skillet  
St. Ignatius Shelter Meal Program
S.F. Interfaith Council
Emergency Shelter Ministry


About the Ministry:
The San Francisco Interfaith Council is a multi-denominational organization of which St. Ignatius Church is a proud and active member. Through the Interfaith Council, congregations from all over the City work in collaboration with one another and with various City agencies to help alleviate some of the effects of poverty and homelessness. One of the efforts they sponsor is the Emergency Winter Shelter Program, the goal of which is to provide shelter and meals to homeless men throughout the City during the coldest, wettest months of the year. Rita Semmel, who heads Council, points out with some irony that the program still bears the name "emergency," even though it has been in existence for 18 years.

As part of the Interfaith Council program, some of the member churches provide shelter and others provide food. St. Ignatius Church has been involved with the project for six years preparing and serving dinners, each year increasing the number of dinners we provide and the quality of food we to serve. During the winter months of December, 2000 - February, 2001, over 450 St. Ignatius volunteers worked to prepare and serve nearly 3000 dinners to homeless men.

How can I get involved?
Your help is needed in this important work. The entire Shelter Meal Committee cordially invites you to volunteer to help with the preparation, delivery, or serving of these meals at shelters during the months of winter and early spring. It's a wonderful way to get to know people and strengthen bonds within our parish and to build relationships with the broader community in which we live. If you're interested, contact one of the names at the bottom of this page. We promise you a volunteer experience that you will not soon forget. We also welcome your financial support of this program and guarantee that your donations will be put to good use.

Here's how you can participate!

Prepare the Meal
  Are you a good cook? Do you enjoy preparing special meals? We need your help!
Spend a morning or afternoon preparing meals in our kitchen.
Bring a group of friends, co-workers, or family!
Dates Needed: Winter and early spring only -- check the bulletin and this web site during those seasons for dates.
Time Commitment:      Varies by day of week:
On weekends, choose from two shifts:
-- 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, or
-- 2:00 - 6:00 pm
On weekdays there is only one shift, 1:00 - 6:00 pm.
Location: Varies by date
Serve the Meal
  Dates Needed: Winter and early spring only -- check the bulletin and this web site during those seasons for dates.
Time Commitment:      6:00 - 9:30 pm
Location: Varies by date
Make a Donation
  As always, donations are gratefully accepted and will go directly toward the cost of food. Checks payable to St. Ignatius Church, please note: Shelter Meal Program.
Sign Up Today!
  See the contact information at the bottom of this page.

Contact Information
To volunteer, contact:
John Murphy
john.murphy.1977@stignatiussf.org
415-753-1528 (evenings)
To become a donor, contact:
Cynthia De Martini
demartini@usfca.edu
415-422-2937