November 23, 2017 By Cristina Domingues, Spectrum News Rochester LEROY, N.Y. — Things get started early at the Scherff house in Leroy. Ann and David Scherff like to help their son Matthew stick to his routine, starting the day by getting the paper.  Matthew is autistic and deaf, loves to paint and the lights at amusement parks and around his home.  Ann and David have five children, and all three of their sons have developmental disabilities.  They take care of their sons and are guardians of David's developmentally disabled sister.  Ann also helps get ...
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Published 11/12/17 By LocalSyr.com David's Refuge was featured on NewsChannel 9 as part of National Caregiver Month - see the video on LocalSyr.com. ...
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Published 6/12/17 By Samantha Miles, 13ABC WHAM, Rochester Rochester, N.Y. - A picnic on Saturday afternoon had a special meaning for some local families. David's Refuge, a non-profit from Syracuse, helps parents caring for children with special needs or life threatening illness. David's Refuge partners with bed and breakfasts to provide a free place of rest for caregiving parents. Their mission is to "care for the caregiver," so parents can take care of themselves and better care for their children. Saturday's picnic gave families a chance to meet in a ...
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Published 6/11/17 By Meaghan M. McDermott, Democrat & Chronicle ack in 2013, Eric Hamlin was a skeptic. Living then in Syracuse, where he and his wife, Daidra, were juggling the awesome responsibilities of caring for their young twin sons ,Isaac and Eli, and of navigating the life-altering needs of Eli's cerebral palsy, Hamlin headed to his first weekend with David's Refuge with low expectations. Instead, he found a blessing. Read Article ...
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Published 6/12/17 By Nexstar Broadcasting BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - An organization looking to help around-the-clock caregivers is looking to expand in Greater Binghamton. Binghamton's Noon Rotary hosted David's Refuge Executive Director Kate Houck on Tuesday. Headquartered in Syracuse, the non-profit provides a free weekend getaway for parents caring for kids with special needs and life threatening diseases. Read Article ...
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Published January 29, 2017 By Divya Murthy At the age of 8, David Pfohl lost his vision. At the age of 10, he was diagnosed with Batten disease, a rare progressive disease that renders cells incapable of breaking down built-up waste. In 2009, just short of his 21st birthday, David died, having battled the disease for 13 years. Read Article ...
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Published December 11, 2016 Interview by Eastern Hills Bible Church Watch the video interview with the staff of Bridge Street ...
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Published November 1, 2016 A Healing Home: David's Refuge offers respite for families of special needs children By Mark Bialczak Warren and Brenda Pfohl could have let the 13 years that they watched their son David fight Batten Disease, losing his sight and then his life two weeks' shy of his 21st birthday, form a hard scar over their souls. Instead they decided to open their Manlius home as David's Refuge, a spot where parents or guardians whose children have special needs or life-threatening conditions can spend two days for ...
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Published July 17, 2016 Organization looking to help parents of special needs kids An organization that gives parents of special needs kids mini-vacations is expanding, partnering with new locations in the Rochester area. Mom of four, Dana Bisnett, knows how how hard it can be to find time for yourself as a parent. "As a parent of typical kids, you always put yourself last. And with a special needs kid in the mix, you really come last," she said. Her daughter Giana, eight, was born with Spina Bifida and nine ...
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Published April 4, 2016 Losing a Child, Giving Respite, Restoring Hope – Providing Refuge for Others Losing a child: An unspeakable experience, of pain and devastation that can be completely overwhelming. Receiving help and support is what parents need amidst caring for a special-needs child or dealing with such heartbreak. Brenda and Warren Pfohl, unfortunately, know this pain too well. Read Article ...
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