LSA Family Health Service has been operating in El Barrio / East Harlem since 1958. But our roots go back to 1891, when the first Little Sisters of the Assumption arrived here from Paris to nurse the “sick poor” in their own homes with respect and dignity.

Today, as a nonprofit agency, we proudly honor our mission, roots and our founders’ choice to value and respect diversity and the differences between us – including race, gender, religion, income, lifestyle or nation of origin.

Visit the website

PERNET FAMILY HEALTH SERVICE is a vibrant, family-centered, and resource-rich partner in the development of strong, healthy, and self-sufficient families and individuals who participate actively ​in community life​.  A Center-based PreSchool and 22 Family Child care sites were acquired in 2023. The essential Mission of the Sisters is to provide health care and support to disadvantaged families and to revitalize the spirit of those degraded by poverty. In 1968, the Sisters incorporated under the title Pernet [per-nay’] Family Health Service, named after the order’s founder.

Visit the website

Over the years, Project Hope’s mission expanded beyond sheltering families and providing childcare to a multi-service agency at the forefront of efforts in Boston to move families up and out of poverty.  Today, Project HOPE provides women with children access to English for Speakers of Other Languages, jobs, housing, childcare, emergency services and works for broader systems change.

Visit the website

In 1983, five women religious – Sisters Monica McGloin of the Dominican Sisters of the Sick Poor (now Dominican Sisters of Hope), Margaret Kilpatrick of the Newburgh Dominicans (now Dominican Sisters of Hope), Monica Galligan and Susanne Lachapelle of the Little Sisters of the Assumption, and Irene Freely of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace – decided to respond to the need they saw in the mean streets.  They came, not with programs or plans, but with a deep desire to listen to the needs of the people.  Newburgh Ministry was incorporated in 1988 and the work of Advocacy and Social Change continue.

Visit the website

CREA is a program by the community for the community which came into being to address the educational needs of Spanish-speaking adult immigrants. Initiated in East Harlem in 2013 with 50 students, CREA now serves over 250 students citywide providing educational opportunities to an immigrant community from a diversity of Central and South American countries. CREA’s primary goal is to provide members of this community with classes to improve their formal education in their native language and become proficient in English as their second language. CREA also prepares students to obtain a high school equivalency diploma as well as receive support to continue their post-secondary high school education. Equally important, CREA provides leadership development, individual counseling, referrals to social services, and peer-to-peer support.

Initially, Little Sisters of the Assumption Family in Mission was pleased to be CREA's fiscal sponsor.  Today, CREA has its own 501c3 not-for-profit status which enables them to apply for Grants and receive Tax-deductible donations.

Visit the website

Arcoiris and Anne Mary's Place (named after Sr. Anne Mary Blute, LSA) are community-based cooperative thrift stores rooted in the mission of the Little Sisters.  They provide East Harlem residents high-quality clothing and home-goods affordable to all. They are owned and operated by Co-op members from the community.  In addition to providing a living wage for Co-op members, thrift store activities generate and sustain supportive social networks for members and customers.

If you would like to contribute to these stores and/or visit for some treasures, please use the contact info provided:

ARCOIRIS THRIST STORE, 1627 Park Ave, New York, NY  10029  /  Phone:  212-369-3888

ANNE MARY'S PLACE, 1982 3rd Ave, New York, NY  10029 / Phone:  646-344-1024