Mercy Center Ministries gets Suffolk Federal support

Suffolk Federal Credit Union has donated $1,000 to the Mercy Center Ministries to support its work to provide shelter and services to single young women and those pregnant or parenting.

Founded in 1983, the non-denominational nonprofit runs three shelters in Patchogue, Blue Point and Sayville, housing up to 21 youth and 15 children, where Mercy Center offers childcare, case management, counseling, independent living skills training and advocacy.

“Mercy Center Ministries is an amazing organization providing the tools and resources to young women in our community in need,” SFCU Sayville Branch Manager Pamela Werner said in a company statement. “Donations like this make such a difference, giving them an opportunity they may not have had elsewhere to succeed.”

Briana Taylor, Mercy Center’s executive director, said its three shelters require constant upkeep.

“This donation from Suffolk Federal will assist us in making a costly repair to a staircase at our Patchogue shelter,” Taylor said in the statement. “The timing of this donation couldn’t be better. I was really impressed to hear of Suffolk Federal’s commitment to local charities, and so grateful the Sayville branch chose our agency this year.”