Jan Jamroz is Program Administrator of the Parish Social Ministry of Catholic Charities on Long Island. Joining the Board of Directors of HANNYS was a natural step for Jan.

"Following two years as a volunteer and then 12 years as the paid coordinator of Parish Social Ministry for a Catholic parish in the Diocese of Rockville Centre," explained Jan, "I became well acquainted with the basic needs of people struggling to survive on Long Island. I joined the Parish Social Ministry Department of Catholic Charities three years ago. This department offers support and training to all of the Catholic parishes of Long Island in their efforts to respond to people in need and to address issues of injustice."

Jan grew up in a suburb of Chicago, the oldest of four children. She moved to New York City to go to school, where she met her future husband, "a Brooklyn boy", at a protest against the Vietnam War. While she was always interested in human service issues, she didn't get involved until she was a mom and moved to Tulsa, where she got involved with her local parish.

She found a more formal outlet for her interests when her family moved to Long Island, where she got active with the Parish Social Ministry / Parish Outreach. Several years after graduating from St. Joseph's College -along with her daughter- with a degree in community health and human services, she took a job with Catholic Charities. In conversations with the clients who came to her emergency food pantry, Jan realized that their need for food was often the tip of the iceberg.

"I learned that scratching the surface of an individual's needs frequently led to many layers of obstacles that trap people and generations in lives of poverty. In asking questions and analyzing patterns related to these obstacles, I got involved in a coalition with others in the human service field in Suffolk County examining how people were managing with welfare reform. This coalition has had some success with recommendations to the local Department of Social Services for better communication with applicants/ recipients regarding services and programs for which they are eligible," added Jan.

Jan realizes that while food pantries and soup kitchens are necessary, they cannot be our only response to the many people in need. Jan has found that working with HANNYS complements her work with Catholic Charities in their advocacy for individuals and for policies that support, rather than limit, people's abilities to break out of a life of poverty.

"In addition to participating in the work of justice as a member of the Board of Directors of HANNYS, it is a pleasure to serve with the other dedicated board members, who bring many gifts and great energy to the mission of Hunger Action Network of New York State," said Jan.

Past "Faces"

Ed Fowler

Jon Greenbaum

Br. Michael Harlan

WELFARE MADE A DIFFERENCE- INVESTING IN PEOPLE TO END POVERTY

These are the stories of real people from across New York State who have struggled to move out of poverty with the help of welfare. Many of these individuals are Hunger Action Network members, including Board members. Their experiences, told in their own words, provide evidence of what really helps families and individuals. The Welfare Made A Difference National Campaign seeks to educate the public on the virtues of a fair, supportive social welfare system and the harmful impacts of punitive welfare policies.

Investing in people can make a difference in their lives.

Investing in people is money well spent.

click here for stories >>