Word of Life International (WOL) is a multi-service community outreach center that serves as a last resort for food, clothing and social services for South Bronx residents. Our organization was launched in 2003 at a modest level supported by individual contributions of time, money, and food by members of Word of Life Christian Fellowship International.
“We envision a community without the threat of hunger, able to support and sustain itself”
The South Bronx continues to be the poorest and most at-risk community in the city. In the zip code where WOL operates, over 42% of families and 45% of individuals live below the poverty level. A majority of WOL’s HIV/AIDS clients are undocumented immigrants. Three-quarters of the seniors served have complicated medical conditions. Access to opportunities such as jobs, stable housing and consistent medical care is very limited.
Hunts Points and Longwood
Mott Haven and Melrose
Morrisania and Crotona
Parkchester and Soundview
FEED THE COMMUNITY
The Feed the Community Program provides emergency food support to individuals and families at risk of hunger and homelessness. We also provide services to people that are referred to us from the New York City’s Hunger Hotline
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EMERGENCY CLOTHING
Our Emergency Clothing Program enables us to provide clothes, coats, shoes etc. to the needy and homeless during our program service hours. The objective of this program is to ensure that our clients’ basic clothing needs are met and to provide material goods that will help our clients boost their job potential.
YOUTH ENRICHMENT
We work in partnerships with universities, colleges, middle/high schools and several youth development organizations to provide youth with opportunities for empowerment, community service, leadership development, and academic support.
SENIOR
WELLNESS
The Senior Wellness Program is a weekly program that caters specifically to adults ages 55 and older. This program provides free health and nutrition classes, free health screening, free meals and pantry and opportunities for civic service.
IMMIGRATION SERVICES
The immigrant population in our community is high and this program provides information and referrals to clients for their immigration problems. The objective is to create a safe space where immigrant issues can be discussed in confidence and be a source of information, connections, and support during the process of immigration.
HEALTH INSURANCE EDUCATION
Our center works in partnership with health insurance agents to enroll our community residents with the health insurance of their choice. The program has benefited alot of immigrants in our community. The objective is to make certain that every individual, regardless of economic or immigration status is insured. Services are available on Thursday at 11 AM.
NUTRITION TRAINING
Families learn together to prepare meals, learn about foods that will positively impact their health, and discover ways to stretch their dollars so they don’t go hungry. The overall objective is to reduce the high rate of obesity, diabetes and other health-related problems that is affecting a large portion of our community and create solutions for a healthier South Bronx.
BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING
In partnership with the Department of Health, we provide weekly blood pressure screening to our clients in an effort to reduce the devastating effect that high blood pressure has on our community. After the screening, clients that need medical care are referred to their primary care providers or appropriate health facility for follow-up/treatment.
SNAP/WIC
REFERRAL
We provide on-site SNAP (formerly called Food Stamp) Screening and help clients to process their application. We also pre-screen the clients for other social service benefits they may qualify. The Objective is to support a more sustainable solution to food insecurity; to ease the process of documentation for our community and to provide education and counseling for a more independent life
JOB SCREENING & REFERRAL
In conjunction with Work Force 1, Bronx Office we provide job screenings and referrals. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that our clients are self-sufficient and independent. We offer practical, informative solutions for unemployed individuals and to provide contacts, education and skill building that will further each client’s job prospects.
HIV/AIDS/HEPATITIS REFERRAL
The HIV/AIDS Outreach provides workshops, seminars and on-site testing, screening and referrals to our community residents. Agencies that participate in this outreach include Bronx Aids Services, Albert Einstein University Teaching Hospital, Harlem United, Latino Commission on AIDS, National Black leadership Commission on AIDS, etc. Our goal is to educate the community and reduce the spread of preventable diseases.
