The House of the Good Shepherd

This Thanksgiving, we are beyond grateful to share that 80 Thanksgiving dinners were provided to the children and families we serve. This incredible milestone was made possible thanks to the generosity of Pursuit Aerospace, who donated 52 turkeys this year, along with Chanatry's Hometown Market. We’d also like to give a HUGE thank you to our amazing volunteers who worked tirelessly to construct and package each meal with love and care. Your dedication ensures that every family can enjoy a warm and festive holiday meal. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping make this holiday season so special for our community. Together, we’re making a difference. From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

Exciting news! The House of the Good Shepherd is honored to be a recipient organization for Stuff The Bus CNY this holiday season! Thanks to this incredible initiative, children in our care will receive toys that bring smiles, joy, and holiday magic. Want to make a difference? Drop off new, unwrapped toys at participating locations, or visit https://lnkd.in/dwNCRG6 to learn more about how you can help. Together, we’re making the holidays brighter for kids in our community! #StuffTheBusCNY #HolidayGiving #BrightenTheHolidays #CommunityKindness

🌟 We’re not just preparing leaders; we’re building a community of changemakers ready to make a positive, lasting impact! 🌟 At The House of the Good Shepherd and Together for Youth, we believe that our leaders are at the heart of our mission. We’re dedicated to supporting their growth and well-being, as our recent Fall Leadership Day Conference shows. Over 150 leaders gathered to explore the theme, "From Surviving to Thriving: Leading with Purpose and Resilience." 💡 With inspiring insights from Dr. Bird on resilience and the “Happiness Code” and Jaydn McCune’s reflective leadership guidance, our leaders gained powerful tools to inspire purpose and resilience in their work. Special thanks to Mohawk Insurance Services, Inc. for helping make this impactful day possible. Together, we’re building a compassionate community of leaders committed to creating change. 🌍💙 #Leadership #CommunityImpact #ThrivingTogether

This past week, Melissa Pavlicek and her husband, Gunnery Sergeant Jerald Pavlicek, were honored by the Utica Comets organization as local hometown heroes. Melissa Pavlicek is a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served for 23 years. She was deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Iraqi Freedom. After retirement, Melissa achieved her Master’s Degree in social work and continues to serve the local community here at HGS. Jerald is a Veteran of the United States Army and Marine Corps, retiring after 20 years of service. He was deployed in support of the Gulf War and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Thank you, Melissa and Jerald, for your dedication and service to our country. We are honored to call you part of the HGS family. This Veterans Day, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all veterans. Your courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment inspire us and remind us of the freedoms we hold dear. Thank you for your service! #HappyVeteransDay

Help us bring warmth and comfort to young people in our programs by donating NEW pajamas in youth sizes 10/12 – 18/20 and teen sizes S – 2XL. For many, a cozy pair of pajamas is more than just sleepwear—it provides security and hope. Together, we can make a difference! Drop off donations through 12/13 at designated locations. Let's spread comfort this season, one pair of pajamas at a time! Calabria Coffee-New Hartford Planet Fitness-New Hartford Pacemaker Steel and Piping Company-Utica Olive Garden- Commercial drive A'peel Day Spa-Clinton Paddywacks-Clinton Indium Corporation-Rome & Utica White's Welding-Brookfield NBT Bank-New Hartford-Seneca Tpke Adirondack Bank - Four locations: - 185 Genesee Street Branch (Utica) - 2817 Genesee Street Branch (New Hartford) - 4697 Commercial Dr, (New Hartford Branch by Sumo's) - 136 Oriskany Blvd (Whitesboro Branch) Smith Packing LLC Palmer Food Services Woodford Bros., Inc.

Last Thursday, Chief Program Officer Kathy Perkins and Assistant Director of Development Leila Bjornland attended the Retiree Council 8 Fall Luncheon at Valentino's Restaurant. Kathy was asked to be this year's guest speaker. She highlighted The House's mission and the growth of our Kinship Foster Care program, with special emphasis on Tilton School and our commitment to quality education. Lee spoke on the essential role of private donations, mentioning the Spirit of Josh Fund's support for our recreation program and the Brighter Future Fund's assistance to five college-bound students. The Retiree Council collected over $500 in donations for The House, celebrated with a round of applause. We appreciate the opportunity to speak about our programs. Kathy and Lee connected with many attendees who expressed newfound appreciation for The House's impact, underscoring our role as a vital community resource.

💖The HGS Team participated in this year's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, proudly standing behind survivors and advocating for awareness. 💖

Today, our amazing Tilton School team came together to show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness by wearing pink! This vibrant show of solidarity is a tribute to all those affected by breast cancer and a reminder of the importance of early detection and ongoing research. Together, we stand strong and united in spreading awareness and supporting the fight against breast cancer. #PinkOut #BreastCancerAwareness #TiltonSchoolCares

Our youth and families enjoyed a wonderful evening on Wednesday at the Sanctuary-inspired mini-golf event held at Gold Rush Golf Course! This special gathering, hosted and supported by our dedicated Sanctuary CORE Team, offered a meaningful opportunity to connect and celebrate resilience and teamwork in a fun, welcoming environment. Through engaging activities and supportive interactions, everyone embraced Sanctuary principles, highlighting safety, support, and inclusivity. A huge thank you to Gold Rush Golf Course and our Sanctuary CORE Team for making this event a memorable experience for all!

It's Bullying Prevention Month! Yesterday, we wore ORANGE to stand together against bullying and celebrate inclusion! Assistant Principal Sarah Roselli and Kayla Aponte, a Teacher at our Tilton School, joined the movement. Our incredible educators make a difference daily by fostering inclusive classrooms where every child feels valued and accepted. Through their patience, kindness, and dedication, they created safe spaces for students to learn, grow, and build positive connections. #UnityDay2024 #TogetherAgainstBullying