’ve realized too that what Northridge brings to the table could be termed as ‘shared stewardship’ and without other ministry organizations such as yours, Grace House would not be able to fulfill its mission.

Our kitchen manager, staff and even some residents were generous with their compliments at how good a job you all did.  I myself couldn’t be more pleased, knowing what an important part of the ministry that kitchen resource really is.  ...The shared stewardship your team brought on Sunday, has helped us overcome a huge hurdle toward organization and effectiveness in its use and has allowed us to turn our attention to other issues knowing this need has been properly addressed.

May you and your groups be encouraged to serve, even if the project seems "simple". Even the simple tasks are needed to fulfill missions of life change.

Christmas at Grace House

“Grace House” Rochester

A Safe Place to Begin Again

We provide a smooth transition into the community for men recently released from prison

We are asking for your donations to help with a Christmas Party for the residents on 12-17-14

Gifts for Men /50 Residents

• Winter outerwear, gloves, hats, coats, boots, underwear & socks, hygiene products
• Gift cards in $10 denominations for McDonald’s, Tim Horton’s, Dunkin Donuts, Wal-Mart.
  
  

100 Gifts for Boys and Girls between the Ages of 5-18.

Most of our residents are fathers, so another way to be a blessing to them is with toy/s for their children. These gifts will be given to the men and then the men will deliver the gifts to their children. Many of the children have never had a Christmas with their father.

If you are able to provide any of the above items, please call our office at 585-473-9070 for a drop off day or to schedule a pick up time.

Please have all gifts / donations here by 12-9-14

SGMR

1140 Norton St

Rochester NY 14621

e-mail: infosgmr@sgmworld.org

Thank You and Be Blessed

Pastor Don Buongiorne

Tour Grace House

Community groups and individuals are invited to schedule a tour of Grace House. Tour times are flexible, with at least one week's notice required. Email agencyrep.northridge@gmail.com to set one up.

Please Pray for Pastor Don

Pastor Don Buongiorne (of Grace House) had a major heart attack  in the beginning of March. On March 11^th he underwent quadruple heart bypass surgery. Pastor Don was sent home on March 15th and he is in recovery, which the doctors say is anywhere between 3-6 months.

Please keep him and his family in your prayers, that God will meet all of their needs, physically, spiritually and financially. He will be taking a sick leave from the ministry, at least until the doctors allow him to come back. Thanks Northridge.

Tour Grace House

Community groups and individuals consider taking a tour of Grace House. Learn more about the ministry and how you can get involved.

Tour times are flexible. At least one week notice is needed to schedule. Email agencyrep.northridge@gmail.com to schedule a tour.

Christmas at Grace House

In some ways, Christmas is just around the corner, and Grace House is beginning to prepare for it today. They would love to be able to help the men of Grace House provide gifts to their children and would also love to have gifts (winter gear and small gift cards) for the men themselves, but they need some help.

The men of Grace House are men who were incarcerated who are trying to get back on track. Once out of jail, these men don’t have much, not even a place to sleep. That’s where Grace House comes in. Grace House not only provides shelter for these men, but job and skill training, and the gospel. They desire to see these men turn from past behaviors and to Jesus, and God has been helping them do that.

Christmas isn’t just about the gifts, it’s about the greatest gift: Jesus, and to be able to provide for these men and their children in the name of Jesus is an exciting thing. The goal is to help these men show love to their children through a gift, and to help them know that God cares for their needs. Would you consider helping?

Here’s how we can help:

• Consider purchasing a gift for a child. You’ll receive general information about the child such as gender and age to help you select the gift.
• Consider purchasing winter gear for the men of Grace House
• Consider purchasing a $10 gift card to Tim Horton’s, McDonalds or Walmart for the men of Grace House
• Join a wrapping crew that will wrap and label gifts

Please email agencyrep.northridge@gmail.com with your interest in helping, and we’ll send you more details.

Consider Serving with Grace House

The mission of Saving Grace Ministries of Rochester, Inc, is to provide a smooth transition to community life for men recently released from a correctional facility by providing a highly structured program. SGMR operates the "Grace House" Transitional Residence Program, which provides a residence of safety and structure for individuals reentering society after a period of incarceration, equipping them with the life skills necessary to successfully complete parole.

The program provides food, clothing, shelter, housing location assistance, case management, referral to substance abuse, mental health, anger management and domestic violence treatment as well as linkages with medical treatment and coordination of services with other community service providers. By providing services that decrease the likelihood of future criminal behavior and the onset of homelessness, the program continues to be proactive in preventing unwed pregnancy, homelessness and criminal behavior after completion of the program.

