Labre Homeless Outreach serves Cleveland with food and faith

On Monday nights a white Heart for Civic Engagement and Management (CCEL) van loaded with sizzling meals and donations hits the streets of downtown Cleveland. The individuals within the van are on their method to give meals, companionship and prayers to these experiencing homelessness in our group.

The group coordinating this outreach is Labre Homeless Outreach, a program put collectively by Case Catholic Newman Campus Ministry. The scholars concerned work to reveal the constructive influence that spiritual teams at Case Western Reserve College could make to the higher Cleveland space. 

Labre was one of many winners of final 12 months’s Scholar Management Award for Group Neighborhood and Service. The mission of this group is to supply a faith-based group and meals to these in want within the Cleveland space. Fourth-year scholar Carolyn Neutzling, present co-president of Labre, was excited to explain the group and all of the constructive work they attempt to do. She said, “We work to serve these experiencing homelessness by attempting to supply for them spiritually, mentally and bodily.”

Along with meals, Labre carries garments, blankets and different provides. The primary objective of Labre is to attach with the group by way of faith. 

“We’re a faith-based group with a mission to additionally evangelize, witness and pray for and with these we encounter,” mentioned Neutzling. 

“Labre doesn’t straight search converts, nor expects these we serve to share in our spiritual beliefs, however comes from our personal name from Christ to serve, uplift and share in group with probably the most weak members of our group, wherever which may be,” added fourth-year scholar DavidPatrick Ryan, the opposite co-president of Labre. “And for us that’s Cleveland, OH.” 

Labre conducts weekly drives by way of downtown Cleveland with meals, garments and different requirements. Members of the membership will ask if somebody would love a meal after which ask in the event that they wish to speak for a minute or pray. The individuals Labre members meet are sometimes the primary to start out the dialog, particularly concerning faith. 

“This group loves us in a approach that I hadn’t first anticipated,” says third-year scholar Lauren Gonzalez, co-vice president of Newman and an energetic member of Labre. “Usually, they’ve extra love and light-weight for us or Jesus than we are able to carry to them. They aren’t afraid to point out their religion.”

Bringing somebody meals usually ends in them asking for prayer, telling their story or perhaps a easy “God bless you.”

One other Labre member, fourth-year John Carroll College scholar Alex Krukemeyer, said that one of many root causes of homelessness is ruptured relationships. Labre goals to get on the coronary heart of this subject by offering connection. Being locally is helpful for Labre members too, with Krukemeyer stating that “Labre helps us come to know our Christian identification by coming to higher perceive Christ’s name to serve others, each spiritually and bodily.” Labre doesn’t require individuals to come back to them, however relatively meets them the place they’re. Gonzalez, Krukemeyer and Neutzling all echoed that speaking to individuals in Cleveland strengthens their religion and broadens their perspective on problems with homelessness. 

After the runs, the members do a prayer and reflection. Notes are taken and shared with different colleges round Cleveland, together with St. Ignatius Excessive Faculty, the place Labre began, and JCU. The objective of the partnerships between these colleges is to constantly present meals and type a reference to individuals. There are “regulars,” whose names and tales are recognized, and who love seeing the van pull up each Monday.

Labre operates on a donations system, and is supported by the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH). As a bigger group, NEOCH can present extra of the fabric wants for Labre to provide out, akin to backpacks or blankets. They’ll additionally present assets for extra emergent considerations in homeless populations akin to housing, identification companies and medical companies. Campus organizations akin to Pi Beta Phi and the Hillel Heart additionally assist out with making weekly meals donations.

Any meals left over after runs is then donated to St. Herman Home in Tremont, a location that provides three meals a day, three hundred and sixty five days a 12 months to those that want it. CCEL has additionally partnered with Labre for blanket making and donation drives. The entire work that Labre does to supply for the homeless helps construct ties between teams throughout campus. 

You possibly can assist Labre by way of donations and, when you’re into that form of factor, prayers. When you’ve got extra questions or considerations, or are fascinated about getting concerned, attain out to Labre at labreinfo@case.edu.

Disclaimer: Cameron Ward is an energetic member of Labre Homeless Outreach.