Homeless families are our guests for a week, four times a year. We provide them with a place to sleep, food and friendly hospitality. This is in coordination with Family Promise ministry which helps the homeless families become self-sustaining and be able to move to an apartment they can live in. "Whatever you did for the least of my brethren you did it for me," says our Lord Jesus Christ.
You could not believe who is homeless and how they cope. Click the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGpv504A5G0&t=676s

The mission of Family Promise is to help homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence. Family Promise recognizes that poverty is a multifaceted problem that requires a multifaceted response. We respond by integrating educational outreach, smart programming, effective policies, and the hands-on work of thousands of volunteers. We provide food, shelter, and support services for homeless families. We provide advice and advocacy for at-risk families to prevent them from becoming homeless. And we educate people about poverty and the means to combat it. Family Promise’s proven approach has helped nearly 80 percent of clients secure housing. On an average night in St. Tammany Parish, over 17 families are homeless, with no local shelter for families to be housed together.

As one of St. Tammany’s 18 host congregations, St. Margaret Mary furnishes lodging on the church premises and nutritious meals for up to five families (14 people) for one week. This occurs three or four times a year and the families are housed in the Evangelization Building. During our host week, we will make healthy breakfasts and suppers and play with the children or help them study and talk with parents after a long day. Each morning, the families are transported to a day center, returning to our parish at 5:00 p.m. for supper.

We are always in need of volunteers as well as monetary support.  These families come to us with many needs. Checks can be made out to St. Margaret Mary with Family Promise in the memo and placed in the collection basket on Sundays or mailed to St. Margaret Mary, 1050 Robert Blvd., Slidell, LA 70458. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact one of the following individuals:

Set Up/Take Down: Eddie Mitts (985) 503-3774                              
Chaperones: Deacon Carlos Ramirez  (985) 788-5971

If you would like to refer someone to the program, please call 985-201-7221.