The Raleigh/Wake Partnership to End and Prevent Homelessness (the Partnership) has announced that Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh will be the coordinating agency of the temporary food distribution facility in Raleigh. The facility, called the Oak City Outreach Center, is a joint project of the City of Raleigh and the Partnership.
Located near Moore Square in Downtown Raleigh, the Oak City Outreach Center will host churches and other organizations who want to distribute food on weekends to the homeless and to people in need of food assistance.
Partnership Executive Director Shana Overdorf said she is “very excited to partner with the City of Raleigh in establishing the Oak City Outreach Center.”
“The City of Raleigh has generously invested a great deal of resources into renovating the facility which will provide a welcoming location for people to receive nourishment on weekends,” Ms. Overdorf added.
The Partnership selected Catholic Charities to coordinate activities at the Oak City Outreach Center. Catholic Charities’ proposal was cited for the hospitality, predictability and stability the agency will provide to congregations and volunteer organizations that have actively fed local homeless people for more than 15 years.
“I express gratitude to the City of Raleigh and the Raleigh-Wake Partnership to End and Prevent Homelessness for their confidence in Catholic Charities to fulfill this important role in the community,” said Bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh Michael Burbidge.
Dr. David Smoot, president of the Partnership’s Board of Directors, said that “Catholic Charities has a long history of providing emergency food assistance and other social services to people in need in our community.”
“Catholic Charities has worked tirelessly alongside the many other agencies which comprise the Partnership to create more effective approaches to address the challenges of homelessness,” Dr. Smoot said. “The Board of Directors is most impressed with Catholic Charities track record in working ecumenically and in collaboration with other non-profits to serve people in poverty.”
Catholic Charities Executive Director Gary Skinner said, “We are honored to have been selected to continue these ‘good works’ with so many committed partners within the community. A fundamental component of our faith is to serve those in need with dignity and respect. The opportunity to engage in this service while partnering with people of goodwill to meet the needs of our neighbors is a true joy.”
The Oak City Outreach Center is scheduled to begin serving meals in mid-June from a warehouse at 215½ S. Person St., across from Moore Square. The 3,200-square-foot warehouse was part of the former Salvation Army complex that is now owned by the City of Raleigh.