Growing Together at The Bowery Mission Women's Center

Awesome Volunteer Joanne Hsieh spearheads our cooking nights at the The Bowery Mission Women’s Center Harlem location. “Getting to know the residents and hearing their life stories has been such a testament to God's redemptive work,” Joanne says. 

When she’s not volunteering or at work as a project manager in real estate development, Joanne loves to explore the city, including Bond Street, the High Line, Chelsea and West Village brownstones, indie coffee shops. She attends Redeemer Downtown.

What do you do at The Bowery Mission Women’s Center?

I help prep and cook dinner for the residents and staff in the BMWC faith based residential recovery program. I love cooking and connecting with other women. Starting up the new volunteer program at the Harlem location has been such a wonderful opportunity to grow together as the BMWC program expands there. It's such a wonderful partnership with the staff and such a joy to be able to help figure out the new location's logistics together.

What challenges are the women at the BMWC facing?

The women are recovering from abuse, addiction, illness and other challenging circumstances and are trying to get back on their feet and re-join the workforce. Building relationships with the residents has been incredibly encouraging as I hear about both the suffering they have gone through but also the goodness of God and His redemption in their lives which they are always eager to share about!

Any favorite memories from volunteering?

It is so much fun to cook in the awesome new kitchen and have dinner together at the big wooden communal table and just listen to each other's stories.

How do you feel you've grown in your relationship with Christ through volunteering?

Getting to know the residents and hearing their life stories has been such a testament to God's redemptive work and such a real reminder of how His victory is already won and how we as daughters of Christ can live now in that victory and have the courage and confidence and hope that comes with that knowledge.

Interested in joining Joanne at the Bowery Mission Women's Center? Learn more.