Local Opportunity for Almsgiving: Living with Dignity on the Streets

In addition to our weekly gifts to the food pantry at United Crescent Hill Ministries and monetary donations to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, we have the opportunity during Lent to make a difference in the lives of people surviving against the odds on the streets of our city.

Our parishes will be collecting men’s underwear (boxers/briefs in sizes M, L, XL, and a few 2XL) and rain ponchos that will go to the people served by the St. John Day Center. Start making your purchases now, and bring your items to church on the weekend of March 9 and 10.

St. John Day Center has a mission to help people experiencing homelessness address the barriers to housing and self-sufficiency so they can leave homelessness for good. In addition to offering help for permanent housing, they also operate a Day Shelter with access to a variety of social services.

Last year, 2,945 people visited the Day Shelter a total of 51,681 times. About 80% of these visits included accessing basic services like the shower, phone, and mail. Offering our gifts of clean, new underwear and a way to stay dry while outside are small, but important ways we can help their clients live with a little more dignity.