St. Mary’s Shelter Supper Program
A Warm Hello from the St. Mary’s Shelter Supper Coordinators
- Do you have a strong passion to minister to those in need?
- Could you spare some time to support and strengthen the women and children who live at the Commercial Street Inn (CSI)?
We Invite You To Cook and Serve at the Shelter
St. Mary’s Shelter Supper Program provides dinner for the Commercial Street Inn on the last Wednesday of every month. You and your friends or your family can volunteer to prepare and serve a dinner to the women and children at the Shelter.
The Commercial Street Inn (CSI) is an Emergency Shelter
for Women and Children in San Jose.
Meals are provided by churches and volunteer groups.
About the Shelter
The Commercial Street Inn
206 Commercial Street, San Jose, CA 95112
www.sjhousing.org/project/csi.html
(408) 261-1630
This emergency shelter houses approximately 50 women and children. They can stay up to 90 days. There are 12 family rooms and 12 cubicles for single women. Because of the facility’s design, boys over the age of 11 are not permitted to stay at the Shelter. Women pay a small fee after the first 30 days. While in the Shelter, the women work closely with a case manager to secure transitional or permanent housing, daycare, employment and counseling, to break the cycle of homelessness. Meals are provided, and all residents help with daily chores. A computer lab is available on site and a “Learning Homework Club” runs after school Monday through Friday for school–age children.
Karen Izzo Program Coordinator
Hi my name is Karen Izzo. In 2000, my husband, my daughter and I joined St. Mary’s church. We live in the Santa Cruz Mountains and thoroughly enjoy the parish, its members and the fellowship we share. Shortly after joining St. Mary’s we decided to get involved with St. Mary’s Shelter Supper program. Our family really enjoyed the experience and opportunity to help make a difference in someone’s life. After serving meals there I was asked to be part of the St. Mary’s Shelter Supper leadership committee. After serving on the committee for a couple years I was invited to be the lead coordinator for the program. We have had so much fun with the giving, sharing and fellowship of this ministry. We hope you and your friends or will enjoy it as well. All of our parishioners have a strong passion to serve others. We know God has equipped each one of us with gifts and talents to be used for God’s purpose. We also recognize the time and talents you, our fellow parishioners, have so generously given to make this ministry a success. Several years ago, we more than doubled participation in the program with 46 parishioners serving a total of 986 dinners on 29 different dates. This was due in no small measure to the organizational skills of parishioner Bill Mercer, the coordinator of the Shelter Supper Program before he turned it over to us to coordinate. We thank Bill for ALL he has done for the program.
Make a Difference in Someone’s Life
Women and children are the most vulnerable and susceptible population to the ravages of homelessness. 30% of the homeless are children who, through no fault of their own, roam the streets of the South Bay, looking for food and a safe place to sleep. The goal of the Commercial Street Inn, which is run by InnVision of Santa Clara Valley, is to ensure that these children do not end up in a homeless shelter as adults. By providing comprehensive services to the family, we strive to end the cycle of homelessness, one generation at a time.
¨
St. Mary’s Invites You to Volunteer
We invite you to prepare and serve dinner to the families who are living at the Commercial Street Inn Emergency Shelter.
Location
206 Commercial Street, San Jose, CA 95112
(between 5th and 5th Streets)
(408) 261-1630
When
The last Wednesday of the month, between 6 and 7p.m.
Other dates available upon request.
How
You and your friends or family prepare and serve a mail for 35 to 40 women and children.
Talk It Over
Discern whether this is the ministry for you by talking it over with your friends or family, select a date, and sign up!
¨
To sign up, contact St. Mary’s Pastoral Care and Community Ministry at (408) 354-4061, ext 121.
The Details
Sign up and plan your menu!
(We can provide you with a sample menu of what other parishioners have served)
If you are not able to keep your commitment of preparing and serving the dinner, it is your responsibility to find a replacement.
When preparing your food items, please be sure to follow the hygienic standards required for large quantities. Ensure all items are thoroughly cooked and then refrigerated or stored appropriately.
For an up-to-date headcount, call the Shelter at (408) 261-1630 the day before, after 4:30 p.m..
If you wish to be reimbursed for food and expenses, save your receipts and submit them to St. Mary’s Pastoral Care and Community Ministry Office.
At the Shelter (CSI)
- Upon arrival, sign the visitor register.
- Serving time is approximately 6-7pm. Please arrive 30 minutes early to set up your meal. The tables may need to be wiped down and the kitchen may need to be tidied. Plan on two people to serve in the kitchen area, and a minimum of one other person outside of the kitchen to assist with serving drinks or desserts and helping with napkins and seating. If you need to re-heat your food, ask the Director to show you how the ovens operate. As required by the Health and Safety Board, please wear a hat or hair net and apron when serving the food.
- Place CSI dinnerware/eating utensils/napkins on the shelf area, adjacent to the serving area. Place your beverages and dessert on the small table to the right of the serving area.
- Feel free to use table coverings, flowers and decorations. Above all, have fun! This is a wonderful gift you are giving to the women and children at the Shelter.