Heart, Love & Soul

Today, we celebrate a very special milestone — our dear friend and longtime volunteer, Helen, turns 99 years old! Helen has been a part of Heart, Love & Soul for years, proudly running our coffee cart every Thursday in the dining room. Guests and staff alike adore her warm presence and incredible life stories. Yesterday, we surprised Helen with flowers and a special slice of cake to mark the occasion. In true Helen fashion, she humbly accepted the gesture… and then promptly got back to serving her guests as if she turns 99 every day! Helen, your kindness, dedication, and spirit inspire us all. Wishing you the happiest of birthdays — we’re so lucky to have you in our Heart, Love & Soul family! #Happy99thHelen #HeartLoveSoul #VolunteerExtraordinaire #99YearsYoung #CommunityHero #LivingHistory #Inspiration #VolunteerSpirit #HeartfeltMoments #CoffeeAndKindness #CenturyOfLove #HeartOfGold #MakingADifference #CelebratingHelen #GratefulHeart #dedicatedvolunteer

Yesterday, Danessia Scott-Warren, Executive Director of NOAH, visited Heart, Love & Soul to lead a seminar on résumé building. Danessia, along with her daughters Sierra and Rory, prepared a slideshow and shared helpful resources to guide our guests through the job search process — from writing a résumé to taking the first steps toward employment. Our friends at Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope are doing great things under Danessia’s guidance, and we can’t wait to work with them again in the future! Thank you to Danessia, Sierra, and Rory for sharing their time and knowledge with our community. #JobSkills #CommunitySupport #HeartLoveSoul #ResumeBuilding #WorkforceDevelopment #Empowerment #JobSearch #SkillBuilding #GuestServices

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Heart, Love & Soul! Our guests, staff, and volunteers were feeling the luck of the Irish today! We enjoyed a meal of corned beef and cabbage (kudos kitchen team!), Irish music filled the dining room, and our new custodian, Ryan, spread some cheer by handing out gold coins! Thank you to everyone who made today so much fun — we’re lucky to have such a wonderful community. #StPatricksDay #HeartLoveSoul #CommunityCelebration #LuckyToServe #StPatricksFun #GratefulCommunity #VolunteerSpirit #MakingMemories #GoodTimes #IrishCheers #ServingWithLove

Big day for Heart, Love & Soul! Our episode of NPR's What’s Next airs this morning and is now live on their website and Apple Podcasts! Listen in as Mark and Marthe share the heart of our mission, the challenges we face, and the hope we bring to our community. Thank you to Jay Moran, Michael Loss, and the NPR team—and of course, a huge thank you to Mark and Marthe for all you do for Heart, Love & Soul! Friends, if you see Mark and Marthe today, give them a huge pat on the back—they deserve it! We couldn’t be prouder of them! Listen here on NPR: https://lnkd.in/eej3RUVP Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eQQpD2r5 #HeartLoveSoul #WhatsNext #NPR #CommunityMatters #FindingHope #ServingOthers #BuffaloNY #NonprofitLife #EndHunger #SupportLocal #MakingADifference

Last week, our Executive Director, Mark Baetzhold, and Program Director, Marthe Limage, traveled to Buffalo’s WNED studios to record an episode of WBFO NPR’s What’s Next with Jay Moran. They had a powerful conversation about the growing need for assistance programs, the state of our Daybreak program, and the unique social challenges facing our part of Niagara Falls. From creating pathways to stability for homeless populations to navigating government funding shifts, Mark and Marthe shared their insight, passion, and dedication to Heart, Love & Soul’s mission. Jay and the team were warm, gracious, and deeply engaged in the discussion—we are so grateful for the opportunity! Our episode airs tomorrow, 3/4, and we’ll be sharing it right here. Don’t miss it! We couldn’t be prouder of Mark and Marthe—true ambassadors of HLS and the legacy of empowerment we strive to uphold. #HeartLoveSoul #NPR #WhatsNext #CommunityMatters #SocialJustice #HomelessnessAwareness #NiagaraFalls #NonprofitWork #SupportLocal #WNY #StrongerTogether #CreatingChange #PathwaysToStability #EndingHunger #MakingADifference #HeartAndSoul #VolunteerImpact #CompassionInAction

It was a fantastic Food Truck Day at Heart, Love & Soul! The warmer weather brought out the best in everyone, and our dining room was filled with laughter and smiles as guests picked up their food. Thanks to our amazing volunteers and the dedication of Theresa, we were able to provide our guests with a variety of foods—cereal, potatoes, eggs, and even butter lettuce! It takes a lot of effort to make days like this happen, but the impact is incredible. Thank you to everyone who helped out! #FoodTruckDay #Gratitude #ServingWithLove #HeartLoveSoul #MakingADifference #TogetherWeThrive #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors #FightingHunger #HopeInAction

