Hosting CARITAS Families from December 29th – January 5th.
We are looking forward to hosting the ladies from CARITAS this Christmas season! During December 29th to January 5th, we will help the CARITAS program reach their mission of helping our most vulnerable neighbors break the cycles of addition and homelessness, so they can reclaim their dignity.
As always, it is a community effort in that we will provide meals, laundry opportunities, personal hygiene items, and supervision of overnight needs as well as evening programs to make our guests feel welcome.
Our Work with the CARITAS Program
United by compassion, participants in the Richmond regional CARITAS program are helping our most vulnerable neighbors break the cycles of homelessness to reclaim their dignity. As part of CARITAS, local churches take turns in providing a week of shelter for individuals and families dealing with the crisis of homelessness.
New Hanover Presbyterian Church has been honored to participate in this effort, offering one or two weeks a year to host 40 homeless individuals for overnight lodging, evening programs, breakfast and packed lunches. Coordinated by NHPC’s Missions and Service Team and supported by scores of volunteers, the week-long program is a tremendous group effort, with the Church providing approximately 560 meals and 280 packed lunches as well as providing laundry opportunities, personal hygiene items, supervision of overnight needs as well as evening programs to make our guests feel welcome.
We considers this one of our highest callings as Jesus reminds us in Matthew 25: 35 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in…”
