Jay parish offering warming center Fridays during Lent, Feb 28-April 10

JAY — St. Rose of Lima Parish, 1 Church St., will host a warming center Fridays during Lent. The parish hall will be open for anyone’s use from 2 to 6 p.m. starting Friday, Feb. 28, through Friday, April 10. The new initiative is modeled partly off the warming center at St. Joseph Parish in Farmington but with some exciting additions, all of which are free.
“We are taking various initiatives at the parish which have previously operated at different days and times and concentrating them into this Friday window,” said Max Becher, director of parish social ministry and faith formation at St. Rose of Lima and St. Joseph churches. “Lack of access to transportation is a significant issue for the population we are most trying to serve, and combining these ministries weekly into the warming center is a first attempt at organizing ourselves in a more coordinated way to serve our neighbors better.”
Housed at St. Rose of Lima, the Tri-Town Ministerial Food Cupboard has only been open Tuesdays through Thursdays, while a free clothing store has been operated only on Saturdays.
“The warming center will not only provide a warm place for people to gather, socialize and enjoy a hot drink, but also the food pantry and free store will be open from 2 to 4 p.m., and different parish groups will host a free community supper at 4:30 p.m. each week,” said Becher. “Our goal for the parish hall is to use it in a way that offers food, clothing, and other necessities and, more importantly, teaches useful skills that can enable those in need to begin bettering their situations.”
The parish has partnered with the Healthy Community Coalition in Farmington to teach a SNAP-Ed nutrition class over four weeks at the center (March 6, 13, 20, from 3 to 4 p.m.). The course will culminate with the attendees cooking the community supper themselves March 27.
“We are also offering a ‘story time’ for children from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. at the warming center to help increase their exposure to good books and literature,” Becher added.
The March 20 community supper will feature a celebration of Maine’s 200th anniversary and Ora Breads, the parish’s bread guild. The warming center and suppers are free and open to the public, but freewill donations will be accepted. For more information, 207-897-2173, ext. 1205, or max.becher@portlanddiocese.org.