Community Strong: Interfaith Makes a Difference in the Community
In May, I joined the staff at Interfaith as a marketing associate and have been learning so much about what Interfaith does for the community. I have seen firsthand the many ways Interfaith helps and interacts with our community. When I share that I work at Interfaith, people always express positive feelings towards Interfaith. Multiple people have told me that they are regular shoppers. Most people know about our three store locations (Forest City, Susquehanna, Montrose), but not everyone is familiar with all that we do.
The first event I have been a part of is Legacy Night.
There, I saw the community come together to celebrate the legacy of Interfaith. It was encouraging to see and hear stories of how much Interfaith means to others. More than that, it was uplifting to witness the fellowship our community shares. Many also donated money toward the store. It was a fun-filled night with a lot of preparation. Oftentimes the hard work of others goes unnoticed, or we forget how much goes into events like Legacy Night. More than the promotional aspects, there was so much time that went into the event. Without the hard work of the staff, events like this wouldn’t be possible. Beyond this, the community’s support means so much to Interfaith.
I have also witnessed all that goes into our Back to School Shoe Program. We had over 600 children signed up to receive new shoes, a backpack, and school supplies! There were many appointments and much preparation that occurred to be ready for the appointments. Our community’s generosity helped make this possible. Bridgewater Church helped pack backpacks on their Be the Church Sunday. They generously gave a few hours of their time to help Interfaith. Interfaith has so many amazing programs that make a difference in our community. Here is a brief overview of the many programs that greatly impact others.
These programs have given me a glimpse into the work Interfaith does. Their impact doesn’t stop there. Interfaith has many impactful programs that I am excited to learn and promote.
What Interfaith does
Our Mission: Provide transformational help & hope to our community.
What We Do
We provide hope and help to those in our community who need it most. Interfaith has several programs that run throughout the year. Each program provides for the needs of our community. Programs include Adulting 101, Emergency Assistance, our Back to School Shoe Program, Christmas Bureau, Dream Camp, Pathways, and Parent Pathways.
Mentorship and life skills:
Immediate assistance:
Support:
Grief Groups
Our programs meet the needs of the community in a way that offers hope and gives others dignity. Here is what a few participants of each of our programs have to say about the impact Interfaith has made.
Emergency Assistance:
"If not for your assistance, I would have run out of fuel, and my pipes may have frozen, causing further financial hardship."
- anonymous participant
Christmas Bureau:
“It helped so much; without this program our 4 boys would not have had a Christmas this year. We wouldn't have had a Christmas dinner or presents. My family and I are so grateful for this program. We hope to give back one day when we can afford to.”
- anonymous participant
We couldn't do our programs without the support of our generous donors. Because of you, we can provide even more individuals and families with hope.
Ways to get involved:
links:
We not only run programs throughout the year, but we have volunteers who generously give their time and effort to Interfaith. Our volunteers give their time week after week to sort donations, tag donations, and place them in the store. Hundreds of hours go into store operations. Here’s what one volunteer said: Interfaith means to them: “A beacon of hope in our community.”
Now I understand why people smile and have great things to say when I say I work at Interfaith.
Help us share hope by volunteering, giving, or donating gently used items.