10/28/08 11:52 - 39ºF - ID#46383

I need your help!

I wanted to do a very non-official poll about what non-profit groups you think are worth supporting in the area. What causes are important to YOU in Buffalo?

I'm starting my thesis crap and I thought (e:strip) would be a great place to get some input..

Thanks!

joshua writes at 04:17:14 10/28/08 - Comment #41109: I'd agree with PUSH - a dedicated group of people doing good work in an area that needs it. Same with that gaggle of miscreants over at Lafayette! :D

I say this not only because (e:drew) is a fine person and I know him, but really... when you look up the cliche "doing God's work" you'd see a picture of (e:drew) and his church. Drew walks the walk when it comes to community involvement and helping the poor - people like that deserve support! Loaves and Fishes is an important and dare I say critical service for the poor in our community, particularly around the holidays when demand for food is high. I suspect (e:drew) would be modest though, and suggest CEM.

zobar writes at 01:48:51 10/28/08 - Comment #41097: I've heard some really good things about UNYTS but I don't have any first-hand experience [thank God].

- Z

janelle writes at 01:12:44 10/28/08 - Comment #41095: Loaves and Fishes, which is a CEM program.

CEM stands for Concerned Ecumenical Ministries. Started as a small coalition of West Side churches and now provides lots of social services to the West Side. (e:Drew) can probably be more specific.

james writes at 12:55:02 10/28/08 - Comment #41093: PUSH.

morgan writes at 12:53:11 10/28/08 - Comment #41092: What's CEM?

Literacy Volunteers and PUSH sound like a possibility to me - Thanks!

gardenmama writes at 12:49:44 10/28/08 - Comment #41090: I can recommend a couple of organizations that donâ€™t have huge budgets or a lot of â€œextra fatâ€ in them, that I know do good things:

Literacy Volunteers of Buffalo - they work with people of all ages and do a lot of stuff with family literacy. Also, they help a lot of refugee families who have been resettled here with learning to read/write English.

AMI (Alliance for the Mentally Ill) of Buffalo & Erie County does a Christmas is for Kids project every year that provides holiday gifts and a party for kids (and their families) who receive out-patient services from the WNY Childrenâ€™s Psychiatric Center. The vast majority of these are families living in poverty.

drew writes at 12:35:18 10/28/08 - Comment #41088: Lots of good choices. After, of course, Lafayette Church, PUSH would be high on my list. I als0 like CEM.