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Since The Evangelist last profiled North Country Ministry, it has opened another center in Warrensburg to assist 1,200 people a month affected by the poor economy in the Albany Diocese's northernmost towns.

In 2008, some 500 sought help - but that has more than doubled since 2009, said Brother James Posluszny, CSC, who is director of the North Creek-based non-profit agency. NCM serves Adirondack residents in a 650-square-mile area.

"Since jobs in the North Country have always been scarce, the [economic] recovery here will be even slower than in the rest of the country," Brother Jim told The Evangelist. "That is the reality of this region."

NCM's second center has expanded its popular clothing, baby and car seat programs. Emergency firewood is now available to help people through the winter. In the past year, NCM connected with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), receiving some stimulus funds to house the homeless.

"This is allowing us to help more people to move into an apartment - or to keep the one they have," Brother Jim said.

Since public transportation isn't available in the North Country, NCM tries to help people keep their cars on the road. "Occasionally, a car is donated for us to pass on to someone in need," Brother Jim added.

Although the director called all of NCM's 10 programs successes, he is especially pleased with how many people are helped through the agency's emergency assistance fund, which distributed $52,000 to those in need in 2009 alone.

Brother Jim said it is important to help people with their many needs - and to listen to people's heart-rending stories, because that' what Christ would have done.

"The greatest gift we can give someone is that respectful listening, which gives dignity," he said. "In many ways, this is NCM's greatest success."

(Learn more at www.ncmadk.com.)

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