Acts 4 Ministry Formed Alliance With Homeless Outreach Program "CHD Hospitality Center"

Acts 4 Ministry, Inc., a non-denominational non-profit organization in Waterbury, has formed an alliance with the Center for Human Development (CHD) Hospitality Center in Waterbury. Their ongoing united ambition will be to provide clothing and toiletries to homeless individuals throughout the Greater Waterbury region.

Members of Acts 4 Ministry’s volunteer staff and staff with the Center for Human Development (CHD) were photographed following the announcement of their alliance between the non-profit Acts 4 Ministry and CHD to provide clothing and toiletries to homeless individuals throughout the Greater Waterbury region. Photographed (l to r) were Amy Mowrey, Pastor’s Wife, Walnut Hill Community Church; Shakirah Howard, CHD Hospitality Center Assistant Coordinator, Donna Giglio-Lesser, Acts 4 Ministry Client Care Coordinator; Dionna Glover, CHD Hospitality Center Direct Care Worker, Joann Slavin Acts 4 Ministry Volunteer, Liz Cruz Acts 4 Ministry Volunteer, Karyn Thompson, Acts 4 Ministry Volunteer Coordinator; Sandra Bryne, Anna Newman and Elaine Weston Acts 4 Ministry Volunteers.

Through the alliance, on the fourth Thursday of each month, between 8:30 and 10:00 a.m., Acts 4 Ministry staff members and volunteers will go to the CHD Hospitality Center located at 693 East Main Street in Waterbury to hand out free clothing and personal care products to individuals on a “first come, first served” basis.

“Our organization has learned,” stated Sarah Elizabeth Carabetta, Acts 4 Ministry Executive Director, “that CHD’s Hospitality Center is a true haven for the homeless population as it offers opportunities for individuals to take a shower, do laundry, use a phone, computer and fax. It is also a physical location with a U.S. Postal Service mailing address where they can collect their mail, plus take shelter from the extreme weather conditions and enjoy a brief respite from the harshness of living on the street. The Center also provides information about programs designed to help move people out of homelessness.”

Center for Human Development (CHD), founded in 1972, is a CARF-accredited organization providing a broad range of high quality, community-oriented human services to 23,000 children, adolescents, adults, and families each year. The organization is dedicated to promoting, enhancing and protecting the dignity and welfare of people in need. The CHD Hospitality Center is designed to meet these individuals’ basic personal care by providing hygiene products for showers and soaps for laundry. They also provide social support through group and team-building activities, MCCA Latino Services, general hearing testing, plus a resource library.

The mission of CHD Hospitality Center is to empower homeless individuals by identifying their strengths and accomplishments. Any obstacles that may surface, our dedicated and caring staff will be present, supportive, encouraging, and dependable. This is a place where a person who is homeless can build healthy relationships within the community without judgement.

Shakirah Howard, CHD Hospitality Center Assistant Coordinator, commented, “We recognize that Acts 4 Ministry is doing life changing work so we are pleased to partner with them to work collaboratively to serve our homeless community.”

Carabetta explained, “Acts 4 Ministry is not a church. We are a collaborative group of a volunteer Board of Directors, staff members and a multitude of volunteers who desire to share God’s love by meeting the physical needs of others. We achieve this goal daily on many levels by collecting and distributing, free-of-charge to recipients, clothing and housewares with an accommodating furniture program through volunteerism. Each year we distribute clothing to nearly 4,000 people, and over 3,000 pieces of furniture and housewares to people of varying income levels throughout the Greater Waterbury area.”

Families and individuals are frequently referred to Acts 4 Ministry by other charitable and social organizations to assist people who have suddenly lost their homes to a fire, flood or other unexpected devastation or upsetting life event.

The organization’s vision is to build relationships with people with varying levels of needs while providing them with the basics of daily living. Acts 4 Ministry, Inc. organization strives to partner with churches, social service agencies, and public schools to help identify and serve people with these needs in the context of the broader community regardless of their faith, race, creed, or national origin, or their willingness to participate in religious activities.

Donations are accepted year-round at Acts 4 Ministry’s building at 1713 Thomaston Avenue in Waterbury, Mondays through Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m., and select Saturdays. Donations can also be left in Acts 4 Ministry’s donation box outside there building adjacent to the building’s parking lot. Tax-deductible receipts will only be provided when donations are brought into the Acts 4 building.

For more information, visit www.acts4.org or call 203-574-2287. Monetary donations may be U.S. Mailed to Acts 4 Ministry at P.O. Box 4524, Waterbury, CT 06704.