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 [email protected].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.
Family Promise of Greater Rochester (FPGROC)- Formerly known as Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (RAIHN)
The FPGROC ministry provides a transition for families (parents with children) that have temporarily lost their housing. These are truly homeless, but not the stereotypical image that comes to mind. They have lost their homes due to fire, loss of livelihood, illness, new to the Rochester area … many of the crises that you or I might encounter. The families are referred to the program and are pre-screened for addictions, abuse, and mental illness. They just need a break to get their lives back on track.
Church of the Transfiguration actively supports the Shelter Program by providing volunteers to the host congregation, Mary Magdalene in East Rochester. These volunteers provide the families with dinner and overnight support 2 days a week, 4 weeks a year. For more information, click HERE.
There are many ways to support Family Promise of Greater Rochester as a volunteer or with donations. For more information on Family Promise of Greater Rochester: www.fpgroc.org/
For information on how you can volunteer with other Transfiguration members, please contact Barbara Balzano [email protected]
Global Solidarity
Global Solidarity Ministry
Our Global Solidarity Ministry 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 through annual 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 [email protected]
In March of 2023, we completed a housing initiative for the community of AMATITAN ARRIBA, El Salvador. We achieved our goal of raising $294,000 for 30 homes ($9,800 each). We know through the years of working with the poor in Central America, providing a sturdy, dry home free of mold and intrusion from the harsh rains is the first step for restoring dignity and security. Each home is equipped with a living/dining room, two bedrooms, an eco-kitchen with a wood-saving stove under an open but covered patio, electrical installations, water component including a sink, laundry room and shower area, sanitation, including a flushable toilet, three doors and four windows, beds and dining table/chairs. Your donation has transformed lives allowing families to be safe and sound in their community. To learn more about this ministry, please click HERE.
Currently, the GSM at Transfiguration has partnered with Food for the Poor on a Sanitation and Hygiene Project for the community of Rio de los Bueyes, El Salvador. This is a very rural community that is in desperate need of a proper sanitation system for 62 homes and a K-9 school.
Fundraising for Phase One is underway now which will provide 10 families with a bathroom module that includes a sink, shower, laundry room, and washable latrine with gray and black water treatment system. This phase will also include construction of six new bathrooms at the school with proper facilities for boys and girls. Currently, they must leave school to use their family’s latrine disrupting their education. This project will help ease the breeding of insects and parasites that carry many gastrointestinal diseases.
Although people in the U.S. would never tolerate these living conditions, families in rural El Salvador are accustomed to living in extremely unhygienic surroundings.
Phase One : 10 sanitation modules for 10 homes with septic system $3,381 x 10 = $33,810; plus, six new bathrooms with septic system for the K-9 school = $17,410. Total Cost of Phase One: $51,220
Please help us to elevate the standard of living for the families in Rio de los Bueyes by donating to this project. Please see below for how to give.
If you would like to donate to our current project in Rio de los Bueyes, El Salvador, we have several ways to do so. Put your spare change in the glass jar in the Gathering Area. Bring your bottles and cans with NYS deposit to Upstate Bottle Return! We have an account set up at Upstate Bottle Return. They have several locations in our area. If you choose to go there simply tell them you would like your donation to be credited to the Church of the Transfiguration’s account. You can write a check directly to Food for the Poor and write Transfiguration SC154009 in the memo line. Place that donation check in an envelope and mail it to:
Food for the Poor
ATTN: Kitty Soriano
Major Giving Dept. - Inside
6401 Lyons Road
Coconut Creek, FL 33073
You may use a credit card by going to the Church of the Transfiguration’s Champion Page on the Food for the Poor website. The link is: https://foodforthepoor.org/transfiguration
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 but was suspended during COVID. If you are interested in learning more about this, or becoming a leader of a future retreat, please contact Rob Kozarits at [email protected]
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.
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) [email protected]
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.
School #39 Tutoring - (Note - suspended during COVID)
With the poverty rate in the City of Rochester one of the worst in the nation, the affect can be seen most profoundly in children. Volunteers from Transfiguration visit once or twice a week during school hours, and partner with teachers to tutor elementary students in Math and Reading. The individual attention and extra assistance makes a world of difference for our young friends. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Rose Hartman @ [email protected]