Throughout February WNED/WBFO is recognizing everyday citizens of Western New York who are doing amazing things in their communities. Our “Making a Difference” project emphasizes the importance of volunteerism and encourage others to lend a helping hand.Here is the story of a community champion who is “making a difference."
“Everybody wants a mom, everybody wants a dad, and they don’t exist with our girls,” says Sister Janet DiPasquale.
When teen age girls in Western New York have nowhere to turn, nowhere to call home, Sister DiPasquale provides a place.
“I grew up in a family where that was a part of our family, helping the poor, helping the less fortunate,” Sister DiPasquale says, “I didn’t grow up in a wealthy family, but I certainly grew up in a family that was very loving and cared for me.”
Sister DiPasquale provides support to at-risk girls between the ages of 16 and 21 via the “TRY” Program.
“We have a girl here right now whose mother is a crack addict,” DiPasquale says, “She practically lives in a crack house. We had a girl… she was prostituting for her father because her father wanted money.
‘TRY” stands for teaching and restoring youth.
“These girls come from extremely dysfunctional and chaotic families,” DiPasquale says, “I mean, we all have a little dysfunction in our family, but extremely… I can’t be their mother and I can’t be their best friend. It’s a very unique relationship. I have to be the administrator, and yet I feel that I’m, again, very compassionate and very loving with the girls.”
More than 275 girls who have passed through the “TRY” Program including "Charlotte," who says she now has a safe place to call home because of Sister DiPasquale.
“When we come into this home, she just makes us feel like this is where we belong, and she makes us feel at home,” says Charlotte.
Kathleen McIntyre works for the “TRY” program. She believes Sister DiPasquale’s efforts are making a big difference.
“Think of a girl that’s had no responsibilities, no structure in her life,” says McIntyre, “And then to come here and see the structure and the support and the love, whether it’s through Janet or the other girls in the house, or the staff, it’s just a beautiful place to be. And so I think making the difference, I think she is breaking the cycle with each of these girls.
DiPasquale tells us many of the girls who have gone through the program are prospering.
“Well, the girls that we, and I will say saved, so many have gone on to live productive lives,” says DiPasquale, “I think it’s like, it’s, it’s like a garden here. You know, we try to plant them. We water them. We nurture them, and we make them grow.
DiPasquale says the problem of homelessness among teenage girls continues to grow in Western New York. She believes we can all make a difference.
“I think it’s, it’s an awareness, aware in our, in our own hearts that this particular thing exists. And I think we have a responsibility to know that, that there are young people out there like these girls. See something like this and say, what is it that I can do? How can I make a difference in these girls’ lives?
Listen to WBFO throughout February for more stories of people who are Making a Difference in Western New York. Watch the Making a Difference TV documentary on WNED-TV Friday, February 6th, at 10pm or screen the video and audio stories at wned.org. You can also nominate someone for next year’s production of “Making a Difference." Visit wned.org/makingadifference to submit your nomination.