MercyFirst is a not-for-profit, Sanctuary-certified brand that has been caring for kids and families since 1894. As a human and social service agency, they serve over 3,000 children, teenagers, and families annually in the New York metropolitan area. Originally founded as an orphanage by the Sisters of Mercy, MercyFirst has grown and evolved to offer a wide range of life-changing, trauma-informed interventions to those in need.

Their professional staff is specially trained to respond to the complex needs of traumatized and neglected children, youth with emotional problems, teens and young adults without families, as well as families coping with poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental illness. MercyFirst aims to provide a healing interval in the lives of the individuals and families they serve by offering a safe and healing environment. Their goal is to help them develop their full potential by opening doors and connecting them with necessary resources.

With a 128-year legacy of mercy, MercyFirst's work aligns with the mission and values of the Sisters of Mercy, a religious congregation established in Ireland in the early 1800s. By carrying on Catherine McAuley's legacy of caring for the economically poor, especially women and children, MercyFirst has become an inclusive organization that provides a safe haven for children who have experienced severe trauma. They also work to strengthen families and communities.

To learn more about their history and get involved, visit their website or contact their administrative offices located in Syosset, NY, and Brooklyn, NY