ANGELS OF MERCY OF ROCHESTER RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING

BY SUZIE WELLS

Angels of Mercy in Rochester was inspired by Mercy Ministries, a residential treatment center, that “o ers unconditional love and helps young women heal and experience freedom to go forward in their lives. ere are women of all ages in our own community that need someone to reach out to them. Perhaps you may know a friend, daughter, mother, or sister that has been challenged with unpleasant circumstances. We certainly do.” and elsewhere, they help stop the tragedy. Angels of Mercy focuses its human tra cking education at schools, churches, hospitals, and other organizations around Rochester.

Angels of Mercy’s Butter y Boutique o ers free clothing to women survivors attempting to re-enter the workforce who need casual and business casual clothing. Dressing hundreds of women each year, the Boutique volunteers help women feel upli ed and special, helping develop visitors’ self-esteem and con dence. Angels of Mercy wants every woman to be able to go forward in life and reach positive goals. In 2022, they lled nearly 1,000 orders through 110 agencies.

Angels of Mercy also o ers the Monarca Group, a monthly peer support group for women impacted by trauma, including domestic and community violence and sexual abuse. e group o ers women tools and resources to help facilitate their recovery, fostering healing through the grace of God and empowerment to help break the cycle of violence so many women face.

Founder Mary Jo Gugino Colligan and Human Tra cking Coordinator Lauren VanCott lead the initiative to raise awareness to empower girls and women and hopefully buck the statistics. “Empowering the youth and parents of today is vital,” they say. O entimes, “young girls and boys who have been molested have very low self-esteem and feel they are to blame.” ese educational initiatives teach them the opposite is true, giving youth the tools to be aware of warning signs of abuse and dangerous situations. Schedule a free human tra cking awareness presentation for your organization by calling or emailing the o ce.

Angels of Mercy stresses that whole, con dent women make better choices! e organization helps women and girls achieve freedom, dignity, and restoration. Connecting with Mercy Ministries, Rochester Coalition Against Human Tra cking, and various other organizations, they help women and girls rise above the challenges.

Colligan is herself a survivor of domestic violence in her 20s. When the opioid/heroin crisis and trauma a ected her own daughter, Mary Jo and her husband “propelled into action,” creating this organization to help other women and girls avoid or rise above the trauma. She says, “Angels of Mercy is here to raise women up and help them realize the life purposed for them.” ey www.angelsofmercyny.org/donate

Perhaps best known for their US-based but worldwide Dress a Girl program, going strong since 2009, Angels of Mercy provides handmade dresses and dolls to girls, and shorts to boys in the United States, India, Cambodia, Guatemala, Uganda, and at least 60 other countries. According to the organization’s website, “Statistics show that these children, dressed in rags and searching for food in public dumps, are perceived to be easy targets that no one will miss if kidnapped into sex tra cking.” Angels of Mercy seeks to help women and girls escape such tragedy.

Angels of Mercy collects and delivers coats, hats, scarves, blankets, pillows, sweaters, dresses, and all sorts of goodies to support many di erent agencies such as e International Academy, Rochester City Schools, Ukraine refugees, and other displaced people. ey ll stockings for soldiers across the world. ey provide menstrual pads and homemade holders for Kenyan girls who o en do not go to school during their menstrual cycle, missing valuable instruction each and every month. Nursing students from St. John Fisher University traveled to Kenya to distribute these care packages and teach about girls’ health.

Colligan says the Angels of Mercy’s Home for Healing is needed more than ever, because “Too many women and girls need a safe place to heal from the root of their problem.” Angels of Mercy accepts donations of money, women’s clothing, and time. Prayers and volunteers to help their outreach e orts are always welcomed. Please reach out if you nd it in your heart to help them out.

Angels of Mercy celebrates their 15th anniversary with a Hoedown at Midvale Country Club (2387 Baird Rd., Pen eld) from 6-11pm Saturday, March 11th. ey look forward to celebrating with the community that has been such a support to them over the years. For information about Angels of Mercy, its current initiatives, and upcoming programs, visit www.angelsofmercyny.org.