Experience Making a Difference

Experience Making a Difference

Non-Profits in Need Right Now

Kevin Tansey reminds us that DC Central Kitchen, among many other good works, prepares thousands of meals every day for people living in shelters, and in other community programs (such as drug treatment, etc.) https://dccentralkitchen.org/donate/

I am sure that John Gradowski would want you to know that Friendship Place has an immediate need to raise $100,000 by April 30th.

Mary McGinnity has heard a new adage recently on social media. “While the virus is contagious, so is generosity.” There are thousands of people who care about IVC and the Jesuit mission. Please help to empower our mission at this unique time.

Vicki Bell tells us that this week, the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless is expanding its shelter services to serve 200 men experiencing homelessness at 4 locations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep its clients and staff as safe as possible. This is a 135 person increase compared to the usual spring season and presents even more challenges during this uncertain time. MCCH’s fundraising goal is $150,000. https://mcch.net/donate-a-meal/

Two organizations that Joe Rogers has been trying to support are Shepherd’s Table in Silver Spring which is still serving meals to those in need and SOME, So Others Might Eat.

Vicki also reminds us about St. Camillus Food Pantry, which provides emergency food assistance to families in need. If you are in need of food, please contact the friary office at 301-434-8400. St Camillus Pantry hours: Friday 3-5pm, Saturday 10-12 noon. Location: 1600 St Camillus Dr., Silver Spring, MD 20903 (in the rectory basement). After two weekends of social distancing guidelines and adjusting pantry operations accordingly, the pantry remains open. Decisions are being made day-to-day among the Food Pantry Leadership Team.

JoAnn Goedert writes, “I am following up on today’s call with our regional IVC members in the hope that you will share the extreme need for emergency assistance that is being felt by the survivors of torture and persecution served by TASSC International.  TASSC has been a service organization supported by IVC and its volunteers for many years, and its survivors are especially hard hit by the effects of COVID-19.  They are asylum seekers or recent asylum recipients from all over the world who overwhelmingly work in the kind of entry-level service jobs that have left them either laid off or exposed to extremely high risk of exposure to the virus.  Our newest asylum applicants haven’t even yet received work authorizations from the backlogged immigration system that has been so slow to process them.   They all need our help! If you support TASSC’s emergency grant fund, every penny will be used to provide food, rental and medical assistance to our hundreds of survivors as they struggle through this painful time.  Thanks so much to you and my friends at TASSC for considering TASSC’s survivors!”