Salesian Missions' 75th Anniversary Campaign

Salesian Missions Launches
75th Anniversary Campaign

Aims to Help Ship Supplies to Poor Youths and Families

(ANS – New Rochelle – February 17, 2022) – In honor and celebration of its 75th anniversary, Salesian Missions in New Rochelle has launched a new campaign to raise $75,000 by Feb. 28, 2022. The time-limited campaign will help the organization leverage the power of its Gifts in Kind program to deliver nearly $1.1 million worth of goods to youths and families in need in 2022. For every $1 donation, Salesian Missions is able to send up to $14 in goods.

Fr. James O’Loughlen established the Salesian Missions office in 1947 with a charter to tell the stories of the Salesians’ global programs and rally support to enhance their efforts. During the past 75 years, Salesian Missions has provided a remarkable impact for the poorest, most disenfranchised, and most vulnerable children and families. To date, more than 3 million children have been helped by Salesian programs in more than 130 countries around the globe.

“Ever since I stepped into this role three years ago, I have heard about so many children and adults whose names I will always remember. Youths are building much brighter futures thanks to the education, training, social support, and other assistance they needed but could never have accessed on their own,” said Fr. Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions.

While education is always a primary focus, Salesian missionaries know that other supports are needed to help youths excel in school. They need a bed to get a good night’s rest. They need a desk and chair to be able to focus in the classroom. While many people do not give these items a second thought, for countless at-risk and marginalized youths, these items bring dignity and hope for the future—and set them on the path for school success.

“Many bright, motivated students who attend Salesian schools face profound disadvantages in the classroom,” noted Fr. Gus. “In addition to the challenges they must overcome just to get to school—some walking several hours each way—they often struggle to focus and learn. It’s important that we provide the social supports and the material items needed to help youths be prepared. Youths cannot focus without sleep or on an empty stomach. It’s hard to learn in environments that are not conducive to education. We must provide them with the necessities that start them on the right path.”

To help provide these materials items, Salesian Missions partners with organizations like IRN-The Reuse Network, an association that matches surplus items with the organizations and people who need them most. Since 1999, IRN-The Reuse Network has worked with nonprofits which are known to be reputable, effective providers of relief work and development assistance, and which are able to put to effective use the items that IRN-The Reuse Network collects.

Today, IRN-The Reuse Network donations have provided Salesian programs in East Timor, El Salvador, Vietnam, and Ivory Coast with school desks and chairs, bookcases, filing cabinets, and bedroom furniture.

For further information, visit the Salesian Missions website https://salesianmissions.org.