Each year the Steubenville South Conference Office asks all of our Groups and Volunteers to help with a special outreach program. This year we will do our outreach project again with a ministry in the Diocese of Alexandria.  Our soup kitchen, Manna House, which has served a full hot meal to over a million people since it began, is open every day of the year, even on Christmas.  The service it provides to the people of the community is overwhelming to all who are a part of it.  This will be our third year doing outreach to help them.

We are asking each group who attends the conference to help us in aiding the Manna House with donations and PRAYERS! Our goal each year is to have 100% participation from all who come.  Some will find it hard to give financially.  100% participation does not mean only giving money; it is also about the spiritual giving.  We ask that you make some sort of prayer sacrifice for the Manna House (ex. Praying a rosary, saying a novena, etc).  If you are able to give financially to this outreach, any amount that you would be able to raise will be helpful.  If we register over 3000 participants, and each participant gave $1, we could raise over $3,000.  What a response to a great call in justice and service.  Jesus calls us to reach out to those in need, so let us do so with open hearts. 

We are asking that when you register on the Friday of the conference, please have your donations and/or spiritual offering.  You may want to have a card made and signed by all of your teens and chaperones which we can send to the Manna House.  Cash is acceptable or checks payable to Manna House.

For more information about the Manna House, or to give donate today, please visit www.givetomannahouse.com.

Other local organizations that could use your help throughout the year include:

St. MARY'S RESIDENTIAL TRAINING SCHOOL
St. Mary's opened in 1954 and has since become one of the nation's premiere facilities for serving individuals who have a dual diagnosis of mental retardation and autism. St. Mary's could use your help throughout the year to serve their almost 200 clients! Find out how you can help by visiting www.stmarys-rts.org or call 318-445-6443. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter!

Shepherd Center
The Shepherd Center is an ecumenical ministry of Rapides parish churches, synagogues, and religious organizations. It is a ministry of last resort whose purpose is to provide temporary aid to individuals and families experiencing a financial crisis. This includes assistance with food, utilities, rent, shelter, transportation, furniture, clothing vouchers, referrals, advocacy, as well as other essential needs and services. For more information on how to help the Shepherd Center of Alexandria, La please visit http://www.theshepherdcenter.org/

Also, check out a list of Catholic-friendly Alternatives to Popular Charities, by Life Teen's Kristin Bird!