Underprivileged

Outreach to Hungry & Homeless Persons  is coordinated throughout the year in partnership with a variety of social service agencies in the local community.The following list of program provides an overview of available opportunities, but the list is not exhaustive.

St. Francis Kitchen

This soup kitchen serves a hot meal 7-days / week to hundreds in our local community. Campus Ministry schedules specific work days at the Kitchen for students to prepare and serve a meal.  Work days are scheduled on a monthly basis, typically Saturday or Sunday mornings, 8:30Am-12 Noon.   Contact the student coordinator for more information: Jill Troiano or Victoria Clarizio

Angel's Attic Food & Clothing Pantry at United Neighborhood Centers

Campus Ministry coordinates opportunities for small groups of students to assist at Angel's Attic on Friday afternoons, 2:30pm-5pm, throughout the year.  Volunteers help sort and organize donations, prepare food bags, and assist 'shoppers'.  Dates scheduled for Fall 2009 include Sept 18th, Oct 9th, Nov 6th, and Dec 4th.  Contact the following Campus Ministry Student Leader for more information about this opportunity:Victoria Clarizio

Homeless Shelters:  St. Anthony's Haven & Bethel Shelter

Campus Ministry coordinates with two programs that provide emergency shelter to men and women in our local community to prepare and provide a hot dinner meal.  Students gather and prep a meal, deliver it to St Anthony's Haven and then deliver, serve and share in the meal at Bethel Shelter.  Dates for Fall semester are Saturday, October 24th and Saturday, November 14th. Contact one of the following Campus Ministry Student Leaders for more information:  Jill Troiano or Victoria Clarizio

Community Intervention Center (CIC)

Students have the opportunity to facilitate an afternoon activity at CIC, a local day-shelter frequented by homeless persons in our area.  Typically scheduled on Friday afternoons, a small group of 5-7 students gather to play bingo, give prizes and share snacks at CIC.  Dates for the Fall semester include November 6th and December 11th.  Contact one of the following Campus Ministry Student Leaders for more information:  Jill Troiano or Victoria Clarizio

Holiday Food & Gift Drives

Each holiday season, Campus Ministry sponsors food and gift collections to help provide for
local families in need:

Thanksgiving Adopt-A-Family - In partnership with United Neighborhood Centers, Campus Ministry invites departments, clubs, organizations, and individuals sponsor a family and provide a Thanksgiving dinner for them. Campus Ministry provides a food list and family information to those interested in sponsoring a family for this holiday. All family baskets must be delivered to families on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Monetary donations made payable to Marywood University Campus Ministry also are a way for you to support this program. All money collected is used to purchase food and prepare baskets that will be delivered to families by Campus Ministry student leaders. For more information, contact Campus Ministry.

To register to sponsor a family or make a monetary donation, please download the 2009 Registration Form, complete and return to the Campus Ministry Office by Nov 13, 2009.

For those who choose to sponsor a family, the following is some important information for you to make plans for delivery:  Food List 2009 & Delivery Tips Sheet

Christmas Giving Tree - Share Holiday cheer with people in need in the local community! Christmas Giving Trees are set-up in Regina Hall, Nazareth Student Center, and the McGowan Center from early November through mid-December. Trees have ornaments for children of all ages, elderly persons, and homeless individuals. Anyone interested in purchasing a gift that will be donated to a local child, elderly, or homeless individual should take the appropriate ornament, purchase a gift and deliver the gift with tag attached to Campus Ministry, Swartz Center for Spiritual Life, by specified deadline. Gifts are donated to places such as Friends of the Poor, St. Anthony's Haven Men / Women Shelter, Our Lady of Peace, United Neighborhood Centers, EOTC, and Holy Family Residence.

Easter Giving Tree - Campus Ministry sponsors an Easter Basket collection during the Easter season. Similar to the Christmas Drive, trees are displayed in Regina Hall, Nazareth Student Center, and the McGowan Center. Ornaments for children from infants to highschool aged are available. Anyone interested in putting together an Easter basket for a local child should take a tag, prepare a basket with candy or other age-appropriate items, and drop off the basket to Campus Ministry, Swartz Center for Spiritual Life, by specified deadline. Baskets are donated to places such as Friends of the Poor, United Neighborhood Centers, or Women's Resource Center.

Contact: Campus Ministry (570) 961-4723

Empty Your Room, Fill Someone's Need

At the end of each year, Campus Ministry sponsors a collection of a variety of items that are donated to local agencies that work with disadvantaged men, women, and children. Items collected include non-perishable and unopened food, unused personal hygiene products, school supplies, clean clothes and shoes, unopened and unused vitamins, pain relievers, band-aides, etc.

As you prepare to move out at the end of each semester, keep these items in mind for this collection rather than the trash can! Collection boxes are placed in all residence halls in April. Items also can be dropped off in the Campus Ministry Office, Swartz Center for Spiritual Life.