Saint Vincent's Receives Funding from the Sisters of Mercy

Mercy Sisters (L to R):  Bernadetta Ryan, RSM, Rosemary Laliberte, RSM, and Elaine Marchand, RSM.

The Northeast Mercy Ministry Fund Council of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas has awarded Saint Vincent’s Life Skills Program a grant in the amount of $15,000.  The Life Skills program provides youth who transition to independent living and young adulthood with opportunities to learn the necessary skills to live independently, complete their education or GED, and engage in specific school-to-work experiences.  Youth participate in an assessment of interests to better identify training in specific job-related skills.  They receive job and career development coaching and learn valuable employment skills at work-based learning sites on Saint Vincent’s Fall River campus and throughout the community.  Youth are encouraged to establish meaningful, sustained connections with supportive adults and community groups in order to have a more successful transition to independent living.  The grant award received from the Northeast Mercy Ministry Fund Council of the Sisters of Mercy will be used to provide the youth with vocational stipends for work completed at work-based learning sites within the community.

Rachele Foley, Saint Vincent’s Life Skills Services Coordinator commented, “We are very grateful for the support of the Northeast Mercy Ministry Fund Council.  They not only provide us with the youth vocational stipends, but they also support us through their ministry efforts, working directly with our youth.”  Three Sisters of Mercy presently minister at Saint Vincent’s.  Funding from the Northeast Mercy Ministry Fund Council will help approximately forty youth receive vocational training and school-to-work opportunities.