Althea Craig-Morelli
Reconnected Through LEFSA
“LEFSA got me reconnected with the Bible, God, and also with my family.”
I became affiliated with LEFSA in 2011 when I was living in Lenox Hill Women’s Shelter on Park Avenue. I always believed in God and that all people are children of God. Every week I looked forward to LEFSA coming to the shelter. It was my dose of reality, realization that my stay at the shelter had a reason, that I was in a valley only for a short time, and that this too shall pass.I felt a lot of love, forgiveness and compassion coming from Sr. Dorothy and James, it was a wonderful thing for them to do. Snacks they brought were also a wonderful treat. I assisted in any way I could when they came to the shelter, it made me feel like I was a part of that energy and vibe they carried with them.
Experiencing LEFSA’s gatherings made me look back into how blessed I’ve been in the course of my life. I realized I could have been in more trouble that I was in and that I’ve always had God’s favor in all the blessings and talents he had given me, and people he put in my life. I didn’t understand at the time why I was back in New York, I couldn’t stand it, but through LEFSA I was able to look at what lessons are in my experiences and how they have affected me. I looked at my journey through life; going to California, meeting my husband there, working, getting married. I realized one of my purposes in life was to marry him and take care of him when he got sick. Made me realize how strong I am. Made me realize how much I loved him, how much of a blessing he was. It was a healing experience in a way, because I never addressed some of those things, and through LEFSA I got to mourn for my husband passing, and my mother passing. I realized when looking at my life, that it’s a blessing, whether good or bad, and I knew that God was watching my life, making a final decision.
I didn’t know I was going to stay in contact with LEFSA, but in a shelter I met Diane and we gravitate towards each other. We went to LSTEP Program (Life Skills Program) together and it only made sense I stayed connected with LEFSA since she did as well. I drifted away from religion before LEFSA, but realized later that God was always there, orchestrating my life. When I met my husband, I thought my husband was the one providing everything, it wasn’t until the night he had his stroke that I realized that I had to take care of things, and I heard the voice saying: “you have half an hour to be irresponsible and then you’re on”. When taking care of my husband I realized how it is to be a single mom, I had to do everything with no day off. I stayed in great health the whole time until he passed away, and then I got ill.
I would have to say LEFSA got me reconnected with the Bible, God, and also with my family. I realized that everything comes from God. I had quite an epiphany about things that happen in my life and that bad things that are happening are signs that I shouldn’t be in a certain situation.
Over the years I shut myself off from people and through LEFSA I was able to reconnected with like minded people. All my memories of LEFSA are good, all the retreats that I’ve been able to go on, all the print outs we received, and learning how to address things in our lives. The women’s group has been really inspirational to me, what we do there is really wonderful, because we focus on questions that we all need to ask ourselves; how are we growing, processing, stagnating? Are we getting better and more Christ like or not? We all need to go in that direction. Attending Leadership Study Day has been equally inspirational to me. One of my favorite memories is when I saw the large shrimps at one of the events, it blew my mind, it felt like Christmas!
I think LEFSA is very special because it brings inspiration from someone who has been homeless, in a shelter, addicted, depressed, who suffered any kind of loss in their life. It has been a great place for shelter, compassion, understanding; it just feels like an all encompassing place that you want to come to and stay connected with. There are people here who you feel connected with, and it feels like a family that continues to grow.
Related Stories
Read what LEFSA participants, team members, and volunteers have to say.
Lisa
Lisa - Bringing out the love
I first starting coming to LEFSA’s women’s group in 2002 when a community member recommended me to the ministry. There I was introduced to Sr. Dorothy, who instantly made me feel really loved.
Timothy
They’ve seen their father become someone
You will know my disciples because they show love for one another. When you come to this community, that is what you are going to get. It takes time to work on people, but it works. It worked on me.
Janet
Support, encouragement and care
Several years ago, I arrived at Life Experience and Faith Sharing Associates, homeless and pregnant. Sr. Dorothy befriended me during that time when my life seemed to be falling apart. She encouraged me to get medical care and pregnancy counseling.
