Maryhaven Gives Thanks to Daughters of Wisdom

On Wednesday, May 22, members from Maryhaven honored the Sisters at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Convent for beginning the facility almost 95 years ago.

To give thanks, two rosebushes were planted on either side of the convent’s Blessed Mother statue. Hand-painted gratitude rocks from some of Maryhaven’s members, adorning messages like “You are loved” and “Believe in yourself,” were also gifted to the Sisters. Along with the rainbow-colored rocks was a sky blue, handmade poster with “Give back” plastered across the front, signed by eight of Maryhaven’s members.

A main point of gratitude for Maryhaven is the Wisdom Fund Grant given to them by the Daughters of Wisdom. In January of this year, the Daughters of Wisdom awarded $15,000 to Maryhaven’s Port Jefferson location for their Food Pantry Program. This program aids the local community by preparing about 50 bags of nonperishable food each month for those in need.

The program also aims to increase the independence of developmentally disabled members by having them help pack and deliver the food through its Program Without Walls initiative.

Members of the program thanked the sisters for allowing them to help out their community and give back to those who are less fortunate.

Maryhaven was founded in 1929 by Reverend Thomas E. Molloy. In September of that year, Sisters from the Daughters of Wisdom began caring for the 40 disabled children in the institute. Maryhaven was given its current name in the '60s, and today provides help and care for individuals across multiple locations on Long Island.