The Father McKenna Center

After their senior picnic, seniors stopped by the McKenna Center to drop off food for our guests. We admire how they remembered those in need while celebrating such an important milestone. Congratulations to the graduates, and thank you for serving the community with such compassion!

Last week, Tiffany Thomas of Walker Memorial Baptist Church on 2020 13th St. NW stopped by to conduct outreach to the men. We deeply value all our community partners who are committed to improving the lives of those experiencing homelessness or food insecurity. Visits like these also make sure our guests have an active voice in proposing resources or services that would best meet their needs. Thank you!

A big thank you to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church - Washington, D.C. for dropping off fresh meals for our guests this week! The chicken alfredo, baked ziti, garden salads, and cookies were all huge hits with the men. Gestures like these do more than just provide a delicious meal—they remind our guests that they are supported by a caring community.

Some moments from Gannon’s ABST Instagram Takeover!

Students from Gannon University (Erie PA) had the opportunity to work amongst the staff and support the clients throughout the week!

We (ABST group) were able to help with serving meals, playing games with the men, and aiding in the food pantry. Alongside such, we helped with various tasks including meal prep, unloading pantry items, and having a blast dancing with Paul.

Overall, we had a tremendously good time working with the center to evolve our understanding of food insecurity and disadvantaged populations.

Thank you to the center!

Last week, we welcomed a group of volunteers participating in Yale Day of Service. From serving lunch to the men to sharing conversations and brightening many days, they contributed to the welcoming environment that makes the McKenna Center special. We are grateful that they chose to participate in this tradition of service by spending time with us!

As the school year comes to an end, we want to extend our sincere gratitude to all the students who spent time volunteering at the McKenna Center throughout the year. These volunteers have had a tremendous positive impact on the lives of so many of our guests and have truly embodied what it means to be men for others. We are blessed to have such reliable, compassionate, and hardworking volunteers to support our work, and we look forward to continuing this partnership in the years ahead!

Gonzaga student Robert S. came by this morning to drop off ~500 lbs of non-perishables, which he collected as part of his Eagle Scout project supporting the Father McKenna Center.

Our Pantry, which provides groceries to over 500 households a month, could not operate without the generous support of community members like Robert. Thank you Robert for your efforts and facilitating such a significant donation to the Center!

This past school year we were blessed with volunteers from local high schools and colleges who contributed so much energy and joy to our Center. As summer approaches and terms end, we are sad to see these volunteers go, but excited to welcome new community members to the Center.

Come spend your time volunteering with us this summer, whether it's serving meals to our guests, assisting our shoppers through the food pantry, supporting shoppers in our clothing closet, checking people in and making nametags, or helping out with cleaning and organization around the Center.

Click the link in our bio for access to our website, volunteer signups, and other ways to support. We'll see you around!

Thanks to students for dropping off fresh sandwiches for our meal services! Contributions like these provide mealtime variety, and Chef Russell and the kitchen team are grateful for the support.

The Gonzaga Garden Club strikes again! Many thanks for their generous donation of fresh winter kale this week. Providing healthy, locally sourced produce is part of what makes our food pantry so special, and donations like these help ensure our guests have access to food that nourishes both body and soul.