Organizations We Support
Central Louisville Community Ministries, 809 S. 4th Street
CLCM is an urban ministry focusing on homelessness prevention formed by eight downtown churches – Bethlehem United Church of Christ, Calvary Episcopal Church, Cathedral of the Assumption, Central Presbyterian Church, Christ Church Cathedral, First Unitarian, and Fourth Avenue United Methodist, and St. Boniface – and guided by a Board of Directors.
CLCM provides emergency assistance to low-income residents in 40202, parts of 40203, and 40208 zip codes with rent, utilities, prescriptions, food, clothing, personal care items, and other requests.
Central Louisville Community Ministries can use volunteers to support their services, such as the food pantry, clothes closet and emergency financial assistance requests. Volunteers are always needed to help solicit donations of clothes, food and money. Volunteers are also welcome in work in the office and assist directly with clients. Volunteers from the churches work three-hour shifts (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) to arrange for emergency assistance – food, rent, utilities, medical assistance, identification, and haircuts – to residents of the area they serve. To learn more, please visit their facebook page @CentralLouisvilleCommunityMinistries.
Nativity Academy at St. Boniface
Nativity Academy at St. Boniface is a private middle school in the Catholic tradition that serves students in Metro Louisville who have academic promise and are from families of financial need. The regular academic day begins with breakfast, includes lunch, and a snack and runs from 7:45am until 3:15pm, Monday through Friday. Every Monday through Thursday, the academic day is followed by an Extended Day Program (referred to as EDP) from 3:10pm until 5:45pm that all students are required to attend. The Extended Day Program includes mandatory study hall, 3:25 – 4:40, followed by enrichment activities, 4:40 – 5:45, that cover everything from cooking class and basketball practice to drum corps and book club, among many other options.
Nativity Academy has the following volunteer opportunities:to mentor (both during the period in which the students are at Nativity and beyond – through high school and college); to tutor the students; to coach sports and lead extracurricular activities; to work on committees of the Board of Directors for the Academy, as well as committees related to the annual dinner and auction fundraising event; opportunities to assist the families of students with life skills challenges, such as job search, money management and parenting mentoring/skill building; financial sponsorship ( donors may donate any amount on an annual basis and be part of a group of donors who sponsor a specific child. The group will get updates and communication from their sponsored child regularly). Nativity has regularly scheduled tours and informational breakfasts which interested parishioners can attend to learn more. Other than enjoying middle school students and a dynamic school environment, volunteers are required to fill out a background check form and attend one Archdiocesan Safe Environment Training workshop.
St. John Center for Homeless Men, 700 E. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
St. John Center is a daytime shelter for homeless adults providing mental health and social services, medical and dental services, and an alcohol and drug rehabilitation program. The center is celebrating its 30th Anniversary. Persons are needed to give generously to create a hopeful environment for those suffering the instability and disorientation of homelessness. Opportunities for stewardship include hands-on work such as serving coffee, monitoring the phone desk, and checking clients into the shelter at the sign-in desk. The center, located at 700 E. Muhammad Ali Boulevard, is open from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The House of Ruth, 607 E. St. Catherine Street
Staff, volunteers, and donors help strengthen lives for about 600 people each year, including over 150 children. House of Ruth does this by housing people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, as well as providing financial assistance for TARC tickets, rental security deposits, moving expenses, and uniforms and supplies needed for work and school. House of Ruth also offers individualized case management, crisis intervention, educational workshops, social gatherings, and children’s activities.
Headed up by our Compassion Group, the Cathedral supports this ministry through our Fifth Sunday Collection of toiletries and cleaning supplies for those served at House of Ruth.
