SFU Dorothy Day Outreach Center Thanksgiving Distribution

Today was the last day of the St. Francis Dorothy Day Outreach Center Thanksgiving Distribution, but there will be a Christmas one in a few weeks to help the community during these trying times.

Organizers and student volunteers hit the ground running this year, making sure each meal and other items were packed and ready to go.

Assistant Director of Dorothy Day Outreach Center, Mary Adams says: "Our food distribution increased because of people being off work. Unemployment helps, but you only get it for so long."

Items included in the Thanksgiving Distribution are two bags of food per person, a personal care bag, Christmas ornaments and a gift card. The financial distribution will be suspended until January. Under normal circumstances, there would also be a thanksgiving dinner for senior citizens, but it is canceled this year due to the pandemic.

This year the center has helped over one hundred families. They do encourage people to sign up beforehand so that they have enough supplies. You can sign up by calling the Dorothy Day Outreach Center ( 814.419.8695).

To stay as safe as possible, the food is brought out to people instead of having people come indoors.

The center is donation based with some grant money, but most donations come from donors.

"It helps considerably. We can get hygiene products for them. If you can’t afford to eat, you can’t afford to buy soap. It’s really important that they have those bare necessities." says Adams

They will lose many of their student volunteers soon during the holidays and potential virtual learning for next semester. The St. Francis University students make up most of the volunteer staff.

"The students are fantastic. They do so much here. I don’t know how we would do it without them. That’s why I said we pretty much have to stop a lot of things when they aren’t here." said Adams

While many students will be away, there are a few local students who will be able to help out over the holidays.

"When I was a freshman, I received they Dorothy Day Scholarship, so I decided it would be a good idea to volunteer my time at the place that gave me my scholarship. The students and everyone who works here are all wonderful people and I think our involvement in the community is a really positive one." says SFU Junior and Work Study Student for Dorothy Day Outreach Center, Andrew Berman

The Christmas Distribution will start in 3 weeks. Along with food and sanitary items, families with children will receive a gift for their children instead of the ornament.

For more information on the Christmas Distribution and how you can get involved, please click here.

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