How You Can Help
We welcome donations and volunteers. Peter Maurin, co-founder with Dorothy Day of the Catholic Worker movement and the person chiefly responsible for the movement’s visionary qualities once said, “People who are in need and are not afraid to beg, give to people not in need the occasion to do good for goodness’ sake.” We hope Maurin’s vision will inspire financial support and volunteerism for the St. Francis – St. Joseph Catholic Worker House.
Donate
Monetary Donations
St. Francis – St. Joseph Catholic Worker House is 100% self-supporting. We do not receive government funding. However, we are blessed with a few generous donors who help us financially every year; others choose a budget item, like our gas and electric bill or telephone bill, and pledge to pay it on an ongoing basis. Others simply help when they are able to. Our needs are simple and we manage our resources carefully, yet the need for financial support is great. Can you help?
We accept donations online, or by mail to: St. Francis – St. Joseph Catholic Worker House at the address below. Checks are payable to The Friends of the Catholic Worker House. To learn more about our financial needs and explore how you might be able to help offset our expenses, please contact John Clark. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible.
Perishable and non-Perishable Goods
- House Goods: Tissue paper (e.g. Kleenex), paper towels, writing tablets, copier/printer paper, etc.
- Hygiene: Disposable razors, toilet tissue, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, towels/washcloths, mouthwash, etc.
- Cleaning Supplies: cleaning clothes, sponges, bar soap, cleaners, detergent, brooms, mops, furniture polish, buckets, floor cleaner, bathroom cleaner, etc.
- Mens Clothing: New or gently used shoes, work boots, warm jackets/coats, scarves, gloves, stocking caps, socks, t-shirts, sweaters, pants, underwear, blankets, etc.
- Kitchen Items: condiments (catsup, mustard, relish), staples (flour, sugar, cornmeal, rice) coffee, canned goods, tomato sauce/paste, fresh fruits and vegetables, any meat or cold cuts, peanut butter, jelly, chips, bars (anything that would go in a bag lunch)
Drop off donated goods to our House Manager or staff member at:
1437 Walnut Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Seven days a week between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Volunteer
Soup Kitchen Servers
Individual or group volunteers help serve in the Soup Kitchen during lunch. The Soup Kitchen is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Youth groups are encouraged to volunteer with adult supervision.
Cooks and Providers
Groups are invited to provide and prepare an entire Soup Kitchen meal. This volunteer ministry is a fun experience for a group or family unit. Your group can volunteer on a regularly scheduled basis, or anytime throughout the year. You may come in the day before and prepare the food in the Worker House kitchen ahead of time, even plan your own menu. We prefer that you provide your own ingredients, but the House will buy what you need with sufficient notice. Plan to provide and prepare food for approximately 100 homeless people for the midday meal.
We also provide sack lunches for our Guests that can be taken to the job. Providers prepare and pack sack lunches for about 15 people each work day.
Building Maintenance
Volunteers also help us maintain our building, do minor repairs, and other maintenance related tasks. Volunteers with home repair skills are particularly needed. We are also in need of maintenance supplies.
"Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
St. Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:58