Christian Assistance Network

"I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 26:40 Martin de Porres was the unwanted child of a Spanish officer and a free Black woman. He was born in Lima, Peru, forty years after the bloody destruction of the Inca Empire. At age 15 he became a Brother at Convento Santo Domingo in Lima, a Dominican Order. He doctored Lima's sick, distributed thousands of dollars worth of food and clothing to the poor and founded an orphanage for abandoned children. His beloved poor never allowed his memory to fade, and today he is one of the most popular saints of the Americas-the patron of social justice and interracial love.

Church window of St. Martin de Porres, donated in memory of Bernard McElwee, our founding pastor.

 

 

 

 

Mission:

Enabling Christ's People to Change Communities

• To be good stewards of our Member Churches' resources
• To pool resources in an effort to help those in need, thereby preventing duplications of church and agency services
• To establish legitimacy of requests for assistance

Objectives:

• Serve as a clearinghouse for those seeking assistance through area agencies
• Receive, process, and record telephone calls on behalf of potential clients
• Arrange for people to receive assistance through area agencies or C.A.N.'s Interfaith Service Center

History:

The Christian Assistance Network, Inc. (C.A.N.) began in 1984, with St. Isidore Catholic Church as one of the seven original C.A.N. churches.

A Board of Directors was established, Coordinators were selected, and Volunteers from Member-Churches were recruited.

A clearinghouse office was established. The main tool for the Volunteers being a telephone coordination system so that calls may be received and arrangements made for needy persons to receive help.

St. Isidore currently has parishioner volunteers who with other volunteers from Member-Churches either work in the office or at the Interfaith Service Center (I.S.C.), the distribution center. There are no paid positions.

Activities:

Approximately 3 hours of volunteer time is requested per week, although some activities are on an as-needed basis. Of course volunteers do take vacations, may get sick, have emergencies, etc., but we do ask for a general commitment of at least 6 months.

At the I.S.C., Volunteers help distribute both food and clothing to clients who are in need. Other duties at the I.S.C. include helping pick up food orders (men with strong backs only), sort food, sort clothing, etc.

Funding:

The Christian Assistance Network is funded for operation primarily by Member-Churches.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds, when available, may be used for food/food purchasing at the Interfaith Service Center.

Projects:

Interfaith Service Center (A centralized resource location for food, clothing, diapers)
Thanksgiving Baskets (A holiday project with referrals made by Member-Churches, local agencies, schools)

	C.A.N. is limited only by material and physical resources
If you are interested in serving as a C.A.N. Volunteer and are able to serve for 3 hours per week and/or a minimum of 1 year, please contact the C.A.N. coordinator through the Parish Office.	Can is a "Home Mission"	All client information is confidential. Volunteers are expected to maintain confidences and protect the privacy of our clients.
	The SPIRIT with which this work is carried out knows no bounds!

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