News
Elevator Construction Begins!
After years of waiting the Response to Love Center is starting the installation of an elevator to allow for handicapped people to access all our services. We have been serving people in the parking lot in all kinds of weather because our building has at least 10 steps at each entrance. This will change hopefully as soon as November 1 2013 with the installation of an entrance ramp and a full sized elevator. The elevator construction has begun and we are now appealing for financial help to complete the project. To see photos of the progress made CLICK HERE
To help fund the elevator project please CLICK HERE
Picture: 1st row: Analee DeGlopper and Marissa Lakeman; 2nd row: Dianne LoCurto Barrali (Class of 1963) and Erin Tracy; 3rd row: Ben Leahy, Josh Warrington, and Adam Brown.
Protein Power Assists Local Agency
Event: Protein Power Assists Local Agency
Date: Saturday, March 16, 2013
Location: St. John the Baptist Church & School, 1085 Englewood Avenue, Kenmore, NY 14223
Protein Power has been the focus of St. John the Baptist’s students these past weeks. Students took up a collection of peanut butter and protein to stock the shelves of Buffalo’s Response to Love Center. Dianne LoCurto Barrali, a volunteer at the Response to Love Center, specifically partnered with the St. John’s students. Mrs. Barrali, a graduate of St. John’s Class of 1965, was aware that the school focuses on specific outreach projects, such as sending their middle school students regularly to the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen and St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy. Michelle Salemi, the school’s Director of Advancement, welcomed this opportunity to raise awareness among the entire school. Ms. Salemi noted, Focusing on the proteins was really key to the success of this drive. Protein is not only an important nutrient, but it’s often an expensive one for people to afford. Having our students focus just two items—peanut butter and fish—allowed us to provide much needed protein to the agency’s food pantry and it felt especially good assisting one of our alums to help our own community. It was a perfect opportunity to combine the Catholic call for Lenten almsgiving with a worthy service project. Much power will come from this protein project!
Picture: 1st row: Analee DeGlopper and Marissa Lakeman; 2nd row: Dianne LoCurto Barrali (Class of 1963) and Erin Tracy; 3rd row: Ben Leahy, Josh Warrington, and Adam Brown.
As Posted on WGRZ.com 12-26-2012
BUFFALO, NY- It was a true Christmas celebration at the Response to Love Center Tuesday. Just weeks ago when the community center's boiler broke, they feared they wouldn't be able to serve those in need this holiday season. But thanks to the generosity of Western New Yorkers, the center is filled with warmth, and so are the hearts of those who gathered there today.
"It's a time of coming together as a family, as a community, as a neighborhood, and it's really joyful," said the Center's director, Sister Mary Johnice.
Hundreds of Buffalo's less fortunate filled the Response to Love Center Christmas day. Their Christmas meals with turkey, stuffing and all the fixings didn't just fill their bellies, they filled their hearts as well.
"There's really a sense and a spirit here that these are our people and we're able to provide now for them with the warmth in the building, and just the warmth of the volunteers here who come from all over WNY," said the Center's maintenance supervisor, Michael Gilhooly.
Volunteers were glad to share their Christmas Day with strangers who could use a smile.
"We can be kind of stressed with all the work that has to go on. But when you see who it's going to and what it's worth, your time, your talent, everything that you do is meaningful," Sr. Johnice said.
This holiday season the community recognized the invaluable work the center does each and every day, and donors from across the country gave more than $100,000 to replace the broken boiler. They've since given the new boiler a very fitting name.
"The plaque on the boiler says 'Emmanuel- God With Us.' Not only for the boiler but that He will be with us continuously," said Sr. Johnice.
By receiving this very special gift, it means the Response to Love Center can go on and keep giving.
"It's the year of giving. It's the year of faith, and the whole community came together, and it really showed that we're not alone," she said.
The center plans on using the leftover donations to add an elevator to the front of the building, so it can be accessible to even more people in need.
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Buffalo Fire Department Visits Response to Love Center. October 18, 2012
The Buffalo Fire Department held an informational fire prevention seminar for the students at the Response to Love Center. All three classes GED, Computer and ESL (English as a second language) assembled in the lower hall and were shown fire fighting equipment, fire fighters turn out equipment and home safety devices. The students were encouraged to ask questions about home safety and fire prevention strategies. After the seminar students were invited to go outside where they saw and participated in demonstrations by the Buffalo Fire Department on the use of fire hoses. Some of the students were instructed on the use of a 1 ½ inch fire hose that was charged with water to experience the force of the water pressure the fire fighters use in an actual fire.
In addition to the fire safety information the firemen discussed job opportunities offered by the Buffalo Fire Department.
Thank you to the Buffalo Fire Department for taking time from their busy schedule to speak to our students.
