Homelessness

Ways to Volunteer & Give

Our mission partners periodically have emergency needs, like a family arriving without shoes or clothes, or more holiday oriented requests, like Easter baskets or Christmas gifts. Click here to check out our updated list of current volunteer opportunities and ways to support our neighbors in need.

friendship place

Click here for current ways to support our Mission Partner, Friendship Place. Learn more through their mission statement: “Friendship Place’s mission is to empower people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to attain stable housing and rebuild their lives. Our vision is a DC region and a nation in which every person has a place to call “home.” Our goal is to end homelessness in Washington, DC, and to establish a sustainable model which can be replicated across the nation.”

G’TOWN SATURDAY SUPPERS & SUNDAY DINNERS

COVID-19 UPDATE: In an effort to adhere to social distancing guidelines, we are temporarily hosting our G’town Sunday Dinners at our mission partner church, Holy Trinity. We are still serving G’town Saturday Suppers at Mt. Zion UMC. Your continued donations allow us to serve to-go style meals to over 70 of our neighbors in need. Please continue to support this ministry HERE.

Sundays, 5 p.m. at Holy Trinity

Saturdays, 5 p.m. at Mt. Zion UMC

“GSS” and “GSD” are weekly ecumenical projects that feeds more than 70 unhoused Georgetowners every weekend. In 2013, a group of pastors and lay people recognized that there were no hot evening meals for the homeless on Saturdays and Sundays. After a few weeks working out logistics, GSS was born, shortly followed by GSD. GSS is based at Mt. Zion Methodist church just down the street, and GSD is based at Holy Trinity Catholic Church on N St.

Our model is simple – each church has assigned days to provide and serve a meal. Volunteers sign up online to bring a portion of the meal and serve it. The time commitment is from 4 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. on the designated day. We serve the last Saturday of each month at Mt. Zion UMC. This model only works because of the dedication of volunteers who are invested in caring for our unhoused neighbors.

Please click on the links above for upcoming dates.

GEORGETOWN MINISTRY CENTER

For many years, GPC has been a strong supporter of Georgetown Ministry Center, an organization dedicated to serving the homeless in our area. Through monetary and clothing donations, hosting the Winter Shelter, Georgetown Saturday Suppers, and other programs and events, GPC and other Georgetown-area churches, synagogues and organizations have contributed to this vital ministry. For current information on how you may help, please check the GMC website and look under their blog for “This Week’s Updates.”

SOUL FOOD

Soul Food is a concert series that seeks to feed all people in body and soul, uniting us in a common love and need for the nourishment of the arts. Started in 2016 with a grant from the Lilly Endowment, Soul Food connects up-and-coming artists with people in our community who often have restricted access to the arts.

Our congregation hosts a weekly meal for folks in our community facing food insecurity and homelessness. Once a month, that meal features a concert. Musicians in the past have included a student jazz quartet, Strathmore Artists-in-Residence, and the Young Artists of America at Strathmore.

This program is successful because of the hard work and generosity of volunteers. If you’re interested in being a part of this by helping cook the meal, visit gtownpres.org/serve. If you’d like to perform for the concert series, email Mark Willey, Director of Music at maw@gtownpres.org.

Lutheran Social Services

Lutheran Social Services of National Capital Area (LSS/NCA)—Youth mentors are needed! LSS/NCA is currently looking for foster families for unaccompanied refugee minors and mentors for refugee youth (ages 17-24) to learn about navigating adulthood in America. Learn more at www.lssnca.org or contact Debbi Kant at kantd@lssnca.org.

THE WINTER SHELTER

Participating in the Georgetown Ministry Center Winter Night Shelter is one of the most visible outreach programs. Every year for three or four weeks, GPC hosts at least 10 guests to live in the Georgetown Room. There we provide a hot meal and hospitality during the coldest months.