The Buffalo Infringement Festival infringed on the Broadway Market yesterday changing up your typically Saturday at the Market.  Add in the HOPE Center’s annual rummage sale to the mix and it was really dynamic day at 999 Broadway.

One of the coolest spaces in all of B-F is the roof of the Market.  It offers a great view of the neighborhood and downtown plus is simply an awesome space to hold events like the Infringement Festival.

Downstairs…the Hope Center’s annual rummage sale was a success.  I spoke with the center’s Joyelle Tedeschi and she was thrilled with how the sale went.  Heck, I even scored an old World University Games mug.

Photos:

The Hope Center now offers FREE YOGA classes!

Get fit and de-stress with us every Friday morning at 10:00 a.m.

The yoga classes are made possible by volunteers from Evolation Yoga featuring B-F resident Amanda Hippert who sent along the photos above.

She’s  had the idea of bringing yoga to the neighborhood for awhile.

From Amanda:

I want the people around this neighborhood to get involve in it as much as possible. This is a very good opportunity for all of us as a community to start taking care and healing ourselves, this way we can take care of everyone around us.

Awesome…

Call 893-7222, ext. 310 to register for the class!

The Hope Center is located at 385 Paderewski Drive.

ALIVE!

(By Janice L. Habuda – Buffalo News) Working with the ease and efficiency of movement that comes with experience, Tasha Moore plates and then Grace Simmons serves hot meals, tableside, in the Urban Diner.

Neither works in the food service industry — not yet. And the Urban Diner isn’t your typical restaurant.

Clients of the Erie County Social Services Department, Moore and Simmons “work” three days a week in the Matt Urban Hope Center’s soup kitchen, fulfilling a federal requirement — at least 20 hours a week of community service or furthering their educations — imposed by welfare reform in the mid-1990s.

Pursuing a general equivalency diploma — which many lack — or workplace skills such as computer competency are the education options.

The three components comprise the Safety Net Achievement Program, a federally funded collaborative of the Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center of WNY, United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, the county Social Services Department and the Buffalo Public Schools that began in May 2008.

Read full story at the Buffalo News—>

Resume Building Workshop
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 11:00am
Matt Urban Hope Center

Interview Skills Workshop
Monday, February 14, 2011 at 11:00am
Matt Urban Hope Center

Contact the HOPE Center for more info…

Phone: 716-855-2124 or Facebook

(Lou Michel – Buffalo News) Getting a job could be getting a little easier for the poor.

A boutique clothes closet dedicated to providing financially strapped individuals with suitable attire for job interviews officially opened Friday.

The clothes closet is at the Matt Urban Hope Center, 385 Paderewski Drive, across from the old Central Terminal. Hours are 9 a. m. to 4:30 p. m. weekdays.

But the facility might not have been possible if it weren’t for two area Boy Scouts in search of an Eagle Scout project.

Alexander Fumerelle, 17, of Kenmore and a member of Troop 37, refurbished the women’s bathroom and tiled the runway.

Read full story—>

I just found out about the HOPE Center being broken into and thieves stealing Christmas gifts for children of the neighborhood and the Center’s flat screen TV.

I got on the horn and called Karen Carman from the HOPE Center to see if there is anything I could do to help.

She told me about how they really didn’t know what to do when they first discovered the gifts were stolen and was scrambling to find a way to replace what was lost.  According to Karen, an anonymous tip to WGRZ got an appeal going for donations.

After the appeal went out, I am glad to report that the Buffalo and WNY community stepped up and helped make sure that the Christmas would happen for the kids of the Hope Center.  Joel Basil Chevy donated $500.00, people were stopping by the center dropping of gifts and money all day.  

Karen was amazed at the outpouring of generosity from the community and said that the party they have scheduled today will go on as planned.  I could here the tears in joy in her voice as she described the way people stepped up to help.  She wanted to let people know how thankful the HOPE Center is.

HOPE Center’s Facebook Page—>

On Tuesday, December 21, 2010, at the Garden of Hope, 385 Paderewski Drive in Buffalo, at 3:30 p.m. the Western New York Coalition for the Homeless and the Homeless Alliance of Western New York, local service providers and people experiencing homelessness, will remember those who have died and recognize those who have suffered in 2010 because of conditions associated with homelessness.

Info…716-855-2124

From HOPE Center’s Facebook page…

HOPE Center is in dire need of winter clothing – especially hats, gloves and scarfs – both children and adult. Winter boots would be great too. Today we had a child come to the Hope Center looking for a pair of gloves!! When you shop this holiday season, please consider buying something warm for someone in need! Thank you all for your continued support!!

Contact 716-855-2124 if you can help…

Tuesday, December 14 (2pm-5pm)
Wednesday, December 15 (11am-2pm)
at the Matt Urban HOPE Center, Polonia Hall, 385 Paderewski St.
Thursday, December 16 (11am-2pm)
at the Lt. Col. Matt Urban HUman Services Center of WNY, 1081 Broadway.

This is part of an initiative of the John R. Oishei Foundation and the Mobile Safety-Net Team.

The Fillmore District Community Resource Fair is where residents can come find out what type of services are available in the community…they can also sign up for services, meet with counselors, or just meet and discuss issues.

Some of the partners include the Buffalo City Mission, Catholic Charities, Erie County Department of Social Services, Food Bank of WNY, Homeless Alliance of WNY and more!