FR Michael Mission

FR Michael's Mission (the Mission) developed a cooprative ministry with food for the poor,inc., a christian relief and development organization. This organization provided tons of food, personal care items and seasonal clothing that the Mission distributed to fifty other small catholic, christian, nondenominaltinal churches and one mosque for the needy of their communities. These items came from corporate donors such as procter and gamble, Inc. The value of these goods as determined by the donors was $220,896.in 2023 FR Michael's Mission, Inc successfully coordinated the purchases, distribution and deliveries of basic family foods, personal hygiene products, home cleaning products, and winter coats to hundreds of families and individuals living in charles, st mary's and southern prince georges counties: which together compose a large region of the more rural region of southern Maryland. The rural poverty of southern Maryland is severe, the resources needed to address these challenges are far fewer than say the urban communities. In addition, emergency temporary housing is provided but this is very limited since we use old motels and their prices have steadily increased in these past three years. In contrast, our annual financial donations are steady at roughly $68,000.00 per year. The bulk of our donations are charitable and in-kind donations from companies. Church related charities and individual churches, and a few individuals the very limited number of our most generous donors. We certainly appreciate and thank all of our donors since all donations are acts of generosity and kindness. We look forward to continuing this great interfaith ministry in the needy and rural parts of southern Maryland.

The Mission also packages and delivers food bags to hundreds of very poor and low-income families. They include the elderly, sick, disabled, underemployed, unemployed, and children. The provision of food bags provided thousands of meals to the most needy. Many are living on borrowed time. They pay as much as $350 per week for an old motel room, which costs them $1,400 a month which is most of their monthly income. Others the Mission serves live in poorly maintained houses, trailers hidden from the main roads. Some are living in mere tents in wooded areas. Too often they fear they will not have housing in a week, or they will not have enough food to feed their children and loved ones.

Throughout the late fall of 2023 and the winter months in early 2023 the Mission was able to provide in excess of $8,000 to move poor adults and families out of the woods and into temporary seasonal housing at older motels. The Mission also assisted men and woment to pay their electric, gas, or water bills.