2014 What a Wonderful Year

As we close out 2014, we thought we would take the time to reflect on the year that was and thank you again  for “being a part of it.”

We kicked off the service year in March, as we have for last 16 years, with Northern Illinois University’s Spring Break Service Trip to Wyoming County. The students provided much-needed home repair for three  young families and assisted with programing at Head Start, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Itmann Food Bank. Encouraging young people in their commitment to serving others is a vital part of the PV mission, and we are delighted to see both spring break and summer volunteers going on to further volunteer assignments.

In April, the PVs spent a week in Seattle, Washington. This year the traveling volunteers were joined by five PVs from the Seattle area.  The volunteers served at a local soup kitchen, worked at St. Francis house (where Seattle residents can

receive food, clothing, and housewares), assisted with projects at both Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and School, and joined relief efforts in Oso, Washington, which faced devastation and loss due to mudslides that had claimed 35 lives the month before.

As June rolled around, we headed back to Wyoming County, West Virginia for our 17^th summer. It was another great summer of service, community, and reflection. We carried out emergency repairs to keep families in 25 homes, assisted with programs at Glen Rogers Manor, Itmann Food Bank, and St. Vincent de Paul, and conducted

our always popular basketball camp for children.

PV service in Bedford Stuyvesant continues throughout the year with meetings of Women’s Empowerment Brooklyn (WEB), the young women’s empowerment group, which is celebrating its 8^th year. WEB is able to continue thanks to a small group of dedicated local PVs and a very committed group of young women. The program continues to have a positive presence in the lives of all involved: Women from WEB volunteer as PVs in West Virginia, and also in

their own community, and the PV mentors help with college applications and interview skills, as well as support for WEB families.

The PVs headed to Aurora, Illinois, in September for our second annual service program. PVs served at Hesed House, a shelter and transitional living program that provides temporary housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, assisted with ESL classes through World Relief, performed many needed repairs at St. Rita’s parish, and assisted My Father’s Hands and Emmanuel House with repairs for local residents.

As a small organization trying to make a large impact, we ask for your help for our continued sustainability.  Your tax-deductible year end gift is greatly needed to allow us to continue to provide a volunteer experience for the hundreds of PVs who serve with us, and the many people who lives are impacted by the service provided by our compassionate and dedicated volunteers.

Your continued generosity and enthusiasm enable us to do great things.

Jenny and Jill