Friends of Dorothy Day serve food and friendship to homeless

When Steve Hawkins experienced a personal crisis in 1995, he decided to serve with Loaves and Fishes at his parish. He continued the fourth Friday of every month.

“I find solace, comfort and hope regardless of how difficult my day has been, dealing with those who Christ loved the most,” he said. “And since then, it’s been a growing part of my life as a Catholic.”

Hawkins joined “Practicing Catholic” host Patrick Conley March 19 to talk about his regular volunteering today at Friends of Dorothy Day, a charity that supports residents of Catholic Charities’ St. Paul Higher Ground homeless shelter. The shelter opened in January 2017 and accommodates up to 500 residents.

Friends of Dorothy Day volunteers serve food and offer friendship on a nightly basis to men and women who are rebuilding their lives and returning to sustainable, independent living, Hawkins said. Before Higher Ground was available, for eight winters starting in 2009, Hawkins joined a group of volunteers staffing an emergency overflow shelter.

“We’d arrive at 7 p.m., do a little prep work, admit up to 40 men and spend the evening socializing with them before we’d all bed down at 10 p.m.,” he said. Starting at 6 a.m., the volunteers shared coffee before guests headed out for the day, he said.

“Friends of Dorothy Day take very seriously the need for us to become friends with those individuals on the margins so it becomes an integral part of our meal service each evening at Higher Ground,” Hawkins said.

He encourages others to volunteer, whether one night a year, one night a month or more frequently. In addition to ongoing service, extra volunteers are needed on Wednesday evenings for ice cream socials and for bingo the last Friday of each month.

“We’re currently blessed to have about 500 volunteers from throughout the archdiocese who either pray for or participate in our evening events,” Hawkins said. “For that, we’re most grateful.”

To hear the story of one memorable man who stayed at the overflow shelter and touched many lives, including the former CEO of Catholic Charities, tune in to this episode of the “Practicing Catholic” radio show and hear Hawkins’ complete interview. It airs at 9 p.m. March 19, 1 p.m. March 20 or 2 p.m. March 21 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.

“Practicing Catholic” is produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Other guest interviews on the March 19 show are Deacon Nathan Allen, who describes a free class for learning Latin, and Chorbishop Sharbel Maroun, who discusses Maronite traditions for Lent and Easter.