COVID19 has hit us hard this month.

Dear Friends,

The next 30 to 45 days may prove to be among the most challenging in the Franciscan Center’s history and we could use your support.

Here’s why:

In the nearly 22 months between the start of the government-led response to Covid 19 in mid-March 2020 and the beginning of 2022, the Center tripled the number of people it feeds on an average day.

And started its first-ever delivery program, providing meals to homeless encampments, senior centers and public housing residents in need.

Volunteers took the lead in preparing more than a thousand sandwiches a week, in addition to the hot, scratch-made meals our incredible kitchen crew provided our guests.

Remarkably, in all of 2020 and 2021, only one Franciscan Center staff member became ill with Covid.

Unfortunately, since January 1^st, seven of our colleagues – nearly a third of our staff – have gone into quarantine after testing positive. As a result, we’ve instituted new protocols to seek to prevent the further spread of the virus, including temporarily suspending our volunteer program.

This is a critical loss of helping hands at the worst possible time: in the middle of winter.

Nonetheless, we are committed to making sure our guests continue to receive meals and other services they need to sustain their lives and improve their circumstances.

To get it done, we’re going to take on at least an additional $15,000 in expenses we hadn’t anticipated: longer hours for current staff, temporary staff, an even stronger emphasis on keeping our work spaces “Covid clean,” buying additional rapid testing kits, masks and sanitizer.

Whatever it takes to continue to serve.

People from all over Maryland and beyond have been exceptionally generous in giving to the Center, especially over the past two years, when need has been so great.

We could really use your help again, with a gift at any level.

Thank you!