To view the Channel 2 news story visit
http://eastside.wgrz.com/news/news/69934-buffalos-bishop-and-flying-nun-take-air-one
Response to Love Center Blessing
October 10, 2012 To celebrate the feast day of Blessed Mary Angela, Sister Mary Johnice Rzadkiewicz and the Erie County sheriffs arranged a helicopter ride for an aerial view of the East Side of Buffalo. Bishop Richard J. Malone and Secretary to the Bishop, Msgr. David Li Puma were invited for the unique flight. Sister narrated the excursion pointing out the neighboring Churches, partnering agencies, the vacant lots and abandoned housing.
Upon arrival, Sisters Mary Catherine Raczkowski, Mary Rose Szymanski, the staff and more than one hundred volunteers from Response to Love Center greeted the Bishop. The helicopter landed on the neighboring lot and all gathered as Ronald Bagienski, neighboring Pastor of Saint John Kanty Parish offered the pre-flight blessing for a safe journey.
As the flight took off, everyone else gathered in the lower hall of the Center and shared in a luncheon provided by Broadway Pizza Express. During this time, a slideshow of the sights was presented and engaged the audience with the aerial view that was taking place during the helicopter ride.
On return from the flight, Captain Kevin Caffrey, Art (pilots) and the travelers entered the lower hall of Response to Love Center. They were greeted by an array of red and white votive lights to depict the Light of Christ and the opening of the Year of Faith.
A short program took place with prayer and reflection. The Bishop led those gathered with a prayer for the New Evangelization. Afterwards, he gave praise for the presence of the Felician Sisters on Buffalo's East Side and affirmed the wonderful ministry at Response to Love Center. The charism of Blessed Mary Angela is Gift that is alive and touches the lives of those in need! His parting words of encouragement were "Live the dream and it will never die!"
Congratulations!
Response to Love Center Adult Education Student JoeAnn Smith has been named for "Honorable Mention" by the New York Association for Continuing / Community Education.
Pictured are Kathleen Majchrzak / JoeAnn Smith / Sr. M. Johnice
Again the community is coming forward to help support the Response to Love Center on Buffalo’s East Side.
Thank you for all your support!
A heartfelt THANK YOU to Victoria and her friends for a night of wonderful music
and supporting the Response to Love Center.
Congratulations to Shantelle McDowell!
Shantelle graduated from the GED class at Response to Love Center in 2008.
Since then she has attended Erie Community College studying Criminal Justice.
We are happy to announce she just earned her Associates Degree.
Shantelle is planning on continuing her education at
Buffalo State College studying Law Enforcement.
Shantelle is featured on our Success Board and continues to be
an inspiration to the Staff and Students at Response to Love.
Volunteer from West Hartford Connecticut to work at the Response to Love Center for a week.
Buffalo NY 07-26-2011
Felician VIM (Volunteers in Mission) volunteer, Andrew Dorr arrived yesterday from
West Hartford, Connecticut and is sharing in a two week experience at the
Response to Love Center in Buffalo, NY.
Andrew, a High School English teacher at Avon High School,
comes to the center as a remarkable and caring individual.
Andrew began his ministry in the dining room serving
lunches to the clients. Sr. Johnice said “we would like him to
experience the many services we offer here at the Response to Love Center.
He will be working in all our departments.” Sister continued, “
and he is open to following in the footsteps of Jesus as he serves the poor.”
Andrew’s past experience, working with at-risk youth in the Hartford area,
is valuable to the GED students, who themselves have fallen through
the cracks in the educational system here in Buffalo.
We look forward to his stay here in with the Felician Sisters, the staff
and everyone he will meet. He is one of the many “Gifts” God brings us.
Andrew Dorr is pictured below with Sr. Johnice Director of the Response to
Love Center and 2 youngsters at the dining site.
The Buffalo Hunger Project is a project of the Buffalo Institute for Urban Ecology,
a 501 3cnon-profit corporation.
This is the first in a series of continuing updates and information onassisting people
with the issue of food security in Buffalo.
For information contact Marie H. Kullman. Phone: 716- 228-6711 or Fax 716-393-8135.
E-mail buffalohungerproject@gmail.comP.O. Box 729, Washington Station, Buffalo, NY 14205
To Download a copy of the Guide CLICK HERE
Response to Love Center Volunteer in Nursing Home Makes Christmas Brighter for both Young and Old Alike
By Mike Gilhooly
Long time Response to Love Center volunteer Dan Makowski was placed in the Erie County Home and Infirmary last year after a short illness prevented him from living alone any more. Danny volunteered as a pantry paperwork inspector for more than 20 years. Many of our clients came to know and care about Danny. Thanks to the care he is receiving at the Home in Alden Danny is doing much better, in fact he is doing so well he has started a new mission to provide stuffed animals to the people at the Response to Love Center. Danny plays bingo and has been saving his winnings (stuffed animals) to give to the Center and the people we serve. Sr. Johnice makes regular visits to Danny and this last visit Danny presented Sr. Johnice with two BIG bags of stuffed animals to distribute at the annual Christmas Dinner. As promised Sr. Johnice was delighted to present the stuffed animals as a special gift to the people that came for Christmas Dinner. The people that knew Danny were moved to tears to get a “gift” from an old and special friend.
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