Hope for the Homeless in Time for the Holidays -- Eva's Village, Paterson, New Jersey, Reinvents the Shelter in New Jersey

Eva's Village, (http://www.evasvillage.org), Paterson, NJ, announces the opening of Hope Residence of St. Frances for Mothers and Children. Eva's Village is actively seeking support for Hope Residence for Mothers and Children and other programs to assist the poor in these hard economic times.

Paterson, NJ (PRWEB) December 2, 2008 -- Eva's Village (http://www.evasvillage.org), Paterson, NJ, has reinvented the homeless shelter (http://www.evasvillage.org/shelter.html) for mothers and children in New Jersey.

With the support of private charitable foundations, New Jersey businesses and hundreds of volunteers, a former convent will now provide a home for up to 30 mothers and 70 children.

Inspired by popular television shows such as "Extreme Makeover, Home Edition", Eva's Village Chief Marketing Officer, Donna Fico enlisted hundreds of volunteers, including local home furnishing and design businesses, corporations, girl scouts, schools, church groups, community groups and individuals, to furnish and decorate Hope Residence.

The result is four floors of beautifully decorated bedrooms, baths, living areas, kitchen and dining areas, computer rooms, a playroom bursting with toys and a bright laundry. Outdoors, volunteers provided new landscaping, including a playground and a patio outfitted with plantings, barbeques and patio furniture.

The mothers living at Hope Residence receive counseling, treatment for addictions, job readiness training, financial guidance and parenting classes. Children receive counseling, school placement, an after-school program to help with homework, computer training, daycare and more.

Eva's Village Executive Director, Sister Gloria Perez relates that "…one volunteer put it perfectly when she said 'If my child can have a cozy blanket and a bright, cheerful room, why shouldn't a homeless child?'". Sister Gloria describes Hope Residence of St. Frances as "…a complete redefinition of what we think of as a homeless shelter."

Eleven mothers and twenty children just moved into Hope Residence of St. Frances (http://www.evasvillage.org/shelter.html) in time to enjoy their new home for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

For more information on Hope Residence of St. Frances for Mothers and Children, and the many other programs provided by Eva's Village, email Donna Fico, Chief Marketing Officer at Donna.Fico@EvasVillage.org or call (973) 523-6220 Ext. 220.

Originally a New Jersey soup kitchen (http://www.evasvillage.org/kitchen.html), Eva's Village was founded in 1982 by Msgr. Vincent E. Puma in response to the homeless problem (http://www.evasvillage.org/about.html) in his Paterson, NJ parish. But Msgr. Puma soon realized that a soup kitchen was not enough. With the generous support of thousands of donors and private and government grants, Eva's has grown into the most respected anti-poverty program in New Jersey, with a four-star rating (maximum) rating by one of the most respected non-profit monitors (http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=10212).

Eva's Village includes Eva's Kitchen, homeless shelters for men, women and mothers and children, inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment, and a free medical clinic. (http://www.evasvillage.org/shelter.html) This uniquely comprehensive social service program treats even the most unfortunate with dignity and provides hope for people like Angela, a mother of two, who came to Eva's Village addicted to cocaine and is now in recovery, employed, attending college and living in Eva's village transitional housing with her children.

Donate to Eva's Village NJ Charity or for more information, go to http://www.evasvillage.org/ call 973.523.6220, email Donna.Fico@EvasVillage.org or write to: Donna Fico, Chief Marketing Officer, Eva's Village, 393 Main Street, Paterson, NJ, 07501.

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