Perth Amboy 2/8/18 *Photos Submitted by Pastor Bernadette Falcon-Lopez
PERTH AMBOY – The Center provides care management services for homeless and in danger of being homeless. We have clothing distribution at the storefront. It has racks and shelves to make the homeless feel like they are shopping. We also have cubby holes where they keep their towels and hygiene products. We have shower facilities, a kitchenette, flat screen tv’s, games and a computer station for resume writing, job search, apartment search and on-line program applications. We also have a children’s section at the care management area so that parents applying for programs will feel safe that the children have a safe place to play. We also have shelves that were built by Home Depot who have partnered with the center. The shelves will be to display art work received from homeless artists.
We had a great turn out at the open house. It was a blessing to see so many within the community supporting the center. The mayor even mentioned that we should expand to the building next to us. Toshiba donated computers, tv’s and the printer.
Our homeless friends were at the open house, and when I was speaking, I cried remembering the loss of some of our friends especially Pragnesh (Sammy) Panchel who was the first of our friends to die. He was the victim of the Miller Street fire back in February of 2014. Some of them cried along with me as they remembered their friends on the memorial wall. Honestly, I feel that the memorial wall is by far my favorite area at the center. The homeless named every area in the center themselves. They call the storefront “The Gallery at the Foyer”, the children’s section “The Fun Zone”, the kitchen is “The Kozy Kitchen”, the computer area “The Station” and the area with the tables and TV’s the “The Living Room” and finally where the art will be displayed will be “The Art Center”.
— Pastor Berny
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua1:9)
