Homeless & Poverty Services
They have shown me many different kinds of hope. I have much respect for those who have so little but do not despair.
-Liz O’Rourke '01
on the women she encountered at the McAuley House
Catherine McAuley House
Contact/Volunteer Coordinator:
Sr. Marie Larkin & Sr. Romaine Shannon, RSM
779-2801
121 Church Street, Plymouth, PA 18651
Description of Opportunities:
Catherine McAuley House is dedicated to providing transitional housing for homeless women and women with children. Due to the circumstances of the McAuley House guests, most volunteer opportunities are limited to women. Potential responsibilities include acting as a greeter to the house, transporting women for shopping and personal needs, preparing meals
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once or twice a month, baby-sitting, helping with maintenance, and providing overnight coverage at the shelter.
Male volunteers could help with various maintenance projects. Contact Sr. Marie or Sr. Romaine for more options.
Commission on Economic Opportunity
Contact/Volunteer Coordinator:
Rich Kutz
826-0510
211 S. Main Street
(food pantry)165 Amber Lane, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
(food bank & central office)
Description of Opportunities:
Provides services for low-income individuals and families. CEO runs a regional food bank that supplies food to many different agencies and a food pantry that provides bags of groceries to needy individuals and families once a month. Volunteers pack food bags, help with distribution at the Food Pantry, and assist with distribution and loading at the Food Bank. One-time events like Thanksgiving and Spring food drives use volunteers as well. CEO also has 3 Welfare-to-Work programs for GED preparation.
REACH - St. Stephen's
Contact/Volunteer Coordinator:
??
825-6653
35 S. Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
Description of Opportunities:
The REACH program serves the poor and underemployed with emergency food and a clothing room. Volunteers help to sort and distribute these goods. A volunteer desiring more direct contact with those receiving services should speak with the site contact. Volunteers are usually asked to volunteer once a week.
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St. Vincent DePaul Kitchen
Contact/Volunteer Coordinator:
Anne Marie McCawley
829-7796
39 E. Jackson Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
Description of Opportunities:
St. Vincent's, just a short walk from King's, provides a hot lunch to anyone needing assistance 365 days a year. Bags of food are also available monthly. Volunteers prepare and serve meals or bag and distribute groceries in the food bank.
St. Vincent’s also operates a community furniture/household goods bank. Volunteers are needed to pick up, transport, and deliver furniture donations as well as to sort and organize household items in the kitchen’s "store." These times are more specific than those at the kitchen.