Fight Poverty, Hunger and Homelessness by Giving to the Matthew 25 Collection

A total of 32 parish-sponsored organizations within the Diocese are being bolstered in their efforts to address hunger and homelessness, thanks to parishioner contributions to the Matthew 25 Collection.

Each November, the Diocese takes up the Matthew 25 Collection to help alleviate homelessness, provide healthy meals and distribute clothing for people right here in our local communities. The collection is the Church at work; monies contributed by parishioners are directed into grants for area ministries whose mission is to support men, women and children in need.

Thanks to last year’s contributions to the Matthew 25 Collection, a total of $178,550 in grants were awarded to 32 local organizations this year. Some of these organizations alleviate the burden of food insecurity. Others ensure a safe haven for moms and children and provide shelter for those who are homeless. Some work to provide less-fortunate people with warm clothing, or to distribute diapers for infants.

This year’s Matthew 25 Collection is set for the weekend of November 20. It provides an opportunity to recognize and serve Jesus in others, as the Lord said in Chapter 25 of Matthew’s Gospel: “Whatever you did for one of these least, you did for me.”

One of this year’s grant recipients is The Caring Cupboard in Palmyra, which serves individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

Shila Ulrich, its Executive Director, expressed gratitude for the grant, saying “When I reflect on all that The Caring Cupboard has been through in the last two years as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, I find myself extraordinarily grateful to people like you, who have provided the financial support that has allowed us to never miss a beat as sources for donations dried up temporarily, supply chains became taxed, and the prices of food began to soar. With donations like your recent gift of $4,000, we have been able to continue providing food, day in and day out, to those in need in our community. We literally could not have done it without your support.”

Another recipient is New Hope Ministries in Dillsburg, which supports families in need of rent and utility assistance.

Molly Helmstetter, its Director of Development, shared her gratitude on behalf of the people the organization serves in Adams County. “Your support will specifically help people in Adams County with housing assistance,” she wrote. “Because of you, the people we serve in Adams County will be able to avoid homelessness and long-term poverty. Thanks to devoted and caring organizations like yours, our staff and volunteers are able to provide help for our guests who need it. Thank you for joining with us as we share Christ’s love and hope to more than 15,000 people every year. Please know that you are transforming the lives of those we serve.”

These expressions of gratitude are among the many messages grant recipients shared with the Diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development, which conducts the Matthew 25 Collection. Grants are awarded through the Matthew 25 Grant Selection Committee, which consists of a group of volunteers.

“As I read the comments from the recipient organizations about how they will use the money from the collection, it makes me realize that there are remarkable organizations throughout the Diocese who are responding to needs in their community,” said Kim Roche, Director of the Office of Stewardship and Development.

“Donors can feel good knowing that their gifts in support of the Matthew 25 Collection really do make a difference to someone who needs a helping hand. From the young mom with little children who was moved into permanent housing with the support of a security deposit, to the family who regularly attends a soup kitchen or food bank for food items, this is our faith in action,” she said. “Any gift, no matter the size, truly makes a difference.”

2022 Grant Recipients

Thanks to the generosity of parishioners who supported last year’s Matthew 25 Collection, a total of $178,550 was distributed via grants to these 32 ministries earlier this year: