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Social Justice / Direct Social Services

Direct Services Ministries
Arlington Detention Center (Jail Ministry)	Mass is said once a week at the Arlington County Detention Center. Authorized visitors assist in preparing for Mass, serving as Eucharistic Ministers and escorting priests to visits with inmates. This ministry especially needs Latino men volunteers.	Randy Bender (703) 527-2476 randy.bender@usdoj.gov
Arlington Energency Winter Shelter	Arlington Emergency Winter Shelter runs from November 1 through March 31. Volunteers work directly with staff and guests to facilitate evening orientation and guest check-in. They also work to serve meals, distribute hygiene supplies, bedding and clothing to the guests. St. Charles is organizing small teams of people to volunteer together one night a month from 6:30-9:30pm.	Ethan Wozniak (202) 607-1014 ethan@wozniaks.org
Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC)	AFAC provides food for the needy in Arlington. Every other month, St. Charles parishioners bag and distribute canned goods, staples and perishables at AFAC’s warehouse near Shirlington. On two evenings a month, volunteers re-package bulk chicken for distribution. Volunteers also assist with fund-raisers and with gleaning fruits and vegetables from local farms. www.afacinfo.org	Jo Burns (703) 998-7992 ejmburns@yahoo.com
Borromeo Housing, Inc. (BHI)	Borromeo Housing, Inc. provides the only long-term transitional housing programs for homeless mothers and their children in Arlington County. Named for Elizabeth, who welcomed Mary, Mother of God, into her home, Elizabeth’s House provides a bridge for women and their families who need intensive services and training to strengthen their capacity to be self-sufficient. www.borromeohousing.org	Joy Myers (703) 841-0139 joyleahmyers@yahoo.com (BHI Executive Director)
Borromeo Legal Project	A ministry composed of St. Charles parishioners (several are immigration attorneys) who have come together to work on immigration issues. Four focal points are: English Classes (ESOL); Education (“Charlas”); Roster of Trusted Legal Professionals; and Advocacy. Volunteers are needed to assist those going thru the naturalization process with civics preparation, naturalization exam, gathering required documents, and also help with fund raising (scholarship will be offered to help pay costs of naturalization process).	Marcela vonVacano m.vonvacano@att.net
Clarendon House/Mental Health	CClarendon House is a community-based rehabilitation program working to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and promote the highest level of community integration and independence by providing psychological rehabilitation support for adults diagnosed with mental illness.	Jan Macdonald (703) 524-0238 jmacdonald@counseling.org
Faith-Based Initiative / Transition from Jail	St. Charles currently has two Faith-Based Initiative Teams whose members serve as life coaches for those returning to our community from jail or prison. Volunteers are trained by OAR (Offender Aid and Restoration) of Arlington.	Jo-Ann Duggan (703) 527-5500 x113 jduggan@stcharleschurch.org
Food Pantry	The Food Pantry shares non-perishable foodstuffs provided by St. Charles parishioners with those in need. Food pantry volunteers may assist in addressing non-food related needs of the poor through Project Lazarus.	Richard Coughlin (703) 875-2285 rbcoughlin@hotmail.com
Furniture Ministry	St. Charles runs a furniture ministry that collects donated furniture and delivers it to families in need to improve their living situation. Volunteers are needed to drive to pick up and deliver the furniture.	Jo-Ann Duggan (703) 527-5500 x113 jduggan@stcharleschurch.org
Giving Tree	Each year at Advent, Giving Tree tags with the name of a child or adult from the parish or a local organization who might not receive a gift without parishioners’ help are placed on a Christmas tree. Parishioners choose a tag and purchase a gift for the person whose name is on the tag.	Jo-Ann Duggan (703) 527-5500 x113 jduggan@stcharleschurch.org
Kairos	Kairos or "God's Special Time" is a program devoted to building Christian communities in maximum-security state and federal correctional institutions. To participate as part of the team on at the prison at the Women's Correctional Institute in Fluvanna, Virginia, it is helpful to have gone on a Cursillo Weekend to learn the style of formation. Other ways parishioners can participate with Kairos ministry are to bake cookies for the weekend, or sign up for a time of prayer.	Jean Sweeney (703) 685-7410 jeansween@hotmail.com
Meals on Wheels	VVolunteers from the parish deliver hot mid-day dinners and cold bagged suppers to assist the elderly, sick and disabled in need. Meals on Wheels particularly needs a volunteer to coordinate the St. Charles volunteers by email, helping to find replacements and new drivers as needed.	Ethan Wozniak (202) 607-1014 ethan@wozniaks.org
Nurse-Managed Health Care	A collaboration between St. Charles and Marymount University School of Health Professions where Marymount nursing students come with their professors on a Sunday afternoon to do various health screenings and education programs. If you are familiar with sources of funding for philanthropic programs, or if you have work and/or social contact in this area, please volunteer to help.	Jo-Ann Duggan (703) 527-5500 x113 jduggan@stcharleschurch.org
Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR)	OAR assists in assessing inmate needs, mentoring and tutoring people in detention. OAR’s Community Service Program gives court-ordered community service clients a chance to repay their debt to society through volunteer work at local non-profit organizations, including St. Charles. www.oaronline.org	Marvin Mayorga (703) 378-5197 mmayorga@stcharleschurch.org
Project Lazarus	Project Lazarus provides emergency financial assistance to low-income families so they do not slip into homelessness. Project Lazarus also provides food to needy people through the food pantry, and assists with prescription costs and other one-time financial emergencies.	Jo-Ann Duggan (703) 527-5500 x113 jduggan@stcharleschurch.org
Thanksgiving Dinners	Each year, volunteers help cook complete Thanksgiving Dinners for 25 needy families. These dinners are then delivered to the families.	Fran Hobbs (703) 525-6872 fshdlee@aol.com

Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' - Matthew 25:34-40

Related link: Social Justice Ministries