Social Outreach

Social Outreach Activities

Each year, various parish groups and individuals contribute their time, talents, or resources to support many local charitable activities.   The Outreach Committee welcomes volunteer Parishioner involvement in any of these activities and the Committee encourages Parishioners to submit ideas on how St. Ann parish can contribute more in our neighborhood and in our broader community.   The committee meets periodically during the year to discuss and implement projects to assist the community.

The current members of this Committee are:

Kathy Curran: (202) 364-0678

Sister Sara Dwyer, ASC: (202) 966-6288, ext. 150

Ted Hirt: (202) 244-4739

Mike Iapalucci: (202) 686-4073

Roshini Ponnamperuma: (202) 744-0336

Andrea Selvaggio: (202) 362-0571

Sal Selvaggio: (202) 362-0571

We welcome additional members – or individuals who wish to volunteer and assist with specific projects.  For questions, you may contact any of us, or you can send an email to the Committee at [email protected].

We describe below the principal activities supported in the Parish.

The Angel Tree

The Parish’s most prominent annual activity is the donation of Christmas presents for children for distribution by the Spanish Catholic Center and is sponsored by the St. Ann’s Families Group.   The project has been a cooperative effort with the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament Church.  For example, in December 2013, the parishes collected gifts for 676 children.   

This project always needs and welcomes volunteers.  Please contact Mike Iapalucci at (202) 686-4073.

Outreach to Seniors

Our Committee has focused much of its effort on the needs of seniors in the Parish.  It has sponsored several events, focusing on seniors and technology use, and also on the assistance they may receive through local nonprofit groups — see below under Other Opportunities and Resources.  The Youth Group also has assisted seniors with fall leaf-raking.

Please contact Andrea or Sal Selvaggio at (202) 362-0571.

Souper Bowl of Caring

The St. Ann’s Youth Group conducts the annual “Souper Bowl” weekend collection at the beginning of each February, during the weekend of the Super Bowl.  Recipients of the collection have included local charities.

Please contact Ted Hirt at (202) 244-4739.

Helping the Homeless – especially at Friendship Place.

Friendship Place, located at 4713 Wisconsin Ave. N.W., is a leading provider of services to the homeless and formerly homeless in Washington.  It offers street outreach, a drop-in center, free medical and psychiatric care, supportive services, and case management for those in small congregation shelters and a permanent housing program.

 Each December, the Youth Group has prepared for the consumers at Friendship Place approximately 50 decorated shoeboxes that are filled with gloves, hats, toiletries, etc.  The Youth Group also has served breakfast at So Others Might Eat (SOME).   Parish groups have participated in the “Fannie Mae” Walk-a-thon through “mini-walks.”   The Parish also has held several “essential items” collections in the spring or summer to provide items identified by Friendship Place needed for consumers.

If you have questions about these projects, please contact Ted Hirt at (202) 244-4739.  If you are interested in learning more about Friendship Place or are interested in volunteer opportunities there, please consult its website, www.cchfp.org or contact Ben Bradburn at (202) 503-2963.

On a weekly basis, the Rectory distributes approximately 60 sandwiches to the needy.  Parishioners volunteer to prepare and deliver the sandwiches.

Please contact the Rectory (202) 966-6288, if you are interested in participating in this activity.

Lenten Rice Bowl Dinner

The Parish has held Lenten Rice Bowl Dinners, which benefit Catholic Relief Services.   See www.crsricebowl.org

Other Opportunities and Resources

There are many charitable organizations – both inside and outside the District of Columbia to consider for the donation of your time or resources.  Among those are the following:

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington

924 G St. NW

Washington, DC 20001

(202) 773-4300

• Catholic Relief Services

P.O. Box 17090
Baltimore, MD  21297-0303
1-877-435-7277

• Community of Hope

1717 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 850
Washington DC 20036
(202) 407-7747

• Friendship Place

4713 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 503-2963

• Iona Senior Services

4125 Albemarle St. NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 895-9448

• The  Northwest Center, Inc.

2702 Ontario Rd, NW
Washington, DC  20009
(202) 483-7008

• So Others Might Eat

60 O St. NW
Washington, DC  20001
(202) 797-8806

• Spanish Catholic Center

1618 Monroe St. NW
Washington, DC 20010
(202) 939-2400

• Washington Home and Hospice

3720 Upton St.,  N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20016

To volunteer at the Home: ( 202) 895-0104
To volunteer at the Hospice: (202) 895-2162
To volunteer to assist at Friday AM Mass: (301) 654-0123 Contact: Keith Allen

Two groups that assist seniors in our local area:

• Cleveland Park Village

P.O. Box 11231
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 615-5853

[email protected]

• Northwest Neighbors Village

4901 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC  20008
(202) 777-3435
[email protected]

Other Sources to Consult 

Learn more about Catholicism and Catholic social justice issues:

• The Archdiocese of Washington
• The Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church
• The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• The Vatican