A message from Executive Director Michele Quinn

How is Saint's Place being impacted by the government's decision to stop newly arrived refugees from coming to the United States for 90 days?

First, Saint’s Place remains committed to helping legal refugees resettle in Rochester. Whether a refugee has been here for one month or five years, if they have needs and we can assist, we will. Our doors are open, our volunteers are ready, and our compassion for the suffering of refugees here in Rochester and everywhere is as strong as ever.

Rochester experienced a surge of legal refugees from the fall of 2023 to January 2024. Over 2,400 refugees from more than 20 countries were welcomed into our community. Federal assistance was provided to the three sponsoring agencies for the first 90 days to help locate housing and suitable clothing and assist with obtaining employment, education and benefits. 

After ninety days, refugees must face the challenges of assimilating on their own.

In 2024, the United States welcomed 100,034 refugees, the largest number in 30 years. In 2025, the United States was scheduled to allow 125,000 refugees to enter. Vetting for a refugee to enter the United States takes two years. In 2024, the largest number of refugees came from the Congo. Saint’s Place assisted 1800 newly arrived refugees in 2024, a number that challenged us and impacted our ability to adequately assist newly arrived refugees.

Saint’s Place will now pivot from helping newly arrived refugees (those here less than 90 days) to enhancing our support for refugees after this initial period with job training, scholarship grants, repeat visits to our clothing closet, and home assistance where needed. Refugees are at risk for years after their arrival. After the hectic year of 2024, we know there are refugees who urgently need our help.

Saint’s Place has reached out to many nonprofits that assist refugees to inform them that we are again able to help. The three Rochester agencies that brought in refugees have been closed. Our resources were minimal when we had so many newly arrived refugees, and homes were not furnished to the Saint’s Place standard. Refugees had the essentials but could have used more furnishings. We also were unable to assist refugees who were in Rochester for more than 90 days. 

We are slowly receiving referrals. We just set up 10 homes for Afghan refugees, who were blessed to be able to enter the United States in the last weeks. Refugees are also coming to our Clothing Closet for spring and summer clothing.

Things are slower at Saint’s Place; our halls are quiet, and volunteers look for jobs. The phone still rings with donations, but we miss the chaos, laughter, and interactions of having 15-20 refugees shopping every morning. After a year and a half of nonstop work and upheaval, a calm, well-organized environment is dull and unappealing. We are all praying that the refugees will return soon, but until they do, we will help as many refugees as possible, refugees that I know will welcome our help. 

Our most urgent need is prayers that the refugee resettlement program will soon be restarted. Thank you! 

After months of planning and preparation work, Saint’s Place moved its offices, donation center and bedding set-up area to St. John of Rochester, 10 Wickford Way, in Fairport. 

For many years, Saint's Place Clothing Closet has been located at St. John of Rochester, and this move allows our entire operation to be housed in one building, the Parish Center, which is at the end of the parking lots. There are signs to direct you. It is only a six-minute drive from our former location (2 ½ miles).

We accept donations from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at the Parish Center at St. John of Rochester, 10 Wickford Way, in Fairport.  

The photo above shows the new receiving door for donations. 

This is an excellent move for us. With more space and a considerably larger parking lot, and combining our two locations, we are better together. 

Our Clothing Closet and household setup room have been at St. John of Rochester for over 14 years. This move increases our ability to help refugees. 

We are looking forward to hosting you at our new home. We value your support and compassion for welcoming refugees to our community.