Serving with Sustainability: Adapting to Growing Need While Staying True to Our Mission
Every day at Pope Francis Center, we witness both the growing needs of our community and the extraordinary compassion of those who step forward to serve. As the number of guests visiting our Day Center continues to rise, our leadership team has been carefully evaluating how we can continue providing safe, dignified, and sustainable support to those who rely on us most.
The following letter from President & CEO, Fr. Tim McCabe, shares an important update about changes to our clothing distribution services, the reasons behind this decision, and our continued commitment to caring for our guests, volunteers, and staff. Thank you for taking a moment to read through, and for your continued support as we move forward in our mission at PFC.
Dear Donors, Volunteers, and Supporters,
I am writing to share where the Pope Francis Center finds itself this spring, and a decision I have made that may affect the daily work many of you do alongside us.
As you know, the number of guests coming through our doors at the Day Center has grown beyond what our space was built to hold. Our leadership team has met a number of times recently to look at how we deliver services, what we might do differently, and what models could let us serve more people without sacrificing the dignity and care that have always defined this place. What we are all clear about is this: the way we are doing things today is not sustainable, and continuing as we are puts the safety and well-being of our guests, our volunteers, and our staff at real risk.
After much conversation and reflection, I have made the decision to discontinue the distribution of clothing at the day center, with three exceptions: underwear, socks, and — in the event of a true emergency — scrubs. With this change in service, we will put a pause on accepting in-kind donations of clothing at PFC. This change will take effect over the next couple of weeks.
I want to be honest about why. No one on our team wants to cut services, and the discussions that brought us here were not easy. But we have to choose, and we have to choose in a way that protects the essentials. With food and gasoline prices climbing, we are bracing for a rise in food insecurity among the people we serve, and we want to be ready when they come to us hungry. Of all the services we offer, clothing is the one for which other Detroit organizations are well positioned to help — and we will be ready to direct our guests to those partners. Cutting clothing is the least disruptive of the not-great options in front of us.
We are also quietly mapping out further changes that may become necessary if the numbers continue to climb beyond where they are today. I will share more as those plans take shape. For now, please know that I am holding two things at the same time: a deep concern that we are stretched to the edge of what is sustainable, and an absolute commitment that the safety and security of every person who walks through our doors — and every volunteer, staff member and person we serve — is my top priority.
Your thoughts are welcome and wanted. Many of you have been part of this ministry longer than I have, you know our guests by name. If you have ideas, concerns, or questions, please share them with Benny or Adrienne directly. We will read every one and bring the best of them back to the leadership table.
What I cannot say often enough is thank you. The Pope Francis Center has never been a building or a budget; it has always been the people who choose to spend a morning, a Saturday, a year, or a lifetime here. The work ahead asks more of us, and I am grateful beyond words to be doing it with you.
With hope and gratitude,
Rev. Tim McCabe, SJ
President & CEO
PS: If you are looking for organizations currently accepting in-kind donations of clothing, we recommend connecting with Capuchin Soup Kitchen or The Children’s Center, both of which continue to serve our broader community in meaningful ways, providing clothing to guests and clients at no cost to them.
