While the pandemic makes winter even harder for those who live in poverty, Baltimore families and individuals find refuge in the Franciscan Center during Christmas time.
The Franciscan Center in Baltimore will host its fourth annual Children’s Christmas Party Dec. 22, in which approximately 250 kids will receive toys and 200 families will benefit from clothes, baby diapers, formula and holiday treats.
The center will also host its second annual 24-hour Cooking and Serving Marathon starting at 10 a.m. Dec. 23 and ending at 10 a.m. Dec. 24, in which 30 chefs will volunteer to cook a total of 25,000 hot and healthy meals, partially served at the Franciscan Center and partially delivered to first responders and homeless encampments.
The first 600 clients to arrive at the Franciscan Center Dec. 23 will also benefit from Christmas presents, such as hygiene kits, winter clothing, jackets, blankets and pantry food.
Jeffrey Griffin, executive Director of the Franciscan Center and parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Towson, said these events serve as an outreach to the community to let them know the center is a safe place with people who care for them and can provide help to families and individuals, if they are willing to “open up.”
From culinary to responsive and empowerment services, the center is equipped to help the community by covering immediate and long-term needs, such as a hot meal, mental services and job training.
Among the volunteers at the Children’s Christmas Party are Anthony I. Day, Conventual Franciscan Father Donald Grzymski and Mary Beth Lennon, presidents of Loyola Blakefield High School in Towson, Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore and Mercy High School in Baltimore respectively. Although rivals in sports, these schools come together as brothers and sisters in service to the community.
Most children served go to one of the two local schools, Dallas F. Nicholas Sr. Elementary School and Margaret Brent Elementary/Middle School. According to Griffin, 25 percent of the student population of both schools live in poverty.
“This is really a difficult time for the kids; a lot of them have lost relatives due to violence, covid-19 and drugs,” Griffin said. “This is a way, for at least two hours, to allow the kids to be kids.”
During the party, children get an opportunity to talk to Santa Claus and play with other children.
“Sometimes the things kids ask for are really tough,” Griffin said. “It makes you a little sad when they ask to bring back a loved one.”
Griffin said the center relies on a well-trained Santa, and while Santa can’t promise to bring back loved ones, he could say, “Well, what can you do to keep that person in your heart?”
He noted the event is also a great opportunity to talk to the parents and grandparents, some of whom are the “working poor,” who need help once a week or once a month. Social workers get a chance to talk to parents and help to pay a bill or provide whatever they need help with.
In addition to bringing cheer to children and their families, the center will bring cheer and hot meals made from scratch during multiple visits to eleven encampments for those experiencing homelessness, including Potee, the largest encampment with 100 people living without a home in south Baltimore, and a hotel, which shelters homeless mothers with children as a city initiative since COVID-19.
Public service workers serving the community with midnight shifts will also benefit from holiday meals. Among those are six police stations from Baltimore City, two police stations from Dundalk and Parkville, and emergency rooms of eight hospitals in Baltimore City.
Griffin noted police stations and hospitals are excited to have a gourmet meal at night because day shift workers are the ones likely to get those foods.
“We’ll go around the whole city and serve people on the street,” Griffin said.
Growing up in Dundalk as a parishioner of Our Lady of Hope, Griffin recalls his family, a single mother with four boys, getting help from church members and the community.
His life experiences inspired him to “give back” and work for the community. After working for Gov. Larry Hogan at the Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism, he joined the Franciscan Center.
“I wanted to be here and make sure the legacy of the sisters of St. Francis continued,” Griffin said. “We try to bring happiness and provide comfort for the families, letting them know they can always come here, and we will do our best to help them anyway we can.”
Email Priscila González de Doran at pdoran@CatholicReview.org
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