This spring, Mooncrest Neighborhood Programs in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, celebrated a major milestone with one of their neighbors. At the age of 21, after having come to the country as an asylum seeker, struggling with language barriers and becoming a first-time mother, Sindy Niz Juarez received her high school diploma from the Moon Township School District.
Sindy worked diligently for nearly two years with support from the staff and volunteers at Mooncrest, who helped with translation, tutoring, child care and more. “I am just so thankful,” she said.
“This life change is thanks to Mooncrest. It’s a great program.”
Sindy Niz Juarez
Since graduation, Sindy has gone from being a volunteer at Mooncrest to an employee. She now tutors younger children and works to give them the opportunities she has been afforded.
Sindy also has ambitions for her future. She wants to take courses at the community college and begin working toward a degree in nursing or education. Whichever she chooses, she will surely have her support system at Mooncrest helping her along the way.
The Mooncrest Neighborhood Programs is a ministry of the Felician Sisters of North America located near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, offering a variety of services, including a food pantry, academic support, access to healthcare, children’s programming, social services referrals and more. To learn more, visit their website. Read more about Sindy’s story in the next issue of the Fall 2020 issue of The Felician Magazine.