In honor of Black History Month, we’re excited to spotlight friends, community leaders, and guests of color who are making a difference in our community. Today, we’re featuring Brian Archie, a passionate advocate for health equity, dedicated community leader, and proud board member of Heart, Love & Soul. Born and raised in Niagara Falls, Brian’s journey has been shaped by teachers and mentors from his own community who recognized and fostered his potential. As the Executive Director of Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative and a city councilman, he champions the idea that "we are only as healthy as our neighbors." His work focuses on public health, racial and social justice, and ensuring everyone has access to the resources they need to thrive. For Brian, Black History Month is more than a celebration—it’s a time to honor the past, inspire the future, and reaffirm the importance of representation. "People need to be reminded of who their ancestors are. There’s a life for us beyond the systems of oppression we face," he says. "Equity isn’t about taking from others; it’s about ensuring everyone has the same opportunities." Brian believes in the power of showing up, getting involved, and making change happen. His call to action is simple: "If not me, then who?" Let his story inspire us all to step up and be part of something greater. Join us in celebrating Brian Archie—a leader, a mentor, and a true champion for Niagara Falls! Check out our full interview on our blog! Follow the link below. https://lnkd.in/e5zZucXB #BlackHistoryMonth #HeartLoveSoul #CommunityLeadership #EquityForAll #HealthEquity #SocialJustice #NiagaraFallsNY #CommunityChampion #PublicHealthMatters #RepresentationMatters #Inspiration #LeadershipInAction #AdvocateForChange #StrongerTogether #MakingADifference

Heart, Love & Soul is proud to celebrate our board member, Kevin Nephew, on being named the 2025 Executive of the Year by Buffalo Niagara Sales and Marketing Executives (BNSME)! As the President & CEO of Seneca Gaming Corporation, Kevin’s leadership has not only strengthened one of the region’s largest employers but also contributed to the economic growth and well-being of Western New York. His commitment to innovation, community partnerships, and giving back makes him truly deserving of this honor. Kevin will be recognized at the Executive of the Year and Elite Sales & Marketing Awards Gala on April 28 at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino. Join us in celebrating his incredible achievements! Learn more:?bnsme.org/awards Photo Credit:?bizjournals.com #HeartLoveSoul?#CommunityLeadership?#BNSME?#ExecutiveOfTheYear?#KevinNephew?#LeadershipExcellence?#CommunityImpact?#WNYLeaders?#EconomicGrowth?#InspiringLeadership?#SenecaGaming?#BusinessSuccess?#MakingADifference?#HonoringExcellence?#SupportLocal?#BuffaloBusiness?#AwardWinner?#Congratulations

So Much to Celebrate at Heart, Love & Soul! Last Friday was a BIG day for us at HLS! Not only was it Valentine’s Day, it also marked our 42nd anniversary as an organization. Most importantly, it was what we lovingly called "Sr. Beth Day!" As many of you know, Sr. Beth Brosmer served as our executive director for a decade, leading us with heart, vision, and unwavering dedication from 2010 to 2020. She was the driving force behind the creation of Daybreak, our one stop resource center that has been transforming lives since it opened. While Daybreak has been running successfully for years, we never had the chance to properly dedicate the building—until Friday! With 80+ friends, staff, and supporters gathered in our space, we finally officially dedicated the building as the Sr. Beth Brosmer Center in her honor. And honor her we did! We were joined by incredible speakers, including our current Executive Director, Mark Baetzhold; J. Susan Ben; Rev. Laura Buisch; a representative from Congressman Timothy Kennedy’s office; and even the Mayor of Niagara Falls, Robert Restaino! Each shared their deep appreciation for Sr. Beth and the profound impact she has had on our community. To make the day even more special, it was memorialized on the front page of the Weekend Niagara Gazette! HLS friend Mark Scheer wrote another beautiful piece highlighting the significance and lasting impact of Sr. Beth’s work. We are so grateful for his words and for the recognition of all that Sr. Beth has done for Heart, Love & Soul, and the people we serve. Of course, there was cake, but more importantly, there was love, gratitude, and the opportunity to tell Sr. Beth just how much she means to us. Thank you to everyone who made this day so special. Here’s to Sr. Beth, to 42 years of Heart, Love & Soul, and to the future ahead! #SrBethDay #HeartLoveSoul #42YearsOfService #Daybreak #Community #Gratitude #LoveInAction #ServingWithHeart #MakingADifference #HLSFamily #NiagaraFalls

Yesterday, our Development Director Jen and Marketing Manager Michael attended Give Fashionably! at the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls USA, where they and the Town of Niagara generously donated $50,000 to support local charities—including a $1,000 gift to Heart, Love & Soul! Over the past 20 years, more than $1 MILLION has been given back to our community through this event, and we’re honored to be among this year’s recipients. It was a wonderful evening connecting with friends and sister organizations who share our mission of service. After receiving our check, Jen posed with our friends at Town of Niagara Helping Hands, who most recently volunteered at HLS during our Toy Drive Giveaway, wrapping gifts at no cost to our guests. Their kindness and dedication to the community inspire us every day! A huge THANK YOU to the Town of Niagara and the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls for making a difference year after year. Your support helps us continue our mission of feeding those in need and providing essential services to our neighbors. #GiveFashionably #HeartLoveSoul #CommunitySupport #ThankYou #NiagaraFalls #Gratitude #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors #EndHunger #Nonprofit #MakingADifference #SupportLocal #FeedingTheCommunity #Charity #ActOfKindness