Center offers help to those in need

Food, clothing, toys, even a sympathetic ear

By Erick Slattery | Manor Ink

Monticello, NY – People are in need all over. Many search for help, seeking a place to retreat to when life gets too rough. They may be homeless and living in a hotel or shelter, or lacking in clothes, food, diapers for their babies and supplies for themselves and their children. Fortunately, 1st Way Life Center in Monticello, a 501(c)(3) organization, is here to provide help, not only for expectant women or new mothers, but for anyone in crisis.

The center not only provides for physical needs, but the staff is there to lend an ear and is willing to listen and help with issues such as homelessness, drugs and unplanned pregnancy.

Advocating empowerment

The 1st Way Life Center is all about empowering women by providing help for those who find themselves in a difficult situation. Many people come into the center for assistance, or even just to get away from home life for a few hours and let their children play with the toys in one of the rooms at the center while they relax with a cup of tea.

All sorts of people visit the center. “Older people, the elderly in distress, people who need food stamps,” said Annette Rein, director of the center. “We even had a lady call from a bus station – she needed a ride because she didn’t know where she was.”

Rein said that if anyone has problems of any sort, they can always come to the center whenever they feel comfortable. She stressed that the space is available for anyone wishing to have an open conversation. The center is very understanding that certain problems these people have may be difficult to talk about.

“It’s very difficult to come forward to talk about an experience like some of these,” Rein said. She lends an open ear to talk about any and all issues without judgment.

Positive experiences, too

Once in a while a client will come in to share something good that has happened in their life – a new job, getting their GED, finding a new apartment, etc. The center gives house plants as a house-warming gift and calls it “Plant Parenthood.” While a plant may seem like a trivial item, it is something to make a home seem more inviting and it means a lot to the recipients.

The center collaborates with many other community organizations and services. They have made arrangements with a laundromat so that clients can do their laundry free of charge. Many families are living in hotels with no other way to do laundry, and this great service gives them one less thing to worry about.

If you would like to donate items, the center is always looking for things such as food, clothing, diapers (especially larger sizes), wipes, gently used toys, strollers, pack-and-plays and bouncers. Gift cards to Walmart and Shop-Rite are welcome as well. You can drop these things off at the center at 435 Broadway in Monticello or call 845-796-5305.