Our Outreach to Those Experiencing Homelessness in Our Community

As part of our outreach to the local community, St. Monica regularly contributes to and volunteers with organizations that serve the local poor, particularly the homeless.

 

We currently support on a regular basis two organizations, the St. Robert Center Weekend Food Pantry in Venice and the St. Francis Center in downtown Los Angeles. Do watch here for news on other volunteering opportunities.

 

Contact: Delis Alejandro  |  (310) 566-1530  |   

Homeless Memorial

November 6

10 a.m.

St. Monica

 

St. Monica Catholic Community in conjunction with the Westside Coalition will host the annual Homeless Memorial on Wednesday, November 6, at 10 a.m., at St. Monica Catholic Church. This is an in-person and livestreamed event.

 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE LIVESTREAM on NOV. 6 at 10 A.M.

All are welcome to attend the Memorial. We welcome the friends and family of those who passed. We extend a special invite to all first responders (police, firemen, medical personnel, etc) and community and social service workers who supported these men and women.

We invite you to submit names of those men and women who died while experiencing homelessness. This includes our brothers and sisters who may have died in the streets, in their encampments, or their vehicles. This includes those who are awaiting shelter and those who just accessed shelter. Also submit names of those who may have moved away or returned home.

Please share their entire name and, if you work at a particular setting, share as well (i.e., St. John’s Hospital or The People Concern). Having this information helps us cross reference and not forget someone. You do not have to belong to an agency or organization to submit a name. You can be a neighbor, family member or friend. Please note that for reasons of confidentiality at the Memorial we will only share each person’s first name and first initial of last name. Submit name below:

 

If there are any questions please contact Delis Alejandro, Pastoral Associate at or Darci Niva, Executive Director of the Westside Coalition, at http://www.westsidecoalitionla.org/ 

 

Upcoming Events

• St. Francis Center Saturday, Nov 2. Contact Dennis Hardwick at

• St. Robert’s Center Weekend Food Pantry: Saturday, Nov 30. Contact Annette at

• Second Sunday Clothing Drive Sunday:  Drop off new and gently used clothing items in Grand Pavilion patio 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the benefit of clients at St. Robert Center. Most needed items: men's and women's pants. Jeans, sweat pants and sweat shirts, coats, jackets, hoodies, blankets, shoes, caps and hats. Plus rain gear.

 

 

St. Robert’s Center Weekend Food Pantry

We partner with Catholic Charities at the St. Robert’s Center, helping to prepare and distribute meals, toiletries, and clothing to the homeless in our community. The St. Robert’s Center fills a very critical need in our area—since its inception many years ago, the St. Robert’s Center has been the only weekend food pantry on the Westside. Every six weeks, volunteers serve on Saturday, preparing sack lunches for needy people and distributing clothing and toiletries as needed.

How Can I Help?

To volunteer contact Annette at  

What Will I Be Doing?

The volunteer shift is from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., and the Center has instituted health & safety precautions (gloves, masks, social distancing, and a contactless “Grab & Go” distribution). We may collect items that the Center especially needs at particular points during the year.

 

Volunteers will set up the outdoor distribution tables; prepare, pack & distribute sack lunches to clients; serve coffee, and clean up at the end of the morning. Volunteers can also distribute toiletries and clothing when items are available.

I’m Curious to Know More about the St. Robert’s Center and Catholic Charities

Check out the St. Robert’s Center Website by CLICKING HERE!

 

St. Francis Center Breakfast Program

Since 2012, participants of our JustFaith program have served homeless and near-homeless members of the underserved community at St. Francis Center (SFC) in downtown L.A.  We work with the Order of Malta, preparing and serving breakfast for up to 300 individuals several Saturdays each month. 

How Can I Help?

 

On our scheduled Saturdays we need seven (7) volunteers from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Have you never done this before? Don’t worry—we’ll teach you everything you need to know!

 

To reserve your spot, please get in touch with Dennis Hardwick at . 

 

If all goes well, we hope to make this a regular commitment and would love for you to be a part of it.   

What Will I Be Doing?

SFC provides a hearty breakfast to our guests! You’ll be helping to prepare and distribute meals in a Grab & Go process. 

 

On a typical Saturday, we prepare turkey bacon, eggs, grilled vegetables, toast, fruit parfait (or comparable), coffee, and water for approximately 170 guests. We arrive between 6:30 & 6:45 a.m. The Center distributes “to-go” containers at 8:15 a.m. service ends at about 9:30 a.m. We then cleaned up and completed our work at about 10:30 a.m. 

 

I’m Curious to Know More about the St. Francis Center

The mission of St. Francis Center, founded in 1972, is to serve homeless and near homeless families and individuals in the underserved neighborhoods of Greater Los Angeles in the manner of St. Francis of Assisi by (1) serving their immediate needs;(2) educating, empowering and accompanying them; (3) providing them with the tools necessary to build better lives and neighborhoods; and (4) addressing the systemic causes of poverty through advocacy.

 

Visit SFC at St. Francis Center Los Angeles - Serving Hope to learn more.