Solidarity

My name is Norma Benitez, I am originally from Mexico but I have lived in New York City since 1990, that is when I met the Little Sisters of the Assumption. I now work with them in the congregation’s office in the United States and I am a Lay Assumptionist.

I would like to read to you a few lines from the 2022 General Chapter of the Little Sisters of the Assumption:

« Most of our communities of Little Sisters of the Assumption are in contact with immigrants and refugees…. Our missionary commitments put us in contact with and at the service of these persons and families. In a certain sense, we can say that our mission is the Pastoral Care of Borders. This extends beyond geographical borders and includes all borders that are marked by exclusion of all kinds; domestic violence, social violence, gender-based violence, lack of access to health care, education, work… »           

                                                                                                                      LSA General Chapter 2022

Today I want to talk a little bit about solidarity, and how we live it in a small way, but in my opinion, with great impact.

The Little Sisters founded community centers in different parts of the United States and there are currently two in Massachusetts and one in East Harlem, New York where my family and I live, called Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Services. In the late nineties, in response to a need in the community the center decided to add another program to their set of comprehensive programs, vital programs such as food pantry distribution and advocacy, Health and Family Development programs that they already had, a program that perhaps to many was not very important, a thrift store called « The Sharing Place ». This program could not only provide the population with high quality clothing and household items at very low prices, but it would also be a good way to « educate » the residents of East Harlem and the benefactors of our community center with the concepts of Recycle, Reduce and Reuse and thus together we could help our Mother Earth. The benefactors would help by donating things they no longer use or need and the community would have access to items that were otherwise inaccessible to them. The store was well received and over the years two other thrift stores opened their doors to serve the East Harlem community.

These affiliated thrift stores are « Arcoiris » and « Anne Mary’s Place » are grassroots cooperatives, rooted in the mission of the Little Sisters. They are run and managed by community cooperative members who are invested in the betterment of their neighborhood. The thrift stores also generate and maintain social networks of support for members and customers. They provide East Harlem residents with affordable, high-quality clothing and household items. They also share some of their inventory with city shelters and other non-profit organizations. Homeless people in the surrounding area know that when they need a change of clothes they can come in and do not have to pay for them. The stores also provide free emergency goods to people in urgent need, for example, when they are victims of a fire in their home and have lost all their belongings or when a woman flees her home with her children because of domestic violence and they have no clothes to wear.

« Solidarity is seen as the ability to accept differences, appreciate diversity, understand the needs of others and act accordingly. »

At this time New York City has received more than 125,000 immigrants from Central and South America, creating a « crisis » of how to help this wave of people. We reaffirm the excellent work of non-profit organizations, such as our community centers, the work of legal aid groups, human rights groups and caring people in general who have helped and continue to help every day. In this Spirit of Solidarity our thrift stores also wanted to do their part and committed to accept referrals to provide clothing and shoes to men, women and in many cases entire families.

I am a member of the cooperative and enjoy the opportunities I have to share with all of our customers. When I have the opportunity to talk to newly arrived immigrants, I do. I like to ask them where they come from, if they have family or how they are doing. Talking about their country puts a smile on their face, although sometimes the suffering of the journey is stronger and they don’t want to talk much. There is a story that touched me a lot, it is the story of a young Colombian. I noticed that he was looking at some rosaries that we had for sale in the showcase, I asked him if he needed help and he asked me the price of the rosaries. He told me that he was carrying a bible that his mother had given him to accompany him on his trip, he shared with me that at the border the officials took it from him. They would not allow him to keep it in his possession. I asked him if he knew how to pray the rosary and he said no but he could learn. I gave him the rosary and briefly explained how to pray it. He was very grateful and showered me with blessings.

« A SOLIDARIAN person shares material and emotional resources with others in need, giving the best of themselves and collaborating to achieve a common goal. »

Last year I had the opportunity to return to Mexico after 27 years. I accompanied my sister-in-law to visit a small town with many needs. We took clothes that she had collected at her job and with the help of a donkey we were able to take them to a very high hill and distribute them among people in need. After this visit, the cooperative is looking for ways to send clothes from NYC to other places, I hope that soon we will find this kind of support.

I am also part of a lay group called « LAZOS con Colombia y Nueva York ». This project affiliated with the Little Sisters of the Assumption is a group of friends who since 2006 have been mutually committed to the growth of the Centro Familiar CESOLES (Centro Solidaridad la Esperanza) in Colombia, raising funds to provide them with financial support. The Little Sisters, in partnership with a local Cali Community, developed a multi-service program for the families of the La Esperanza neighborhood, fostering the development of mind, body and spirit among their families. As a result of their excellent work in collaboration with the families, there is solid evidence of the transformation of children, adolescents and mothers/parents.

Each visit LAZOS members make to CESOLES is loaded with clothes that thrift stores in Harlem send to the Esperanza community in Cali.

In May I was able to visit CESOLES, I saw with my own eyes all that I had been told. I met the group of women who run CESOLES, starting with Sister Nora Lozano who along with the women of the Esperanza neighborhood have shown solidarity with their community and are making a big difference in the daily struggles and dreams of those they serve through the programs they offer.

I am very fortunate to be part of these groups where solidarity is one of their integral values.

I hope that support for thrift stores will continue. That way we can continue to serve others. « The Sharing Place », « Arcoiris » and « Anne Mary’s Place » are warm and welcoming places where neighbors shop, gather, socialize and also find the meaning of Solidarity.

Norma Benítez Sánchez

Little Sisters of the Assumption

Laïque – Petites Sœurs de l’Assomption – New York

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