The Church of Scientology of Buffalo Saturday partnered with the Healing Tree Ministries at a benefit fashion show held at the Church's community hall at the corner of Main and Virginia streets. The event raised funds to assist the Healing Tree Ministries' building fund and Drug-Free Marshals, a youth education initiative sponsored by the Church of Scientology of Buffalo.

The Buffalo Drug-Free Marshals are part of an international campaign that promotes a drug-free lifestyle for youth through community clean-ups and drug-free marches. All told, since the program began in the United States in April of 1993, more than 3 million children, legislators, teachers, and law enforcement officials, have participated in Drug-Free Marshal pledge signings. The Church of Scientology of Buffalo has, alone, sworn in 83,000 young Marshals.

The fundraiser, a collaboration of the Healing Tree Ministries' Brenda Sherman and Mary Jackson and Buffalo Scientologists, was also a way to honor the late Rev. Mary Lou Reile, who spearheaded the Drug-Free Marshals' efforts in Buffalo. Selflessly dedicating her life to helping her family, friends and community with Scientology, Rev. Reile's wish was to see her community thrive and her church flourish and prosper. In September 2005 Buffalo civic leaders honored her with the Community Service Award.

Of Saturday's successful fundraiser, Teresa Reger, President of the Church of Scientology of Buffalo, said, "Helping our fellow churches and our city's youth are top priorities, and the support this community has shown on both counts is uplifting for all of us."

Last year, when the roof caved in at the nearby Mount Aaron Missionary Baptist Church, the Buffalo Church of Scientology offered its community hall so the Mount Aaron Missionary congregation could continue weekly worship and other church events.

The Church of Christ for Gospel has more recently begun to use the Scientology community hall for its services, while church leadership locates a new, permanent place of worship.

"We, as a church, are opening our doors to any church or community group that needs a meeting place," said Reger. "We have a beautiful facility and all are welcome to use it."

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