After serving over 500 clients since 2008 our success rate remains the same. This year 70% of the men that come through this program have become productive citizens, drug and alcohol free and have not returned to a criminal lifestyle. Over 285 bibles studies have produced 50% of the residents connecting to their faith and God is building them and their families up. Men are getting jobs, getting job training, college and GED preparation, and starting businesses. God’s outreach is in full blossom and producing much fruit.

http://northridgeserves.com/gh/

Special Projects for Grace House

Can you help Grace House with any of the following?  Actual items, money and/or labor would all be appreciated.  Thanks for considering to meet these needs and help Grace House to continue to help men like John Doe from the previous post!

• General Needs:
  • Grills
  • Mowers
  • Trimmers
  • Used Truck in Good Working Order
• New Roof for Baird St. location
• Electrical Upgrades for Norton St. location
• 2 Bathrooms Worth of Work for Norton St. location
  • replace sinks, toilets and faucets, put in a new floor, and surround tubs with ceramic
• Window Replacement for Jones Ave. location
• New Bathrooms for Jones Ave. location
• Porch Rails for Jones Ave. location
• Paint Outside Trim for Jones Ave. location
• Repair Ceiling for Amherst location

If you can help, let us know at agencyrep.northridge@gmail.com

From a Resident of Grace House

I have been living in prison for the last eight years; the nights were the hardest, when you’re all alone staring at the steel bars, feeling the chill of the cement walls, and thinking of home. As I lay here I can hear the moans, the screaming, and the crying, mostly from the newbies who just arrived today. Then I hear the clanking of the gates opening and closing as the guards move about the corridors keeping watch over us. It’s always been hard to sleep here…some men get used to it, some don’t...I never did. I’m here because I made a choice that I can’t change, driven by addiction, no job, little education. I broke into someone’s home and robbed them to get more drugs. I’m glad I got caught - jail rescued me from myself.

Last week I went to a parole hearing and they told me I’d be going home soon, back to Rochester, and I thought “Back to what?” Nothing has really changed for me; I’ve taken some educational courses, some skill trades training, even completed my drug and alcohol addiction counseling, but I’m 36 years old. Who wants me? Who wants to hire a felon? Where do I live? How do I get food? I’ve got nowhere to go… I don’t know if I want to leave jail......The Field Parole Officer came to see me today and said that I could go to this place called “Grace House” because I didn’t have a valid address. He said they help men stabilize, get jobs and help men find housing. I thought about it and agreed to go, but I knew that I’d just use them so I can get out.

I reported to “Grace House” in June of 2011, the caretaker showed me all of these papers I had to sign, then put me in a dorm with 3 other men. The next day I met with Pastor Don, he didn’t seem to be too bad and he explained to me the plans that “Grace House” had for me and the opportunities that were available for me. Then I met a lady named Dianne, a case manager, and she seemed pretty nice to me, too. So I thought I’d give them a chance to help me. Pastor Don told me follow the rules, make your appointments and they would help me start a new life...I thought “yeah right!”......I really didn’t want to be here. I have to in by eight at night can’t leave until eight in the morning, I have to wash my dishes, keep my room clean, go to life skill classes, man this is terrible!

But something happened after a couple of weeks, I started looking forward to seeing Pastor Don, Dianne and the caretakers. I noticed they didn’t judge me, and I started feeling something that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I felt wanted, cared for...these people really want to help me......That was a few months ago, today I’m living on my own, still on parole, I have a job and am going to school part time and I’m happy. I had forgotten what it was like to enjoy life. I’m not addicted to anything now and I met a nice lady at a church I have been attending.

As I write this article I would like to thank all the people who support “Grace House.” Pastor Don was always telling all of us about the food, clothing and money that supporters give to help him with this work, so just to let all of you know, “Grace House” has changed me forever and I thank God every day for that Parole Officer that sent me there.

Signed: John Doe

Donations for a Grace House Christmas Party

"Grace House" Rochester

A Safe Place to Being Again

Providing a smooth transition into the community for men recently released from prison.

We are asking for your donations to help with a Christmas Party for the residents on December 18, 2012.

Gifts for men/40 residents

Winter outwear, gloves, hats, coats, boots, underwear, socks and hygiene products.

Gift cards in $5 - $10 denominations for McDonald's, Tim Horton's, Dunkin Donuts and Walmart.

80 Gifts for boys and girls between the ages of 5 - 18.

Most of our residents are fathers, so another way to be a blessing to them is with toy/s for their children.  These gifts will be given to the men and then the men will deliver the gifts to their children.  Many of their children have never had a Christmas with their father.

If you are able to provide any of the above items, please call our office at 585-473-9070 for a drop off day or to schedule a pick up time.

Please have all gifts/donations here by December 12, 2012.

SGMR

1140 Norton St

Rochester, NY 14621

infosgmr@sgmworld.org

Thank You and Be Blessed,

Pastor Don  Buongiorne

Introducing Grace House

As mentioned during the Life 2.0 "Upgrading your Serving" sermon, we have added a new partnering organization called Grace House.  Check out NorthridgeServes.com to learn more about this organization and how you can volunteer.

http://northridgeserves.com/gh/