Father Mckenna Center Inc

Food pantry the food pantry at the center serves low-income families in the center's neighborhood and beyond with fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, milk, eggs, meat, and a variety of shelf-stable items. The center is in partnership with the capital area food bank and for the past six years were designated a "wellness partner" because the center purchases and provides healthy items that are low in sodium and high in fiber. The food pantry has experienced a substantial increase in guests.

Hypothermia/transition program from november 1 through march 31, the hypothermia/transition program provided 12 men with a warm, safe, and secure place to sleep out of the cold, a quality evening meal provided and served by gonzaga college high school ("gonzaga") families, and targeted case management services with the goal of finding a job and a permanent place to live. Unlike in the day shelter drop-in model, the same men join the center each night until they find stable housing or reunite with their community. Participants are selected based on their readiness to move out of homelessness through a job, permanent or temporary housing, and commitment to sobriety and mental health. Participants are provided with a clean bed, intensive case management, financial literacy training, and breathing room to get their life in order in a predictable environment. Each night, volunteers from the gonzaga mothers club serve the men a freshly prepared meal. Their families will join the men for dinner which will re-introduce them to family interactions. The center partners with the catholic charities financial stability network to conduct a series of ten workshops on financial issues and connect participants with a mentor from kpmg to further their financial education.

Other programs in addition to neighboring gonzaga students, the center welcomes student groups from colleges and high schools (locally and nationally) to its immersion service/learning program for a week of service learning. Students volunteer in the center preparing meals, meeting their guests, helping in the food pantry, and supporting other services that we offer. In addition, these visitors also engage in reflection on their experience and how it has informed their views of homelessness, poverty, and hunger. Launched in fiscal year 2022 as a pilot program, the mckenna academy (the "academy") graduated its second cohort of men in fiscal year 2023. Consistent with the better life pyramid and complementing the center's day program, the academy provides training and support for individuals who are ready to take the next step toward meaningful employment and stable housing, including life skills, financial literacy, digital instruction, career counseling, and other related services. The academy program was enhanced by partnerships with other agencies that serve their population. The volunteer program is the lifeblood of the center. Volunteers provide the hearts and hands that make the services and programs at the center possible. From serving breakfast or lunch, to distributing mail, volunteers touch the lives of the people they serve. Both the food pantry and clothing distribution programs are staffed almost entirely by volunteers.