The Mary House Ministry began in 1974 when a group of Sisters of Mercy and lay women living in what is now known as Mary House became aware of the hunger of their neighbors. Moved by the needs of these people, they opened a small food pantry, which still operates today.

Description:
Our mission is that God may guide our hearts and hands in His service, that no one shall ever go hungry, that we treat all people with dignity and respect and that all will know the fullness of His loving care. We offer a food pantry and meal kitchen to the community.

History:
The tradition of Mary House Holiday Dinners dates back to 1972 when St. Patrick parish began providing turkey baskets to the needy of the neighborhood. The volunteers soon realized that for many, the holidays were not only devoid of food but were also very lonely times. In addition to food baskets, volunteers began opening the Church on the holidays, too, so that people could gather together, not only to be fed, but also to share the holiday spirit with others.

The Meal Kitchen began in 1981 when the staff of Mary House realized there were few opportunities for individuals to get an evening meal. With help from friends and area churches, a meal site was opened on Mondays at St. Patrick Church, 244 Smith St.

Contact people:

Janice Luongo, Executive Director, (401) 274-6286, (email) Doreen Holmes, Volunteer Coordinator, (401) 274-6286 ext 2, (email)

Address:

17 Washburn St. Providence, RI 02908 (See a map)

Directions:

off of Orms St.

Miscellaneous Information

Handicap accessible?
	Yes
Interests Served:
	Helping People in Crisis
Does your agency accept court-appointed volunteers?
	Yes

Overall Experience   
A Thanksgiving to remember

My brother and I delivered meals in the morning and then served at the first sit-down meal. This was a well-organized event with many, many volunteers and we were all put to good use to serve the hundreds of guests. posted by daniken on December 31, 2006