Dear Friends in Christ,
Every morning, long before the doors of Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen open at 11:00 a.m., a line begins to form on East Jackson Street in Wilkes-Barre.
Some come alone, simply hoping for a hot meal.
Others come in pairs – a mother and child, two senior neighbors, or simply friends who have met through shared hardship – waiting for what may be their only substantial meal of the day.
Still others come not only for food, but for the simple gift of companionship, to be seen and welcomed, and not having to eat alone.
While all these individuals wait for varied reasons – they wait not out of habit – but out of need.
Last year, Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen served 116,610 meals to individuals across our community. The doors are open every single day of the year – including weekends and holidays – offering not only a nourishing meal but also dignity, respect, and hope. On many days, those who come to the Kitchen are also able to take home fresh produce and other items – small but meaningful blessings at a time when grocery prices have stretched many families beyond their limits.
At the Kitchen each day, you’ll find people who are experiencing homelessness, people who are working two jobs to make ends meet, people who are lonely, and people who never imagined they’d need help – but now do.
This is the Church at work. And this is where you come in.
In this Jubilee Year of Hope, I humbly invite you to consider making a gift of any amount to this year’s Appeal. Every dollar makes a difference, and every gift tells someone that they are not forgotten and are loved.
By supporting the 2025-26 Catholic Ministries Appeal, you provide critical funding for ministries like Catholic Social Services, which operates Saint Vincent de Paul Kitchen and so many other programs across our eleven-county Diocese. Your generosity goes well beyond feeding the hungry, by also sheltering the homeless, walking with pregnant mothers, counseling struggling youth, and bringing hope to veterans rebuilding their lives.
Your gift is not just a donation – but an extension of your faith – and a sign of your willingness to be the hands, voice, and heart of Christ to those who need Him most.
The needs in our community are growing. But so is our capacity to respond – if we respond together. By supporting the 2025-26 Catholic Ministries Appeal, your generosity becomes a lifeline to others.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton