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 have four great teams of volunteers: the St. Robert’s Center Weekend Food Pantry Team and our three Transitional Shelters [PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), Samoshel, Turning Point] and are hoping to expand our regular outreach to the St. Francis Center in Downtown L.A.

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

Upcoming Events

• St. Robert’s Center Weekend Food Pantry: Saturday, January 14

• St. Francis Center Breakfast Program: Saturday, January 7

Check the tabs below for more information on both these sites and how to sign up!

Homeless Count

After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Santa Monica Homeless Count will be held on January 25, 2023, from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. at St. Monica Catholic Community located at 725 California Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403. Volunteers are needed and are asked to sign up as soon as possible with three to four pre-formed teams for the annual event.

The Homeless Count is a point-in-time census of people experiencing homelessness overseen regionally by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) as a requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Policymakers and service providers use the Count to understand better and implement solutions to address homelessness. 

For more information and to register to Count, visit santamonica.gov/santa-monica-homeless-count. Don’t delay! Volunteer spaces do fill up.

As hosts of the Homeless Count parish, volunteers are needed to help as parking ministers, set up, do food prep, and clean up. If interested, contact Delis Alejandro, Pastoral Associate, at . 

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?

We have volunteer spots available on Saturday, December January 14, and February 25 - contact John Murphy 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?

St. Monica serves at SFC on  Saturday, January 7, and February 4, 2023.

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.