Click on each photo to enlarge.
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- Perth Amboy Wilda Diaz speaks as a video on the plight of the homeless is shown on screen *Photos by Katherine Massopust
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- Sgt. Sandra Rivera (R) receives an award from Mayor Wilda Diaz (C). Senior VP of the YMCA Mary Ann Lawrence (L) looks on.
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- Pastor Bernadette Falcon-Lopez (L) and YMCA CEO & President Steve Jobin (R) receive a citation from Mayor Wilda Diaz (C)
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- Erynie Ramos gives a testimony how she had to face homelesness with her children in order to escape domestic violence
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- Pastor Raul Lopez (R) & Margarita Feliciano (L) provide music for the event
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- YMCA Board Volunteers Rosemary Oarsley (L) and Aviva Woog (R) begin the fundraising portion of the event.
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- Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac
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- Sgt. Sandra Rivera with her sisters
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- Sgt. Sandra Rivera (C) with fellow Police Officers,Supervisors, and people who work at the Center for Support, Success, and Prosperity
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- Sgt. Sandra Rivera with the YMCA Board
In Conjunction with the YMCA Center for Support, Success & Prosperity, God’s Army Ministries and Other Community Agencies:
Special Recognition to Sgt. Sandra Rivera
PERTH AMBOY – On Thursday, November 29, 2018 a fundraiser was held at the Portuguese Sporting Club, State Street to raise money for the Center for Support, Success, and Prosperity, located on 392 Smith St., Perth Amboy. The Center provides many social services to the homeless, and has been successful in getting those in need get back on their feet.
This is proven by statistics provided by Director of the Center, Pastor Bernadette Falcon-Lopez (Pastor Berny) who is also the Pastor of God’s Army Ministry. Pastor Berny stated over the first 3 quarters of 2018, 42 individuals were provided employment services and were all hired. 107 have permanent placement. 69 received emergency shelter placement. 190 received entitlement services which includes disability and welfare. This provides income to help with placement.
Pastor Berny emphasized the importance of the Center is it provides an address for those who need important mail sent to them when they are applying for social services and job applications. The purpose is not to give these clients permanent handouts, but a helping hand up. It’s important to provide the tools and a path to self sufficiency.
Sgt. Sandra Rivera was given the Shine the Light Award. Sgt. Rivera has assisted those in need, even after she was officially off-duty. The homeless just know her as “Sandy” – not as Sgt. Rivera.
YMCA President and CEO Steve Jobin emphatically stated that the goal is the decrease the number of people living in dire situations. It doesn’t take much to be on the other side of the fence.
During the testimony of Erynie Ramos who was once homeless, she became emotional while telling the story how she had to make the tough decision to escape an abusive husband with her children. She had it all with a nice home and her kids in a good school system. She knew is was best or herself and her children get out of this toxic situation. She was able to contact Pastor Berny, who escaped from similar circumstances.
At the end of Ramos’s speech, people stood up at several tables and said, “I am the face of the homeless.”
That’s because becoming homeless can happen to anyone at anytime.
