Mineola-Garden City Rotary welcomed Mary Joesten, founder of Faith Mission as guest speaker at its lunch meeting at Calogero’s on July 12.
Rotary had become aware of this extraordinary organization whose mission is to provide food necessities and gently used or new clothing for Mineola residents in in need and their families. A charitable 501 (C) (3) all-volunteer organization, Faith Mission was founded by Mary Joesten and her late husband in the late 1960s. Faith Mission was born out of the Joesten’s concern for those less fortunate.
Functioning in incredible space at the Lutheran Church of our Savior, 132 Jefferson Street in Mineola, are dedicated volunteers who create more than 250 boxes of nonperishable food each week. Recipients from Mineola, mostly immigrants, depend on this vital resource.
Desperately needed are food items such as cereal, mac & cheese, rice, beans, canned tuna and meat. Devoted volunteers (some from nearby schools) sort and box Items for distribution to appreciative recipients on Saturday mornings between 9 and 11 p.m.
Donations are welcome and may be brought to the Lutheran Church on Thursdays (preferably) and Saturday mornings between 9 and 11 a.m. Due to the COVID pandemic, recipients of the food boxes line up on the sidewalk – stretching around the block from the church and are handed the boxes boxes at the door.
Faith Mission also provides clothing and accessories and items for children such as school supplies and toys. Mary Joesten said that of particular need are coats and jackets in large sizes (2X,3X) which often need to be purchased through kind donations from friends and family.
Due to need, Faith Mission must find a new location in which to operate. They need to find a facility which can provide about 2,000 square feet in which to function. Mary says Faith Mission hopes to remain in Mineola in order to continue to serve its residents in most need. Wishing to be of assistance, Rotarians made several suggestions to help with capacity and logistics needs.
Mary Joesten told Rotary that Faith Mission would be unable to operate as it does without the help of so many devoted volunteers, the support of family and friends along with generous monetary donations from those wishing to help.
It is heartwarming to see how from humble beginnings as a soup kitchen, that Faith Mission has evolved into a bustling hospitality center that helps thousands of people in in need within the Mineola community.
Reminder:
Stuart Richner, CEO & Publisher,
Herald Community Newspapers, to speak
Next Tuesday, July 26, 12:15, at Calogero’s Restaurant, 919 Franklin Avenue, Mineola-Garden City Rotary will host as guest speaker, Stuart Richner, CEO and publisher of Long Island-based Richner Communications, Inc. (RCI). Mr. Richner will report on the significance of local news on our democracy, and provide insight into the influence of local media.
The twenty-edition Herald Newspaper Group has been noted as one of the most award-winning community newspapers in the country. RCI also owns the Pulitzer Prize-Winning Riverdale Press in the Bronx. Mr. Richner also oversees Richner Printing LLC, a commercial printer based in Garden City, NY.
An active member of several professional newspaper associations, he serves on the Board of the New York Press Association along with Meg Morgan Norris, Club president.
To reserve for the lunch meeting on next Tuesday (fee, $35), please email editor@gcnews.com by early next Monday, July 25.
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