Last Sunday ninth-grade youth from St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Clearwater, along with a few others, traveled to Place of Hope in St. Cloud to help feed those in need.
Place of Hope is a shelter that offers services to people who are homeless or financially unstable.
Their outreach programs include shelter and permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness, providing food for the needy, spiritual nourishment through their Sunday worship services and Recovering Hope Discipleship program, kids’ hope outreach, times of hope to those incarcerated, and opportunities to rebuild lives at their Living Hope Residential Center.
“All of the kids and their parents make food at home and bring it ready to serve to Place of Hope,” said Marilyn Popp, St. Luke’s director of faith formation. “We get everything set up, put the food out and are ready to serve by 4:45 p.m.”
The youth also served, washed dishes and cleaned up once they were done for the evening.
St. Luke’s 10th-graders will be heading to Place of Hope to help feed the needy at the end of February.
Also coming up, ninth and 10th grade youth will be bowling and visiting with senior citizens at St. Ben’s Community in St. Cloud.
“This is a fun evening for both the youth and the seniors at St. Ben’s,” said Popp. “Many of the kids are a bit nervous to be with the elderly, but by the end of the evening there are smiles on everyone’s face.”
“These are both ways in which we can teach our youth about how we are called to serve others and to reach out to others with love.”
