Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
A Court Appointed Special Advocate's mission is to train and supervise a diverse group of volunteers to advocate for children who have been abused and/or neglected. The children are at risk of being removed, or have been removed, from their homes. Our goal is a safe, permanent home for children as soon as possible. CASA becomes involved with a case by appointment from a Family Court judge. If interested, please contact Margie Benza at 248-2427 x 244 or margie.benza@dor.org.
Elderberry Express
Elderberry Express is a senior (55 and older) citizens transportation service for Pittsford residents and residents at 81 Linden Knoll in Brighton. All our volunteer drivers handle any valid senior activity. Service is free, but donations are accepted. The service operates Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 3 PM. If interested in volunteering, please the Elderberry Express at 248-6237.
Global Solidarity
Global Solidarity Ministry
Our Global Solidarity Ministry (GSM) has partnered with Food for the Poor for over 11 years, helping communities in Central America with various economic development projects. We have supported projects in El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras, moving between the countries and projects as the political environment allows. This strong tradition of helping the least of our sisters and brothers beyond our borders is routed in Catholic social teachings. (Matthew 25). We are determined to commit our work to the common good. It is our goal to visit the communities we serve by immersing ourselves through annual service-learning mission trips generally held in February. For more information about this ministry and to discover how your time, talent and/or treasure can reach the families we serve, please contact Lauren Burruto at lburruto@gmail.com
Together with Food for the Poor and FUSAL we ask for your prayerful consideration to help strengthen maternal care and early childhood development in rural areas of El Salvador by donating to this project.
Together, We Can Build Brighter Futures
You can transform the future of children in El Salvador. Food for the Poor (FFTP) and their in-country partner, FUSAL, through their early childhood development program, work to modify family behaviors and conduct monthly activities in community sites to strengthen children's development. Your kindness makes this possible. Every dollar raised on this page goes directly to the Church of the Transfiguration's partnership with Food for The Poor’s Maternal Care & Early Childhood Development program supporting 50 community sites in rural areas of Cuscatlan, El Salvador, ensuring that young children in these impoverished areas have the resources they need to learn, grow, and succeed.
Why Early Childhood Education Matters
The brain evolves at an unprecedented rate during the first few years of life, establishing 700 to 1,000 new neural connections per second. These connections depend largely on the interactions between children and their caregivers as well as environmental stimuli, both positive and negative. Limited early stimulation services and a lack of family involvement in educational activities, especially by fathers, are the norm in El Salvador. Among families in rural areas, the situation is aggravated.
This program will provide families with appropriate training and spaces to strengthen the emotional bonds between parents and children, develop key skills for their transition to pre-school, drive understanding of the importance of dedicating quality time to interacting with their children and how play contributes to fundamental skills development during childhood. You can be part of the solution. Click HERE to see the video of our recent service/learing trip to El Salvador.
Your Gift Can Open the Doors to Learning
Every donation to this campaign helps to:
- Provide 50 community sites with durable educational toys, a children's library to promote art and reading skills, and other materials promoting early stimulation activities
- Support community sites with training for 180 volunteers committed to delivering early childhood education to families in their own communities
- Provide instruction on nutrition and meal preparation essential for physical and mental development
- Ensure children have access to safe and inspiring learning environments.
Education is more than learning—it’s opportunity, empowerment, and a brighter tomorrow.
If you would like to donate to our current project El Salvador, we have several ways to do so.
- Donating online is fast, easy and secure. Simply click here to go to our FFTP Champion page: www.foodforthepoor.org/transfiguration
- You can write a check directly to Food for the Poor and write Transfiguration SC162658 in the memo line to ensure tracking. Whether you are writing a check or sending one through an IRA or Charitable Giving Fund, please include this Source Code and “Church of the Transfiguration” on the check. Place that donation check in an envelope and mail it to:
Food For The Poor Inc.
Attn: MGI Dept. -Champions c/o Kitty Soriano
6401 Lyons Road
Coconut Creek, FL 33073
- Bring your bottles and cans eligible for deposit in New York to Upstate Bottle Return where we have an account set up. They have several locations in our area. If you choose to go, simply tell them you would like your donation to be credited to the Church of Transfiguration’s account, or put them in the bin in the walkway to the PLC.
Please contact Lauren Burruto at (585) 259-4553, or email her at: lburruto@gmail.com with any questions.
Highlands Ministry
Twice per month a team of volunteers brings Communion to individuals at the Highlands of Pittsford. If you are interested in joining the team, please contact Margie Benza in the parish office.
Hope for the Homeless
This is a ministry in collaboration with St. Mary's Church downtown to provide food, toiletries and basic health screening to chronically homeless men and women in and around downtown Rochester. Please contact Deacon Eric Bessette 264-1796 or via the Contact Us page of this website.
Kentucky Men's Retreat
This is an annual week long retreat in Boonville, Kentucky where we work with the poorest of the poor, praying with each other, getting to know and supporting each other. It is a powerful part of Men's Fellowship. The retreat is usually held in September and has resumed in 2023, after being paused due to COVID. If you are interested in learning more about this, or becoming a leader of a future retreat, please contact Rob Kozarits at rob.kozarits@gmail.com.
Kentucky Women's Retreat
A powerful week-long retreat in Boonville, Kentucky, where we serve the poorest of the poor while being spiritually renewed through prayer, communion and support of one another. This retreat is usually held at the end of April each year. Please contact Meg Kastner at the parish office if you are interested in learning more or participating in a future retreat.
Rochester Hope
Rochester Hope is a new not for profit organization whose motto is “Bring Caring Hands to the Heart of the City.” We are located primarily on the St. Michael’s Church Campus at the corner of N. Clinton and Clifford Avenues. We are convinced that every human being has dignity and that if we encounter one another as sisters and brothers we will discover the dignity that unites us and find ways to tear down the imaginary walls that divide us.
Services provided:
- Over 300 families served at our Food Pantry each week.
- Breakfast and a hot lunch every Saturday for approximately 280 people.
- Direct access provided for health care, housing, educational opportunities and more through 40 different social service providers that rotate through the Church Hall each Saturday.
- Free clothing distributed on the first Saturday of each month for our food pantry clients and community members.
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Volunteers needed every Thursday and Saturday and for a variety of one-time opportunities
- Monetary donations appreciated and accepted through our website at Rochesterhope.org
More information: Contact us at rochesterhope.org or lisa@lisamorris.com.
Saint's Place
"Saint's Place is a volunteer organization based on Christian values, that provides household goods, clothing and education to legal refugees of all races and creeds who settle in the Rochester area to escape violence, discrimination and poverty". Located at 46 South Main Street, next to St. Louis Church, Saint's Place accepts donations (in good condition) of furniture, household items for kitchen, bath, bedroom and living rooms. Volunteers are needed to pick up and deliver donations, organize and sort household goods and clothing, and provide tutoring to newly arrived refugee children. Bulletin announcements inform our parishioners of the current needs of Saint's Place. Clothing in good condition can be donated at the Clothing Closet located at St. John of Rochester. If interested, please contact Rosemarie Burke (662-5569) burkem@aol.com
St. Andrew's Food Pantry
St. Andrew's Food Pantry is looking for some birds, hams and a few good volunteers. Volunteers can work during the Pantry hours of operation, 9:30-11:30 AM, Tuesday- Friday. More volunteers are needed during the Christmas season. Call Margaret Oberst at 338-1764 if you would like to learn more. Donations are always accepted, especially frozen turkeys, canned hams, other canned foods, and cash donations. St. Andrew's Food Pantry is located at 890 Portland Avenue, Rochester NY.