Hometown Hero: Sister Patty
By Cindy Fertsch
Sister Patty Prendergast always had a heart for helping those in need. While growing up in Atlantic City, her parents often lent a hand or a meal to anyone in need. As a young adult, Sister Patty knew she too wanted to help others.
Sister Patty spent several years working with the homeless through different organizations, including the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, Jewish Family Services, and Covenant House. Through each experience she saw one great need that was not being filled. These women needed a place where they could go during the day to get off the streets. They needed a place where they could simply rest, have a cup of coffee, do laundry, have a healthy snack, and most importantly, be safe.
With funding from Daughters of the Heart of Mary, Sister Patty began Adelaide’s Place 16 years ago. It was named after Adelaide DiCici, a French woman who was on trial for feeding the people in her own home during the French Revolution.
“Adelaide DiCici’s mission was similar to ours,” says Sister Patty. “Whatever needed to be done, she did.”
Initially it was located in the basement of a church in Atlantic City. In the years since, Adelaide’s place moved out of the church basement and into a full house in Atlantic City, where they have been for the last 9 years. The address is not public and there is not a sign over the door. This is intentional in order to safeguard their mission of creating a safe haven for homeless women. Many of whom are victims of abusive relationships and have experienced trauma.
There is one strict rule and that is women only. “Many of these women have been abused and are fearful. “This is a safe place where they do not have to worry about the traumatic situations they may have to face in other places or on the streets.”
An average day at Adelaide’s Place has between 12 and 20 women in the house, resting, doing laundry, talking with one another. The average age of the women are in their 50s or 60s, but they welcome all women, and have had women as young as 18 and as old as 86. Many have disabilities or mental health issues. At Adelaide’s Place, they are able to meet with their social workers that assist them to get the medical care they may need.
“They are like a family, and for many, they are all each other has,” says Sister Patty. “It always amazes me how well everyone gets along with one another.”
Adelaide’s Place, in addition to offering a safe haven and healthy snacks for women, offers food for the soul. Bible studies, music, pottery, and arts and crafts are made available. Every Wednesday Mudd Girls comes and once a month a guitarist, Phil Stocker, from Fresh Start Church comes and sings with them.
Adelaide’s Place is hoping to add an addition to their home this year that would provide more space for their pottery and arts and crafts, with an additional learning center above it housing computers. This would create an opportunity for the women to learn valuable job training skills on the computers to help them get back on their feet.
“The community has been so very generous in providing our needs – loaves and fishes,” Sister Patty says referring to her favorite Bible story, meaning God provides.
A fundraiser for Adelaide’s Place is planned for August 2nd at the Linwood Country Club. It will be a Barbecue on the Greens and have a silent auction also. If you would like more information about or like to make a donation to Adelaide’s Place visit http://www.adelaidesplace.org
