Where body and soul are nourished

This is the second of two stories about the non-profit organization Harvest House.

There are some citizens of the Buffalo community who still have hope for a more prosperous city.

With the aid of the UB Law School, Gary and Linda Tatu, founders of Harvest House, are striving to create another resource where free medical care and education will be readily available for needy inhabitants on the east side of Buffalo.

The Harvest House, which operates out of a 22,000 square foot former Presbyterian church, already provides meeting space for non-profit groups and also houses the Baby and Children's Outreach Program, the largest supplier of free baby items and clothing in the tri-county area.

Now, the Tatu family, which sold their home in the suburbs to start Harvest House, feels they can do even more for the community by turning an entire donated city block on Jefferson Avenue into the future Harvest House Ministry Center.

The one stop resource center will be 83,000 square feet of services, including The Good Neighbors Health Center, providing free medical care - everything from physical therapy to general care - and an expanded Baby and Children's Ministry and Furniture Bank, supplying free items for those in need, as well as a Jefferson Headstart program for preschoolers.

On the second floor will be the Family Education Center, offering over 72 free classes and programs, including GED and college preparation courses, English as a second language, and computer classes. Life management classes, such as parenting skills, nutrition, money management, and weight loss will also be offered.

According to Tatu, the purpose is to give the socially and economically disadvantaged the opportunity to improve their lives by providing the instruction they haven't previously been fortunate enough to receive.

"We want to be a role model for the country," Tatu said. "You can change the lifestyle through education."

Over $10 million is needed to fund the project. Harvest House has partnered with a number of community organizations, including East Hills Wesleyan Church, D'Youville College, Buffalo Public Schools Adult Education, and Erie Community College, among others.

Second and third year law students at the UB Law School taking the Affordable Housing Clinic and Environment Clinic course will be providing free legal services for the project for the next four or five years.

"The point of the clinic is to give the students a hands on view of the law," said George Hezel, director of the Affordable Housing Clinic. "Harvest House is one of many groups that we are helping."

The students are working to put together a financial plan to build the Ministry Center and keep it running, scanning federal state and local sources of financing. Students prepare papers on behalf of their client and applications for funding.

"Their role is to assist their client in any legal task that will get the financing required," Hezel said.

Raising the $10 million required to fund the Ministry Center will not be an easy task.

"This will be a very serious challenge for us, but I remain optimistic. We will pour our hearts and souls into it, it has serious ramifications for the health of people in Buffalo," Hezel said. "We'll stick with it until we've exhausted every possible effort in trying to get it."

"Harvest house are the real heroes," he continued, "We're just backing them."

Unlike a similar federally funded medical center in Chicago, where patients are made to wait outside until they are taken care of in a large room lined with plastic chairs, the Ministry Center will have a large atrium specifically designed for patients who may need to wait for extended periods of time.

"It's all going to be done with dignity," said Gary Tatu. "Everything is going to be oversized so they feel welcome to come here."

As those using the facilities may need to wait an extended period of time before they are attended to, 6,800 square feet will be devoted to a waiting room atrium with a living room design. Pocket beepers will be distributed, as patients are taken care of on a first come, first serve basis.

Rooms will be devoted to a coatroom, teen and infant rooms, a reading room, and an educational room with health related informational videos. Computers will be available for those needing to post resumes or search for job openings.

Space will also be available for a small Chapel, a caf?(c), a Christian bookstore, a private room for individuals to fill out their medical paperwork, and a room for those seeking spiritual direction.

Currently, a doctor is available at the ministry center three hours a week on Friday afternoons.