Three Parish Food Banks serve Homewood-Brushton (1st & 3rd Wednesdays), Wilkinsburg (3rd Saturday of each month), and a senior citizen high rise in Lincoln Lemington.  Those in need receive an abundant offering of meat, canned goods & staples, produce, paper products, and other necessities.

They also participate in the Senior Food Boxes program of Allegheny County for those who qualify.

The food banks work closely with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Produce to People. Veronica Snyder coordinates the Homewood-Brushton and Lincoln Lemington efforts. Evelyn Christie manages the Wilkinsburg program.

St. Mary Magdalene Ministry Center is staffed daily and is open to parishioners and neighbors in need. Services range from providing a listening ear and emotional support to providing direct assistance and referrals to appropriate agencies when necessary. Through parish contributions and outside grants, some funds are available to help with housing and utility needs. Staff from the Center collaborate with St. Vincent de Paul Society in meeting the needs of neighbors. 

Mary’s Child is a family support program that provides critically needed items to new mothers, parents, grandparents and other caregivers of infants, toddlers and school age children who are experiencing financial hardships during these challenging times. Needed items include:

• New or gently used clothing and shoes
• Uniform shirts/slacks
• New socks, pajamas and underwear
• Diapers
• Infant formula
• Hygiene products (baby wipes, diaper balm/cream, baby shampoo)
• Crib sheets
• Baby equipment/furnishings (such as Pack and Plays, high chairs, strollers)
• School supplies, toys, books and other educational materials

More importantly, staff provide encouragement, parenting advice, and other resources to the parents/guardians.  Often women who are pregnant also receive help and equipment. 

St. Vincent de Paul Society's members reach out to the poor by home visits and corporal works of mercy, serving Homewood-Brushton, Lincoln-Lemington, and Wilkinsburg.  David Havern and Victor Thorpe lead other members in these efforts.

The Ministry Center is working with the Crossroads Foundation to establish a fund to provide an educational opportunity to our first St. Mary Magdalene Scholar because education is transformational.  It provides opportunities that otherwise may not present themselves. 
 
For over 32 years, the Crossroads Foundation has been working with high school students “to provide promising youth who have limited options access to a quality Catholic high school education by nurturing their academic and personal growth so they are prepared to succeed in college and in life” (Crossroads Mission statement).
 
Crossroads works with each student, providing a network of support: academic, college, and career readiness, personal and social wellness, and tuition assistance.  Crossroads counselors work to support each student holistically throughout their four years of high school, through mentoring and advocacy.  Through tutoring, enrichment activities, college preparation, and career exploration,  Crossroads has helped over 700 students, all of whom have graduated from high school and 96% have gone on to college. 
 
Crossroads students attend one of six Catholic high schools in Allegheny County: Oakland Catholic, Central Catholic, Serra, Seton LaSalle, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, or Bishop Canevin.
 
Meet Aaryah, the first St. Mary Magdalene Scholar at Crossroads Foundation. In June she graduated from Sr. Thea Bowman Catholic Academy, and next Fall she will attend Serra Catholic High School with help from the Crossroads Foundation. As a Crossroads scholar, Aaryah will have opportunities and support throughout her four years of high school so that she can achieve her college and career dreams. A straight “A” student,
 
Aaryah is interested in exploring careers in law or medicine, and both of those interests are motivated by the desire to help others in need. Aaryah has faced some significant challenges including losing her father tragically and unexpectedly last year. During that time, Aaryah “lost myself when losing him...but pulled me together and learned that when times get rough, I can still change everything around, slowly but surely.” Sr. Thea Bowman's science teacher, Ms. DeBruyn, recommended Aaryah to Crossroads because “she is focused and determined, intelligent and hard-working. She has endured the hardship of losing her father suddenly yet has allowed that to motivate her instead of trapping her. She is such a deserving, wonderful student where any financial aid and career counsel would be a gift and asset to our entire community with how she gives back and contributes.” 
 
As the St. Mary Magdalene Scholar, Aaryah will receive an additional tuition award to enable her to attend Serra and participate in Crossroads. Members of the parish will also have the opportunity to meet Aaryah and her mother, receive updates as she progresses through high school, and serve as mentors and coaches for Aaryah and her fellow Crossroads friends. You can help Aaryah achieve her God-given potential by supporting the St. Mary Magdalene Scholar fund.
 
Contributions to the Scholar Fund may be sent to the parish office with a notation that it is for the fund.

Photos of Aayah at the weekend Masses on February 11 and 12, 2023

Stone Soup Garden is a community garden tended by parishioners to serve the parish and provide vegetables for those coming to our food bank. Michael Drohan with his green thumb leads this effort.