Sr Maria Joseph Nguyen is a volunteer who is helping us reach out to our guests. She's teaching them to make beautiful greeting cards with pressed flowers and simple beaded jewelry that they can sell. Sr Maria is also developing job training programs to teach our guests skills they'd need for jobs in hotels, offices, and manufacturing companies. Her work in job training is sponsored by a grant from Boeing.     

Can you make a donation of $100 to buy one month's worth of equipment and materials for blank greeting cards and jewelry making supplies? You'd be helping our guests gain marketable skills and a greater sense of self determination. Contact Carin Lewandowski at 773-278-6724 to sponsor a month of art classes.   

Can you help NBC 5 Stars Raise Funds for FOA? 

Have some early St. Patrick's Day fun by joining friends of Franciscan Outreach at NBC Tower on Thursday morning, March 15 at 10:30. You can bet on your favorite NBC personality as they compete to eat, with the winnings going to FOA. Our thanks to NBC 5 and to Windy City Provisions/Boar's Head Meat, which is also donating 200 pounds of corned beef for St. Patrick's Day Dinner to FOA.

The event is in the 2nd floor cafeteria in NBC Tower at 454 N. Columbus Drive. Use the east entrance, sign in with an ID at the security desk, and follow their directions. Hope to see you there!

Can you spare a few hours a week to help in our office?

In addition to the tremendous help we get from the generous folks who volunteer at our shelter and soup kitchen, we are putting together a cadre of office volunteers to assist in our administrative offices at the Marquard Center. If you can spare an afternoon a week, from 1:00 until 4:00 or 5:00, please email Merrill Gonzalez at merrill@franoutreach.org. You would be relieving our receptionist during her lunch break, answering phones and greeting guests, as well as working on a variety of development and administrative projects.

Can you help us make the Spring Dinner raffle and auction our best yet?



The raffle and silent auction are among favorite activities and consistent fundraisers at Franciscan Outreach's benefit dinners. If you or your business would like to donate an item, gift basket, or gift card for the May 10 event, please call Kevin Morrissey at 773-278-6724. We are particularly looking for hotel stays, restaurant meals, theatrical tickets, cultural event admissions, and donations of memorable one of a kind experiences.