Emmanuel Community Care Center operates on donations, trusts and grants.

Emmanuel Community Care Center operates on donations, trusts and grants.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- The Mahoning Valley's poor economic climate is putting added demands on the Emmanuel Community Care Center.
"The programs we have are never enough to meet the needs of the people in this county," said Sister Jean Orsuto, H.M., center executive director at 2 N. State St. downtown.
The numbers of poor who are helped at the center speak for themselves.
In 2003, the center provided food assistance to 899 families, or 2,538 individuals; utility assistance to 71 families; and housing to 13 families, including 23 children.
"I'm very humbled by the people who come here and the struggles they've been though," said Sister Jean, who took over operating the center in March 2003.
Replacement
Sister Jean replaced Sister Lucille Conley, H.M., who retired after operating the center for about 10 years.
The center operates on private donations, grants from the Ohio Department of Development and Ohio Housing Trust Fund, money from the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, national Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Salvation Army.
Sister Jean can be seen ringing the bell around town during the Christmas holidays, because the center is a unit of the Salvation Army.
The center provides transitional housing with eight apartments it has in the downtown for single, homeless parents, Sister Jean explained.
Although housing is available for two years, the average stay is 18 months while the parents receive educational help or job training so they can become employed and move on to permanent housing.
Two women have been honored by Trumbull County Children Services' Rising Up and Moving On awards for pulling themselves out of poverty and becoming productive.
"I'm really proud of them," Sister Jean said.
Homeless prevention grant
A big boost this year has been a $160,000 two-year grant from the Ohio Housing Trust Fund to support a homeless prevention program through December 2005.
"That's a great boost for us in our area," she said.
The program helps pay utility bills, short-term rent and security deposits and assists those with eviction notices in Girard, McDonald, Liberty, Mineral Ridge and Weathersfield Township. Catholic Charities serves the others in Trumbull County.
The 59-year-old nun said the need for the program has expanded in the past six months because of the Valley's economic climate. In 2003, she pointed out, 100 new families registered for assistance.
Working with Second Harvest Food Bank, the center has a pantry to provide food for those in need.
It also operates a clothing center for men, women and children. And it distributes household items such as sheets, dishes, towels and some furniture.
"Whatever people give us, it's our goal to give it away," Sister Jean said.
The center's digs have been improved. The office was remodeled to accommodate the two full-time staffers and three part-time workers.
Sister Marjorie Haidet, H.M., is administrative assistant.
Right person, right job
Sister Jean knows the area. She was raised in Ashtabula and spent 20 years as a nursing administrator at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
She spent four years in Cincinnati and Duluth, Minn.
When Sister Lucille announced she was retiring, Sister Jean contacted her and asked about the job.
"It was a perfect transition for me," Sister Jean said, because of her medical background and her being an advocate of women and children.
"It's a wonderful job," she added.
yovich@vindy.com