ST FRANCIS SERAPH MINISTRIES

Sarah center is an empowerment center encouraging participants to develop strengths and talents in order to build positive lives for themselves, their families, and the community. 'stitched' classes teach sewing skills and almost half of graduating students have either been hired for sewing positions or started their own business as a result. Programming also includes quilting and jewelry classes, health and wellness activities, empowerment experiences, entrepreneurial education and the sale of participants' hand-made products as a source of income and self-affirmation.

Bag lunch ministry: bag lunches are distributed in collaboration with recovery and youth programs and to guests in the dining room. During the fiscal year, over 12,388 bag lunches were distributed, a substantial amount of which were to homeless individuals. A bag lunch is their food for the day for some and to others in poverty, a portable meal so their limited income can be used more effectively for other basic needs.

Other assistance efforts: the ministries provides $40,000 in annual scholarships for several students attending st. Francis seraph school.on a limited basis, the ministries provides emergency assistance to payrent, utilities and transportation costs for individuals or familieswho have no other recourse. The franciscan province of st. John thebaptist began funding emergency assistance in 2023.