Creative ways to help our hungry, homeless?

[Kathryn_Ann]

Is your parish doing something extra creative to help the hungry and homeless?
Share your ideas here please. Are the youth involved? Besides food and clothing drives and stocking local food pantries, can you share any new and creative ways your Catholic Parish is alleviating hunger and helping people find shelter, jobs and warm clothing? Winter is coming, ideas welcome! I’ll share mine too, after you…
:winter: :newidea:

 

[tbcrawford]

We collect food at our parish to distribute at a place callled the ‘filling’ station.Our praish is at present asking for volunteers for a soup/hot food kitchen and contributions of money and food and blankets etc. Our St.Vincent de Paul society is very active and does a great deal of hands on things for the homeless. I had been sponsoring a refugee family for some time.I sponsor a child in Uganda.I make a monthly contribution to CAFOD and Water Aid.
Our Parish has many ‘second collections’ throughout the year for the poor most especially for the East Africa Appeal.Many sponsored events such as cycle rides walks,runs etc. to raise money for the homeless and poor.

I am so happy to see this thread as so many of us forget or do not consider the poor the hungry the homeless as Jesus taught us.God bless you

 

[Irishmom2]

Our parish has “Food Sunday” where donations are brought to mass to support a food pantry that is run during the week by our parish. Monetary donations made to the group (in the poor boxes) help with rent, utilities or medical expenses for families that have been screened to be of genuine need. Baskets are created for Thanksgiving by way of donations and at Christmas we have a giving tree where parishioners choose a gift tag and purchase gifts for families in need. They are wrapped and delivered by the same group as the food pantry.

 

[Kathryn_Ann]

We collect food at our parish to distribute at a place callled the ‘filling’ station.Our praish is at present asking for volunteers for a soup/hot food kitchen and contributions of money and food and blankets etc. Our St.Vincent de Paul society is very active and does a great deal of hands on things for the homeless. I had been sponsoring a refugee family for some time.I sponsor a child in Uganda.I make a monthly contribution to CAFOD and Water Aid.
Our Parish has many ‘second collections’ throughout the year for the poor most especially for the East Africa Appeal.Many sponsored events such as cycle rides walks,runs etc. to raise money for the homeless and poor.

I am so happy to see this thread as so many of us forget or do not consider the poor the hungry the homeless as Jesus taught us.God bless you

:clapping:That’s wonderful! Imagine if everyone did this much as you and your parish! When each parish has its own food pantry or soup kitchen, it blesses hungry people in a personal way, connecting them to the Church and the people. Sponsoring a refugee family personally or through the Church is a real act of loving sacrifice.
:angel1:

 

[Kathryn_Ann]

Our parish has “Food Sunday” where donations are brought to mass to support a food pantry that is run during the week by our parish. Monetary donations made to the group (in the poor boxes) help with rent, utilities or medical expenses for families that have been screened to be of genuine need. Baskets are created for Thanksgiving by way of donations and at Christmas we have a giving tree where parishioners choose a gift tag and purchase gifts for families in need. They are wrapped and delivered by the same group as the food pantry.

I love the idea of a “Food Sunday” and the food pantry right at the Church, and hope to see more “poor boxes” too. People need help year 'round, and this reminds us of that daily need for bread and compassion. I wonder how many people are drawn to the Church and Christ’s Holy Eucharist through these acts of kindness. :harp: