Geneva Center for Worship & Service
Newsletter
Summer 2019
41 NORTH ST. PO BOX 532, GENEVA NY 14456 | (315) 789-1055
A Message from the Officers The heat of the summer translates into fun days in the water, vacations, family visits, and lots of good food. This summer, we are blessed to send 18 children for a weeklong camping experience at Long Point Camp in Penn Yan. Our Community Garden is waking from its winter slumber as well, making available fresh produce to anyone in need. And now, with the creation of our Men’s Clubs, Women’s Captains Luiz & Nydia Martinez Ministries, and character building programs, The Salvation Army is uniting our community through a shared love of service and kinship. Programs like these help the people of Geneva develop new skills, instill a sense of self-confidence, and promote positive social interactions. Thank you to our supporters and partners that make summer programs like these possible for the children and families of our community!
Jaymarie If you walk through the doors of The Salvation Army, chances are you’ll happen upon one of Geneva Commanding Officers, Capt. Luis and Nydia Martinez, busy at work, finding a way to help those who need it most. Their efforts are so important for the people of the Geneva community. People like Jaymarie… Jaymarie is a single mother who came from Puerto Rico searching for a better life for herself and her two children. When she arrived at Geneva this past winter, she found herself in a nightmare situation. As a non-native English speaker without a high school diploma, finding a steady job was going to be a battle. “I had no idea what to do, I was so lost!” she said. With some financial help from Social Services and welfare, she was able to pay for food and rent while searching for employment and taking care of her children. But as winter ended and no job was in sight, she knew she needed more help. In Geneva, over 22% of Spanish speaking people live at or below the poverty line. For single mothers and female heads of households, that percentage nearly triples. The Salvation Army is one of the only agencies in Geneva that offers programs specifically designed for Spanish speaking people, by Spanish speaking people. For families like Jaymarie’s, The Salvation Army of Geneva can be a helping hand in a time of need. After learning about The Salvation Army from a representative at the Department of Social Services, Jaymarie approached Lt. Luis and Nydia Martinez. Hearing her story, they immediately set out to help her and her children step onto a path of self-sufficiency and success. Jaymarie began attending the English Second
Thanks to you... Food Pantry We served 835 households, a total of 1,902 different individuals, with 7,515 meals.* Financial Assistance 37 families received rental, utility, or prescription assistance* *February - April 2019
_____________________ Mark your calendars! Our annual golf tournament will take place at Big Oaks Golf Course on Aug 17th at Noon! Please reach out to Capt. Luis Martínez at 315-789-1055 if you’d like to attend!
_____________________ Planned Giving If you have included The Salvation Army of Geneva in your estate plans, or would like more information on how to, please let us know so we can help ensure your gift is used exactly as you intend. Please call our Planned Giving Department at (888) 434-1391 or visit tsaempire.giftlegacy.com
Jaymarie Continued.... Languages courses offered at our location at 41 North Street, learning the basics of the language as well as key words and phrases to help during her interviews. They also helped her with food, emergency assistance, pastoral care, and even took time to review and edit her resume. For Jaymarie, this generosity made her feel at home. Jaymarie’s family members are active participants in Salvation Army programs including the afterschool Homework Help program and the music education program. In April, making use of all the information she learned from her ESL classes, Jaymarie began what she hopes will be a growing role with a small business in town. And just this past month, Jaymarie managed to start building a savings account! “The Salvation Army is like family to me,” Jaymarie concluded. “I’m happy to be here!”
Long Point Camp: A Life Changing Experience In the summer, The Salvation Army operates week-long sessions at Camp Long Point. It is one of the most unique summer camp programs in New York State! Frankie is one of our campers. When the quiet 9-year-old first attended three years ago, he didn’t know any of his fellow campers. Three summers and many games of soccer later, he is now a leader at Long Point Camp. “I’ve made a lot of new friends since I first went there.” Lori, Frankie’s older sister, said “It’s a place where he can meet new people, and he has fun. He looks forward to it because it feels like a home away from home.” For children, camp is more than just a fun experience. It is a proven tool to foster self-esteem and independence. For $500.00, you can provide a week of learning and discovery to a deserving child from our area. The Salvation Army strives to make it possible for children to attend camp at no charge, thanks to support from our donors. To find out more about Long Point Camp, visit longpointcamp.org or contact Anita Leitgeb at (315) 748-6443.
Hello From Anita Leitgeb
Did You Know? The Red Kettle is a symbol of Christmas and its image is synonymous with The Salvation Army. But did you know that every dollar raised from our Kettles stays in the community, becoming part of our annual budget that allows us to offer vital services year-round? This is one of the ways The Salvation Army provides hope to so many individuals and families in need throughout the City of Geneva! Thanks to your generosity we are able to provide: • Emergency Assistance • English as a Second Language classes • Homework Help and Literacy Programs • Youth Character Development • Men’s Club & Women’s Auxiliary • Worship Programs At The Salvation Army, our goal is to provide our friends and neighbors the support they need to move from dependence to self-sufficiency, from isolation to community, and from indifference to love. Thank you to our volunteers, our many community partners, and to all those who donated this year to our Red Kettle! What a blessing you are to those in need!
My name is Anita Leitgeb and, as the Donor Relations Director for Geneva, I am so thankful for the support our community provides to The Salvation Army! I feel honored and proud that together we get to assist in providing so much relief to so many in need. I would love to talk with you about the programs and services we provide, and to share the many ways making a gift can impact the work of The Salvation Army. Please reach out to me at (315) 748-6443 or email at anita.leitgeb@use.salvationarmy.org. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of those we serve! I look forward to speaking with you! 41 North St. PO Box 532, Geneva NY 14456 | (315) 789-1055