now seeking donations of stuff!

Hello St. Louis Catholic Worker Friends!

we’re excited to be starting up our first “official” and recurring works of mercy project as a group and we need your help!

Our plan is to begin distributing water and hot food to folks living on the street as well as any other in kind items folks (like you) donate to the cause. We plan to start humbly with hopeful openness that such efforts might be expanded if there is enthusiasm from this extended StLCW community of support.

In addition to sharing supplies, we’re also looking for folks who would be willing to volunteer their time and maybe even their vehicle to go around with one or more of us for the actual distribution. In the long run we may also be looking for a more serious kitchen suited to preparing large amounts of food. We are still deciding and open to input about what regular place(s) or time(s) to serve. If you’re able to help in these ways please email us at StLouisCatholicWorker@gmail.com.

We hope to support other needs of folks sleeping outside and will begin having a recurring need for:

-new or gently used blankets
-new or gently used adult socks, jackets and other cool weather gear
-hygiene items: toothbrushes, disposable razors, menstrual products, travel sized toothpaste, shampoo, and soap/body wash
-batteries
-flashlights
-rain ponchos
-ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin
-bandaids
-bottled water
- emptied and washed sour cream type containers with lids
-empty prescription bottles, personal info removed

We are specifically hoping for donations of stuff. Lots of us have a blanket or hooded sweatshirt around the house we aren’t using. We recall that Catholic Worker founder Dorothy Day reminded us, “the extra coat that hangs in our closet belongs to the poor.”

Folks who support us from afar or others wanting to purchase contributions online out of convenience or if you really really want to send us money, drop us an email.

There'll eventually be other places and times available to drop stuff off, but for now you can bring donations to any of our upcoming events:
-October 29th Defend Weelaunee Forest, Stop Cop City roundtable and potluck. Dinner at 5:30 at Stomp the World 6815 Gravois Ave STL 63116
-November 4th Protect Oak Flat prayer service at noon at Tower Grove Park’s Lily Pond Shelter
-November 19th Laudate Deum discussion and potluck. Hosted by our friend Matt at 6 PM. Exact location in the Normandy area TBD

We know there’s a lot of need in our area and part of our hope as Catholic Workers is to activate more folks to try to meet it. We’re working on connecting with churches or community groups that might be fertile ground for contributions to this project and would love your help making connections or facilitating those collections.

Phew…that's a lot of info and hopefully it makes sense. Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, concerns, suggestions, or words of affirmations via text or email!

Thanks for your friendship and support. See you soon!
The StL CWs

StLouisCatholicWorker@gmail.com
314-474-5506



PS: if you're ever personally thinking of bringing us a TON of stuff, awesome. Just let us know such a quantity is on the way.