M ARCH / A PRIL 2015 S PECIAL
H OUSE
OF
M ERCY I NITIATES “E VERYDAY E NGLISH ”
In an article from The National Catholic Reporter on March 6, 2015, author Thomas Reese reports that Pope Francis “wants a ‘poor church for the poor.’ The pope supports a church that feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, and cares for the sick... and he also wants the poor welcomed in our communities. We must not only feed them and fight for them, but also listen to them and love them as individuals 1”. This is the Mission and focus of our Service at the House of Mercy (HOM) since its inception in 2005. Providing food and clothing for the poor in our midst is at the heart of what House of Mercy does. We, the Church community, open our hearts and our minds in response to our clients’ needs. As a result of listening to clients, and their view that the English as Second Language (ESL) classes did not adequately meet their needs, the ESL Class has been overhauled. “Everyday English” emphasizes commonly used phrases in daily activities like shopping or going to the doctor’s office, and also teaches
how to complete forms such as those found in the doctor’s office, school office, pharmacy, post office, and in a job application. “We did this because of our genuine love and respect for the people we Serve,” said Ann Cimini, Executive Director of House of Mercy. She continued, “We recognize it’s a privilege for us to share our lives with the poor in our community. This is genuinely our faith in action, and the reflection of Christ’s Love for all of us.” “Everyday English” is available Monday through Thursday, at times when older children are in school. Young children are welcomed in the classes, in part because they may learn some of the English, but also because the mothers are modeling a willingness to learn and demonstrating that education is important. House of Mercy has also launched “Everyday Math”. Many of the clients of HOM have not completed school above fifth grade. This class covers the basic building blocks of arithmetic and math, in order for clients to begin to
A grandma and grandpa wait to receive food in the Pantry. help their children with math homework. This class meets on Wednesdays: 11:30am – 12:30pm We are able to provide these classes with the talent and dedication of volunteers that teach the classes, and through the generosity of our donors. The classes are free to anyone in the community, and occur at House of Mercy, 8170 Flannery Court, Manassas, VA 20109 Mondays: 11am – 12pm, Tuesdays: 12:30pm – 1:30pm, Wednesdays: 12:30pm – 1:30pm, Thursdays: 11am – 12pm 1. http://ncronline.org/blogs/faithand-justice/francis-revolution
Take advantage of the SHARE Food Program at House of Mercy Whether you want to save money on groceries, volunteer at House of Mercy (HOM), or promote health and wellness in our community, food packages from SHARE are great solution for EVERYONE. Through SHARE, it is possible to obtain about $45 worth of frozen meats, fresh fruits and vegetables and other food for only $22. House of Mercy is the distribution site for SHARE (Self Help and Resource Exchange) Food Network, a nonprofit food and community-building network, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Washington.
The House of Mercy is a partner with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. as one of several distribution sites for SHARE. The network helps all families save money on their groceries by providing low cost nutritious foods, and strengthen the community through volunteer service. Each month, as part of the SHARE program, the House of Mercy and other sites sell a variety of food packages that include meat and a variety of fresh produce. Anyone in the community may purchase the food regardless
of income level. The House of Mercy accepts food stamp cards, cash or credit cards as payment. Orders for food packages may be made by phone, if paid by credit and debit card. Food stamp customers must appear in-person to pay the first time, then by phone after that. When ordering the packages, purchasers must commit to pick up their food on a specific Saturday morning, two weeks following the order placement.
POINTS OF
INTEREST :
The House of Mercy Inaugural Benefit Dinner will be held at House of Mercy on Saturday April 25, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Tickets are $75 each or $1,000 per table of 6. For information on becoming a Sponsor, or to donate Silent Auction items, or purchase tickets, please email
[email protected] or call Ann Cimini at 703-659-1636.
Clean! Please remember us when you finish your spring cleaning. We especially need: Spring floral arrangements Lawn & Garden tools Outdoor furniture Sun umbrellas & flags Boys & Girls Easter clothing Boys & Girls Confirmation clothing
Did you know an astounding 92¢ of each donation dollar we receive goes toward programs?
H OUSE
OF
M ERCY
8170 Flannery Court Manassas, VA 20109 703-659-1636 Email:
[email protected] W E’RE ON THE W EB! WW W . H O U S E O F MER C Y V A . O R G
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