While many groups in St. Petersburg that aid people experiencing homelessness have ceased or curtailed their activities, Missio Dei Community, continues to serve an average of 75 meals each week to those living on the streets, all while maintaining sound COVID-19 health practices. We’ve changed our usual sit-down community meals to carry-out bagged meals. Throughout this experience, it’s becoming more apparent than ever that we need your help to keep serving. You can make contributions of food and work, either at the serving sites or at home. Information on the meals and how you can help is listed below.
Description: The Missio Dei, a church that is about 90% homeless, serves bagged meals of a hot dinner main course, a side dish, a hard-boiled egg, a sandwich, fruit, and dessert. People pick up the meals at the door of Praise the Lord Outreach Ministry.
– Volunteer needs: Volunteers can prepare food off-site or work on-site. Here is a schedule of on-site tasks. Volunteers can work all or part of the dinner.
Set up to clean-up: 4:00 PM – 7:30 PM
4:00 – 5:30: Sanitize area, prepare and package dinners
5:30: Serve dinners
5:30 – 7:30: Wash pots and utensils, clean work areas, put away items, organize and prepare for future meals, put away tables, mop floor
.
Most of our work is done inside the building and does not require contact with the public. For on-site volunteers, Missio supplies the gloves, soap and hand sanitizer; you supply your mask, your work, and your good cheer. - For information, contact John Stewart at John@celebrateoutreach.org. Email to sign up, or to learn what food donations and preparation are needed.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT Ongoing support is extremely helpful for our planning. If you or a group would like to fund a monthly meal, or provide funds for a specific food or regular expenses, here is a partial list of our expenses:
Dinner: $ 200 each meal
Paper cups for serving main course: $15 each meal
Fruit: $30 each meal
Hard-boiled eggs: $45 a month
A full list is available by contacting John Stewart at John@celebrateoutreach.org
Due to the financial conditions of our congregants, we fully rely on outside financial support via grants and donations. This campaign is designed to fund the meals only for one year. Any donation amount is extremely appreciated!
Thanks from everyone at Missio Dei Community!