Amoy Chung
Encouraging and uplifting each other
“I honestly feel selfish for enjoying LEFSA the way I have. It was a very humbling experience that I will definitely cherish. At LEFSA, I feel at home. I always feel a sense of calm and serenity once the meetings start.
Lucy, LEFSA Housing Advocate
Food for the soul
In the beginning, being homeless was depressing. I was angry, ashamed, and upset for being in that predicament. I had no relationship with God. One day, I came in early from work and went to the Rec Room and ...
James Butler
It’s a blessing
It’s been our blessing to provide this service. So many people have said to us, ‘we thought you were not coming out today, but it’s a blessing you are here for us.’ And we are there, every Monday, whether it’s cold or warm outside.
Johnnie
A beautiful and warm feeling
I was in a shelter at Ward Island and one week I was told about a gathering, where they give us food and talk to us. At the time, my mom had cervical cancer. She was my partner and confidant. When I met James,
Joan B.
Testimony to ministry
I arrived at Lenox Hill Shelter for Women in July 2008, feeling sickly and weak. Sorrow had taken the place of joy, because of my dire circumstances. At least one and a half years earlier I had undergone a year-long treatment of chemotherapy.
Jorjina
LEFSA as a Family
When I was at a very low point in my life, someone invited me to the LEFSA Women’s Group. Fortunately, I was not working that day,
Grace
God had something for me
“The retreat was beautiful and overwhelming. The people that I met, the staff, the team, the ladies and the men and Martindale—everyone touched my heart deeply. I was invited by Georgia and Pamela,
Debbie Canty
We are always here
“I met LEFSA in 2004. I’d been staying at New Providence Women’s Shelter and was on my way to sign out, and I heard gospel songs, like my mom used to sing. Sr. Dorothy walked up to me and invited me in.
James, LEFSA Team Member
Feeling alive again
It was 2011 when I first entered LEFSA’s Men’s Spiritual Development Group. I happened to hear some men talking about it at St. Bart’s Soup Kitchen and decided to join them the following day.
James Addison
Getting life back
LEFSA gave me my life back. It didn’t just give me my life back, it gave me my family’s life back too. Because when I got better, my family got better also. And not only did my family get better, but my community got a little better.
Donna
Drawn to the positivity
I’d been at Franklin Women’s Shelter and was feeling depressed and down. I was sitting in the corner and didn’t have a sense of direction or know which way to go. I had been working in-home care,
Cameron
Feeling at home
“I got involved with LEFSA though my sister, Althea, about 6 years ago. I attended the LEFSA picnic and was amazed by how many people were there—by the food, camaraderie and the whole good feeling you got. ”
John Wesley Mitchell
Little Miracles
A couple of weeks after I moved out of the shelter and into my apartment, I was confined to a wheelchair. One night while coming home, a lady smiled at me and said: “you need LEFSA.” Somehow she knew
Mario Pimentel
Finding Faith Again with LEFSA
Let me begin by introducing myself. My name is Mario and I’m a 54 year old Dominican raised in West Harlem. I met LEFSA while living in the Boulevard Men’s Shelter on Lexington Avenue. Let me say it’s a very dark place,
Brittany Robert
Inspirational and life changing
Thank you to all of the members of LEFSA for welcoming us into your phenomenal community. Each and every one of you is inspiring, and what you do is extraordinary.
Althea Craig-Morelli
Reconnected Through LEFSA
I became affiliated with LEFSA in 2011 when I was living in Lenox Hill Women’s Shelter on Park Avenue. I always believed in God and that all people are children of God. Every week I looked forward to LEFSA coming to the shelter.
Iris Sankey-Lewis
Living is giving
If you can envision two white nuns, neatly dressed with religious pins on the fronts of their blouses, wearing sneakers, and pulling shopping carts through the streets of Harlem, those were Sr. Dorothy Gallant and Sr. Teresa Skehan.