Local Charities
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Feed the Hungry Month For MCO
List of Items to Donate Sponsor a Food Basket
Metro Catholic Outreach (MCO) was created in 2012 when the 11 Catholic parishes in the Metro Area came together to collaborate on their outreach services. By combining resources, our parishes could maximize the impact we have on those with the greatest needs in our community.
MCO provides community assistance referrals, financial assistance for housing and utilities, and hosts a food pantry. Therefore, the MCO food pantry is OUR food pantry.
Every since 2020, food and monetary donations have been down, and the needs and prices have increased. On average, MCO helps 400 households per month, but larger families need more than one food basket so during the months with the highest needs, up to 800 baskets are distributed. From 2020-2021, to meet the food basket needs after food donations, MCO spent $19,115. Between 2022-2023, MCO has spent $123,927 to meet the food basket needs! This is why our parish needs to come together and help those in need in our community.
All month long, you'll have the opportunity to help us reach the goal of meeting the need for 800 food baskets. You can help by donating food items or by sponsoring a food basket. The cost of a food basket for a family of 3 is $68. Please help us reach our goal.So far, we have 223 food baskets sponsored!
Please consider how you can help if you haven't yet. You have the option of donating food items to fill a basket or sponsoring a food basket.
The cost of a food basket for a family of 3 is $68. To monetarily sponsor a food basket, click the link below. Please be sure to list St. Elizabeth Ann Seton as your local parish so we can track our progress in sponsoring 800 food baskets this month!Sponsor a Food Basket
If you prefer to purchase the basket items yourself and donate them, you can find the list of items needed through the link below, or stop by the table in the Window Walkway to pick up a printout of the list of items. For more information about MCO, visit www.metrocatholicoutreach.org.
List of items needed for a food basket
MCO's Latest Newsletter -
Metro Catholic Outreach
We are pleased to announce an opportunity for volunteers to provide outreach from the Catholic community to those in need in the Cedar Rapids metro area. The center is located at 420 6th St SE, Cedar Rapids. Metro Catholic Outreach is a collaborative project of the Catholic parishes of the Cedar Rapids metro area. This outreach provides a food pantry, call center for referrals and assistance and emergency financial assistance to those in need in our area.
Check out their website: www.metrocatholicoutreach.org
MCO needs volunteers! Training for new volunteers for help in our pantry, office and financial assistance ministry is happening now. Contact Christine for more info: christine.kirpes@metrocatholicoutreach.org; 319-739-5490
The Catholic Worker House provides meals, housing, and basic necessities to those in need and is a homeless shelter.
Please check out our top 10 list for ways you can help!
Top 10 List
- Hand sanitizer (gallons from Cedar Ridge can be purchased)
- Hand soap
- Lysol spray
- Lysol wipes
- Multi purpose cleaner
- Toilet paper
- Pine-sol floor cleaner
- Bottled water
- Body wash
- Gas cards/walmart gift cards/UBER or LYFT gift cards
The Catholic Worker House thanks you for your continued support. Take a look at our updated website: www.catholicworkerhouse.org/
If interested in receiving the CWH weekly email update, give Larissa a call or email: 319-362-9041 / stjohncwh@msn.com
Currently we are in need of additional volunteers to contribute meal items and/or to prepare/deliver these meals. Joining a team means a 3 month commitment per year. Each member is asked to donate one or more items on the meal ingredient list per month. This can be placed in the St. E's basement kitchen anytime the week of the scheduled meal (before 6pm on Friday). There are also opportunities to be the chef & delivery person as well if this is of interest. We hope and pray that we are able to have more hands to help in this in the upcoming months. Thank you for your consideration of sharing in this beautiful and much needed ministry! Contact office@seasp.org to join the team!
St. Vincent de Paul Society
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish is a Catholic parish community dedicated to service to individuals, family and society through hospitality, education and acts of charity. We believe that all people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Under the guidance of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Conference provides funds for individuals and families in need up to two times per year for rent or utilities and up to four times a year for food. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is dedicated to assisting those in need and seeking charity and justice. For more information, please click here. The Cedar Rapids chapter is located at: 928 7th Street Southeast Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 www.svdpusa.org
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store has a variety of items for sale including clothing, furniture, housewares, artwork, and books. We also have an abundance of beautiful religious statues and crucifixes that are available for a small suggested donation. Stop in and visit us soon. We are open Tuesdays-Saturdays, 9:00 to 4:00.The following items are currently needed at St. Vincent de Paul:
- dishes
- pots
- pans
- blankets
- sheets
- towels
Linn County General Assistance provides resources for all Linn County residents to help provide stabilization for those in need. For more information, please click here.
Catherine McAuley Center provides adult education and transitional housing for women in need. For more information, please click here .
Catholic Charities provides a number of services to those in need, including affordable housing, counseling services, and disaster relief. For more information, please click here.
Bridgehaven provides no-cost pregnancy support services. For more information, please click here.
Volunteer Opportunities
Our Earn While You Learn program is in need of several instructors as this area of our ministry is expanding! Currently we have a high need for:- Prenatal (class and prenatal 1:1): 13-week curriculum that covers the entire length and development of pregnancy, labor, delivery, birth, and breast/formula feeding. Video is provided. We are in need of instructors on Monday evenings from 5:30-6:30pm for a 1:1 and Thursday evening, 5:30-6:30pm, for the prenatal class. We also have 2 couples that would benefit from a small, intimate setting due to anxiety.
- Conversational English: For international clients who desire to learn the written and spoken English language as well as learn American customs, values, social situations, history and holidays.
- Sewing support instructors. Support clients in learning basic sewing skills, one-on-one focus. Class is offered Wednesdays 10-12pm, starting March 4. Curriculum and lead instructor is provided.
- Baby Basics: 10-week class that covers a baby's first 12 months of life: bonding, when to introduce foods, teething, physical and social developments, infant massage, sign language, safe ride and safe sleep practices, and swaddling.
“Having the opportunity to teach a class at Bridgehaven has been a blessing to me. The clients are warm and welcoming. They share openly with each other and are eager to learn the information. The class allows me to pray with others and talk about faith. I have felt the Lord at work each week. Walking alongside others as they learn and grow has been a joy. I encourage others to take advantage of the opportunity.” - current Bridgehaven instructor
Anyone interested in teaching, please contact Dawn Michael at 364-8967 or at dawn@bridgehavencr.org.
HACAP is a diverse, community-focused nonprofit dedicated to the sustained improvement of human life in our communities. Their philosophy is "a help up, not a handout." They empower and improve the lives of families, living with the barriers of poverty. They provide flexible and adaptive programs and services that work toward removing the barriers to self-sufficiency. HACAP provides service in six counties in Iowa: Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington. Check out a list of their programs available.
