Saint’s Place helped 198 refugees in May—its busiest month ever. The fiscal year is shaping up to be the most successful year yet, with over 1,500 new refugees assisted.
The Pittsford-based nonprofit also helped set up 285 homes and bedding for 1,100 new beds with pillows, blankets, two sets of sheets and a comforter. It has also distributed more than 450 backpacks to children of refugees this year, another milestone.
”The success of the Saint’s Place Ministry is the same every year,” says Michele Quinn, executive director. “We could not be successful without the dedication and hard work of the volunteers and the generous donors, both financial donors and donors of material items. The Rochester community is a very kind, caring and big-hearted community.”
A refugee resettlement program, Saint’s Place helps refugees get off to a good start by setting them up in homes and providing necessities including clothes and supplies. These refugees come from many countries, including Ukraine, Congo, and Afghanistan. They need assistance with clothing, housing, schooling and adapting to a new country.
Founded in 1998, Saint’s Place has served more than 30,000 refugees. The nonprofit partners with Catholic Charities Family and Community Service, World Relief, and Church World Service to provide its services, which includes $58,000 in scholarships or other education needs like laptops and clothing for interviews.
“They form communities right away,” Quinn says of refugees. “There’s a Somali community, a Congolese community, a Sudanese community. They work together. … They try to help each other.”
Saint’s Place has two locations; a drop-off location at 46 South Main St. in Pittsford and another at the Parish Center of Saint John of Rochester Church. The Parish Center of Saint John of Rochester Church is split into two areas, half being the clothing closet and the other half a school. However, since the school is not renewing its lease, Saint’s Place will move the donation location to the Parish Center to be more efficient.
“We are looking forward to our move and being settled into our new location at Saint John of Rochester,” Quinn says.
This year has also been significant for the nonprofit when it comes to volunteers. Saint’s Place added 54 volunteers, bringing its total active volunteers to 150.
“There’s not enough good words to say about the volunteers,” Quinn says. “They deserve all the credit. I mean, they’re the backbone. Without the volunteers, there’s be no Saint’s Place.”
Charles Schaff is a Rochester Beacon intern, a rising junior at Ithaca College and a member of the Beacon Oasis Project’s inaugural cohort. The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. Submissions to the Letters page should be sent to [email protected].