Sister Beth Brosmer honored

Article and Photo by Benjamin Joe

Sister Beth Brosmer, the former executive director of Heart, Love & Soul, a Niagara Falls food kitchen at 939 Ontario Ave., was honored Friday, Feb. 14, for her vision of “Daybreak.”

She raised $3.5 million for the program, which funded the rehabilitation of an abandoned storefront into a one-stop resource center for those in need, specifically laundry and shower access for homeless individuals, as well as nursing care, case management, a computer lab, foot care and a hair salon.

Marketing and Communications Manager Michael Jones said Heart, Love & Soul also partnered with agencies including Buffalo Niagara Literary, Veterans Affairs, Neighborhood Legal Services, New York State Department of Social Services and the Mental Health Association to bring more resources directly to the homeless population.

Brosmer was presented with a portrait of herself, painted by Maria Laurendi of Grand Island, at a gathering of more than 40 people, including the present executive director, Mike Baetzhold, and Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino.

“Sister Beth is an amazing person,” Restaino said. “In professional life, in public life, you meet so many people. Rarely do you meet such a person, whom in their own quiet, unassuming way move mountains. And she’s one of them.”

Restaino also noted that “Daybreak“ brings critical services to the city.

“Through our community development program, we provide funding when we can for (‘Daybreak’), because there’s a need. And in that need, there aren’t enough people to fill the gaps, and this facility does that,” he said.

According to the New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli in a press release dated Jan. 22, homelessness grew by 53.1% in New York between 2022 and 2024.

Restaino said every winter is “a struggle” in Niagara Falls.

Brosmer, who retired during the COVID-pandemic in 2020, was humble in her description of her aid getting the program funded and said in a short speech that she was “blessed” by her interaction with those in need.

She told a story of a man coming to Heart, Love & Soul without even a coat in 7-degree weather. She took him immediately to the clothes pantry.

“He was well over 6 (feet), 5 (inches) and built like a linebacker. As I was fussing about how it fit, checking the hood and finding gloves, I looked up and I was silenced when I saw tears rolling down his face,” Brosmer told the crowd.

“He very quietly said, ‘Could I give you a hug?’ ” she said. “I accepted his hug, a hug that held his gratefulness and it renewed my desire to see him as my brother. A hug that held maybe not more than a simple coat.”

Samantha DalPorto, a representative of Congressman Tim Kennedy, also was in attendance and read remarks said on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate Sister Beth Brosmer whose leadership at Heart, Love & Soul food pantry and dining room in Niagara Falls, New York, has helped to transform lives and greatly contribute to the community for nearly a decade.”

This gathering and celebration was held on the date of the approximate opening of Heart, Love & Soul. The agency founded by a prayer group at Sacred Heart Church 42 years ago.

Brosmer said that, even in her retirement, she continues to volunteer at Heart, Love & Soul.

“They still let me in,” she said and smiled. “This place has been a big blessing for me. The people are the blessing.”