Bill Burbridge
In the heart of central Ogden, there exists a little-known oasis. Like most oases, it is surrounded by lush, beautiful vegetation. However, unlike the oases from the old John Wayne Western movies, this oasis provides far more than just drinking water. It provides the “living water” of life. This oasis welcomes the tired, the poor and despondent searching for hope. People hoping for a chance to improve their lives.
In 2010, Daughter of Charity Sister Maria Nguyen was inspired to opened a facility at 2913 Grant Ave. to address those needs, beginning by offering sewing classes to low-income women. She named her project Give Me A Chance, believing that the skills the women would learn were a pathway toward better-paying jobs, and thus a step closer to self-sufficiency.
God has given the gift of dignity to each person; thus, Give Me A Chance is about restoring dignity to all who walk through their doors. They do this by teaching marketable skills and providing opportunities that lead to self-sufficiency. Mother Teresa once said if a person cannot be self-sufficient they cannot be free. With this in mind, GMAC offers programs in sewing and quilting, after-school programs for children, including tutoring and summer day camps; and classes in English as a Second Language, art and music for adults and children. The center operates on the belief that everyone in life deserves a chance to succeed.
Today, Give Me A Chance is directed by Daughter of Charity Sister Martha Garcia. She is supported by three other sisters, several paid staff and many dedicated volunteers.
The Daughters of Charity were founded in France in 1633 by Saint Vincent de Paul, who sent 12 young peasant girls out to work, to live and to help the poor and those in need. They took very simple vows then; today’s sisters take those same simple vows each year.
There are about 14,000 Daughters of Charity sisters worldwide today with about 500 in the United States and Canada. We are fortunate to have four Daughters of Charity sisters living and serving us here in northern Utah.
The Give Me A Chance Center has positively influenced the lives of many. Joel Romero, maintenance person at the facility for 13 years, said Give Me A Chance has given him a chance to gain self-confidence. Marissa Konkol, who volunteered at the center in 2015 during her senior year in high school, was motivated by a desire to give back to the community. Her first assignment was at the DeMarillac Store, which is located at 2913 Washington Blvd. in Ogden and specializes in clothing alterations and formal attire made by the women who attend Give Me A Chance programs. Marissa feels that her experience has resulted in a knowledge of retail sales and the importance of quality customer service. She is now employed as the information technology specialist at the center.
The center relies heavily on volunteers in fulfilling their mission, and also is always in need of financial assistance; the services they provide are given at no charge to their clients.
One way to help Give Me a Chance financially is to attend the annual fundraising dinner, Enchantment in the Summer Garden, which will be on Sept. 7. For information or for reservations, call 801-627-2235. Goals for the “Be A Blessing” donations collected at the event are to install a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system in the sewing department. The summer is extremely hot and the winter extremely cold.
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