The Reentry Family & Faith Circles of Support Thursday Hospitality Center provides men and women returning to their communities from prison with mentoring and encouragement in a safe space.
Short Summary
Our Campaign:
The Interfaith Center of New York seeks to raise funds to continue its “Thursday Hospitality” program at the Harlem Community Justice Center’s parole court. This program enables community volunteers to continue to provide men and women reporting to their parole officers each Thursday with a welcoming presence as they serve breakfast snack items, basic toiletries, underwear, and socks.
Our Background:
The Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY), in partnership with the Harlem Community Justice Center (HCJC), seeks to solve neighborhood problems – including youth crime, substance abuse, and the challenges facing parolees reintegrating into their communities in Harlem.
Give: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/thursday-hospitality-fundraiser
Why is this important?
The Interfaith Center of New York recruits church, mosque, and community volunteers for the rewarding work of helping men and women make the difficult transition from prison to community. This is not a role that should be taken lightly, or viewed as simply a Good Samaritan gesture. The service that a reentry volunteer provides is that of a welcoming presence to our returning citizens. That being said, the last thing they need is to come back to a community that basically ostracizes them, or labels them as ex-cons, ex-felons, ex-offenders, or even formerly incarcerated. These labels impede returning citizens from experiencing the self-esteem that is needed to make themselves feel worthy of becoming a productive member of society. The Thursday Hospitality Center provides a safe and caring space designed to boost morale and raise self-esteem by making the recipients feel welcome.
Give: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/thursday-hospitality-fundraiser
Your Impact:
Unfortunately this does not go anywhere near what we are trying to do in terms of providing programs and services to this mostly underserved population. This is just the tip of the iceberg for what is needed monetarily, but it is a good starting point. Hopefully with the continued success of this program we will be able to create more programs to address this need in the future. However, until more programs are developed, every dollar you give will go towards funding Thursday Hospitality as it strives to make a positive impact on the morale of our returning citizens.
Give: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/thursday-hospitality-fundraiser
Other Ways You Can Help:
Even if you can’t contribute, spread the word! Send this to your friends, family, co-workers, and anyone else that might be interested in helping out through Facebook, Twitter, email, and word of mouth!
