St Francis Seraph Ministries

ST. FRANCIS SERAPH MINISTRIES NOURISHES AND NURTURES PEOPLE IN NEED. CLIENTS/GUESTS WHO ARE HOMELESS OR LOW INCOME ARE SERVED THROUGH THREE FOOD RELATED PROGRAMS EITHER DIRECTLY WITH FOOD OR THROUGH LEARNING COOKING, NUTRITION, AND PURCHASING SKILLS. FOOTCARE IS OFFERED INCLUDING PROVIDING SHOES AND SOCKS. GUESTS ARE REFERRED TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO MEET THEIR NEEDS; E.G., HOUSING, ADDICTION RECOVERY, PERSONAL HYGIENE, HEALTHCARE, LEGAL RESOLUTION, EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION. GUESTS INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THE GARMENT INDUSTRY OR SEEKING ADDITIONAL INCOME ARE PROVIDED CLASSES IN SEWING AND JEWLERY MAKING SKILLS. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE ALSO PROVIDED FOR STUDENTS AT ST. FRANCIS SERAPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

DINING ROOM: INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HOMELESS AND OTHERS IN NEED ARE PROVIDED BREAKFAST AND DINNER FIVE DAYS A WEEK WHILE FINDING REFUGE IN A SAFE, HOSPITABLE, AND RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT. STAFF REFER INTERESTED GUESTS TO HOUSING AND OTHER SERVICES WHERE APPROPRIATE. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, MORE THAN 43,000 HOT MEALS WERE PROVIDED AND 2,355 MEALS WERE PROVIDED TO THE CENTER FOR RESPITE CARE RESIDENTS. GREATER CINCINNATI BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDES ONSITE COUNSELING AND PLACEMENT SERVICES TO ASSIST OUR PROGRAM GUESTS TO RECEIVE TREATMENT FOR CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY AND MENTAL HEALTH. THIS COLLABORATION HAS RESULTED IN MANY BENEFITS FOR GUESTS, INCLUDING THE ACQUISITION OF NEEDED MEDICAL SERVICES AND JOB PLACEMENT; OVER 75 GUESTS WERE PLACED IN PERMANENT HOUSING.

FOOT CARE FOR THE SOULS IS STAFFED BY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS. IT PROVIDES FOOT CARE, AND SOCKS AND SHOES TO HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS. INDIVIDUALS LIVING UNSHELTERED CAN DEVELOP SERIOUS FOOT PROBLEMS FROM THE COLD, WET FOOTWEAR, AND DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING FOOT HYGIENE. THIS IS ALSO A MEANS TO CONNECT AND ENGAGE WITH INDIVIDUALS ONE-TO-ONE, TO HELP DISRUPT THEIR ISOLATION AND CONNECT WITH OTHER SERVICES THEY MAY NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION TO SHELTER AND A HOME. 384 INDIVIDUALS WERE TREATED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR.

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.