The Bowery Mission in NYC

Antonio Amendola — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 13:47:55 +0000

(a story of Paolo Quadrini/S4C NYC)

- in italiano piu' sotto -

Founded in 1879, The Bowery Mission's purpose and goal have been to provide help and hope to the homeless and impoverished in New York for 137 years.

Their programs for men provide meals, emergency shelter, and residential recovery programs. As women became the new face of homelessness during the 1990’s, they adapted their experience in restoring the lives of homeless men to develop programs for women that offer hope and opportunity for a transformed life.

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Their children’s programs which serve at-risk youth began in 1894 by giving the children of recent immigrants the chance to escape the tenements in the summer. Today, their children programs are changing the life direction of at-risk youth in New York City.

Homelessness is both the problem and the symptom of other problems that can range from financial instability to chronic substance abuse, from unemployment to family trauma, and more. The Bowery Mission addresses homelessness as both the problem and the symptom by meeting basic needs through their compassionate care programs, and operating residential recovery programs that help the homeless to regain sobriety, reconnect with family and faith, pursue educational goals, and prepare for work and independent living.

On Thursday, November 24, 2016, The Bowery Mission served Thanksgiving Day meals to more than 7,800 men, women and children in all five boroughs of New York. At the Mission's flagship location (227 Bowery), over 650 volunteers prepared traditional turkey dinners and served over 1,700 guests in the Mission's century-old chapel, with music and festive decorations for the holiday.

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Over the course of the day, volunteers worked to serve traditional Thanksgiving meals to all guests from 8am to 7pm.

1,743 meals were served in the century-old chapel in Bowery.

A total of 5,539 additional meals were distributed to more than 24 partners of the Bowery Mission in all five boroughs.

They prepared and served 732 turkeys, 7,000 pounds of potatoes, 1,500 pounds of vegetables, 450 pies, 200 gallons of gravy, and 900 cans of cranberry sauce, just to have the idea of how big it was the work of the Mission.

Thousands of "Blessing Bags" were distributed — a practical gift including hats, socks, gloves, and hygiene kits and each guest received a new coat.

(una storia di Paolo Quadrini/S4C NYC)

La Bowery Mission è stata fondata nel 1879, il suo scopo ed obiettivo è stato ed è tutt’ora (137 anni di vita) aiutare e dare speranza ai senzatetto e ai poveri in tutta l’area di New York

Il loro programma per uomini fornisce pasti, ricoveri di emergenza e un programma di recupero di una residenza.

Dal momento che le donne aumentarono nel numero dei senzatetto durante l’anno 1990, essi adattarono la loro esperienza già avuta con gli uomini per sviluppare dei nuovi programmi per le donne che offrissero speranza ed opportunità per una nuova vita.

Il loro programma che serve giovani a rischio incominciò nel 1894 dando ai bambini dei più recenti immigrati la possibilità di passare del tempo fuori casa durante l’estate.

Ad oggi questo programma sta cambiando la direzione della vita dei giovani a rischio in New York.

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Essere un senzatetto è sia il problema che il sintomo di altri problemi che possono andare da una instabilità finanziaria ad un abuso cronico di droghe, da una situazione di disoccupazione ad un trauma familiare ed oltre.

La Bowery Mission indirizza la situazione dell’essere senzatetto sia come problema che come sintomo cercando di andare incontro alle necessità di base di queste persone attraverso un programma di cura compassionevole e mettendo in opera programmi di recupero di una residenza che aiutano i senzatetto a riguadagnare una tranquillità emozionale, a riconnettersi con la famiglia e la fede, a raggiungere obiettivi educazionali e a prepararsi per un lavoro e per una vita indipendente.

Nella giornata del Thanksgiving, il 24 novembre 2016, la Bowery Mission ha servito pasti a più di 7800 persone nei 5 quartieri dell’area di New York.

Nella sede principale della Bowery Mission (227 Bowery), oltre 650 volontari hanno preparato il tradizionale pasto con il tacchino e servito oltre 1700 ospiti all’interno dell’antica cappella della Missione, con musica e altro.

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La distribuzione dei pasti è durata tutto il giorno dalle 8 alle 19 e solo all’interno della cappella in Bowery sono stati serviti 1743 pasti.

Sono stati preparati e serviti 732 tacchini, 3175kg di patate, 680kg di verdura, 204kg di piselli, 757 litri di salsa gravy e 900 lattine di salsa al mirtillo, giusto per avere un’idea di quanto è stato grande il lavoro della Missione.

Subito dopo il pasto sono state distribuite nei vari turni migliaia di "Blessing Bags", un pratico regalo contenente cappelli, calzini, guanti e prodotti per l’igiene personale e ogni ospite ha ricevuto un cappotto invernale.

The Third Rider – Il Terzo Cavaliere

Redazione — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 20:59:03 +0000

I’m extremely happy to present a preview of Alfons Rodriguez latest work: THE THIRD RIDER. You might remember that we anticipated his intention to explore the issue of hunger and malnutrition.

(click to see the gallery)

Since then I kept regular contacts with Alfons and everytime we spoke he was in a different Country: Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Philippines, Haiti, India, South Sudan… I lost count but one thing was sure: he never stopped.

Over the time, me and Alfons developed a special friendship built on reciprocal professional respect and mutual appreciation. But most of all, Alfons is one of those documentary photographer who knows better. He knows how to handle delicate situations and how to carry the burden of telling forgotten stories with respect and dignity.

Strong images for an importan project and an important photographer. And I’m proud to announce that Alfons will be among the featured photographers exhibited in the big S4C collective exhibition “Stories4Change” in Rome, opening December 4th 2012.

Antonio Amendola

————

The Third Rider

(by Alfons Rodriguez)

The Third Rider of the Apocalypse, hunger, the black horseman, rides cruelly over our planet, today more than ever.

Seven billion of humans live on Earth, a quantity that is under some aspects unsustainable. One in seven is suffering starvation and/or malnutrition.

(click to see the gallery)

Climate change, natural disasters, wars and violence, discrimination, high prices of basic food, biofuel production and distribution of wealth…all these factors deeply influence the serious problem of food shortage in the world.

Women and children are among those who suffer most from the causes above mentioned. They are considered part of the lowest social class in many societies of the poorest countries. Every day 10.000 children die from starvation.

(click to see the gallery)

This situation, however, can be reversed. If we push all together we’ ll make the rider dismount his saddle.

This documentary project explores the problem of hunger worldwide, trying to shed light on causes and possible solutions…

Shoot 4 Change » poverty

The Bowery Mission in NYC

Thanksgiving in New York

Photo Gallery

Thanksgiving a New York

Galleria fotografica

The Third Rider – Il Terzo Cavaliere

The Third Rider