The Dorothy Day Center

Dorothy Day was an American journalist who turned social activism and became a devout member of the Catholic Church. She became well known for her social justice campaigns in defense of the poor, forsaken, hungry and homeless. She helped found the Catholic Worker Movement in 1933, espousing nonviolence, and hospitality for the impoverished and downtrodden.

The Dorothy Day Center in downtown St. Paul, operated by Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, provides meals and resources to the poor, many of whom struggle with chemical dependency and physical or mental disabilities. The Center serves meals to an increasing number of women with children as well as men.


The Dorothy Day Center serves lunch and dinner every day and breakfast on the weekends. An average of 550 meals are served on weekdays and 750 meals are served per day on the weekends. In addition, coffee and sweet rolls are available in the mornings and afternoons. The Center operates the Extended Hours Program, an emergency shelter for 150 homeless people from 8:30 p.m. to 6:45 a.m., and provides a place to sleep and shower and serves meals. Most of the meals served at the Dorothy Day Center are prepared on site. At least 95 percent of the food for meals is donated, and the cooks plan menus based on the donated food available. Prepared food is reheated and served in the Extended Hours Program.

For More Information:

Call Jim Petsch, Dorothy Day Donation Coordinator, at 651-288-4703.



References:

http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/NR/rdonlyres/B2FA90F5-81E1-455B-881F-48098D5EBDB6/6538/

http://www.francis.edu/DorothyDay/volunteercateg.shtml