St. Theresa provides meals for the homeless through two agencies:
Central Iowa Shelter Services (Churches United)
Central Iowa Shelter Services (CISS) was started in the winter of 1990 by the downtown Des Moines churches who decided to take turns feeding and housing those in need, using their own facilities through the winter nights. The shelter is located at 1420 Mulberry and provides emergency shelter, transitional housing for Veterans, Section 8 efficiency apartments, health clinic and individual case management for over 250 people.
Currently, St. Theresa Church parishioners, neighbors, and friends prepare and serve the evening meal at CISS on the 8th day of each month. A faithful group of 60+ people provide food and supplies to feed 250 people. Approximately 10 people take the meal down to the shelter to serve. This ministry has been done monthly since 1992. Food for the meal is usually prepared at home by the providers and brought to the St. Theresa School kitchen by 5:45pm on the 8th. The servers then transport the food to the shelter, set up and are ready to serve from 6:30-7:30 pm. We bring plenty of food so there will be leftovers that will be kept warm for late-comers, as the shelter admits up until 10:30pm.
Catholic Charities (St. Joseph’s) Emergency Family Shelter
Catholic Charities Emergency Shelter is part of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Des Moines. It is located at 1535 11th Street in Des Moines and serves as shelter for homeless families in need. St. Theresa Parish provides the evening meal for 30 people on the 4th Friday of each month. The meal provider has the option of making the meal at home and delivering it by 5:30pm, or going down to the shelter earlier and preparing it onsite. In either situation, you have the choice of joining the residents for the meal, allowing us to know those we help and helping them know who we are.
We are always is in need of more help in continuing these commitments to reach out to the needs of hungry and homeless in our community. Please consider helping in the cooking, serving, or organizing of our outreach to the hungry and homeless of our community. If you are interested in helping, please contact:
Central Iowa Shelter Services
Celeste Egger, 515-480-8358
Catholic Charities Family Shelter
Jo Downey, 515-205-2178