GMAC celebrates 10th anniversary

Friday, Jul. 17, 2020

OGDEN — Ten years ago, Sr. Maria Nguyen, D.C. began offering sewing classes to low-income women. It was a natural step for the religious sister, a member of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, which serves the poorest of the poor.

Members of the Daughters of Charity have been in Utah since 1920. Three of them now operate Give Me a Chance, a nonprofit organization that grew out of the sewing classes begun by Sr. Maria. 

Within a few short years, the success of those classes led to the establishment of the De Marillac Formal Attire boutique on Washington Boulevard in Ogden. The shop offers formal wear and jewelry made by graduates of the sewing classes, and clothing alterations. 

Later in 2012, the demand for classes allowed GMAC to acquire a building on Grant Street, which now offers classes in sewing, quilting, computer literacy and English as a Second Language for adults, Arts for Spirituality for high school students and adults, and an afterschool/summer program for children.

All of the classes offered by GMAC are intended to promote self-sufficiency.

The dedication of the Guadalupe Garden, adjacent to the Grant Street facility, in 2016 was Sr. Maria’s last official event at GMAC before her reassignment to California. Sr. Arthur Gordon, D.C., succeeded her as executive director. Under her leadership, GMAC’s annual fundraiser, called Enchantment in the Garden, had its largest event last year.

In January of this year, Sr. Arthur was reassigned. Sr. Martha Garcia, D.C. is the organization’s third executive director. GMAC’s staff also includes Sr. Lucia-Lam Nguyen, D.C., the director of the Arts for Spirituality program; and Sr. Milagros Federico, D.C., director of the sewing program.

On July 9, Sr. Martha led a quiet commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the founding of Give Me A Chance. In keeping with the social distancing requirements in place because of the coronavirus pandemic, the celebration was small. Father Joseph Minuth, parochial vicar of St. Joseph Parish, blessed the De Marillac Formal Attire store on Washington Boulevard in Ogden, the learning center and the Guadalupe Garden. 

In her comments, Sr. Martha called the last decade a gift from God. During the past 10 years, GMAC’s programs have doubled, as have the number of volunteers, she said.

Despite the pandemic, many of GMAC’s programs are continuing, although in a limited fashion. Sr. Lucia is teaching her music students online. The classes for art and quilting are held in person, with fewer students, who wear masks and observe social distancing. 

The annual Enchantment in the Garden fundraiser won’t be held in person this year, Sr.  Martha said, because “It’s just too dangerous right now.” However, organizers are hoping to have some sort of online event.