Secrets of the Dorothy Day Center

From the beginning, the sacred nature of the mission to feed the hungry has never been in doubt. Here are some little known facts about the ministry:

When the 2,000-square foot structure was built, significant spiritual items were incorporated into its construction:
Holy cards of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pope John Paul, and others were placed behind the inside and outside walls during construction.
Three religious medals are buried in the concrete floor--one of the Virgin Mary, Mother Teresa, and St. Francis of Assisi.
Holy water was mixed into the concrete when the foundation was poured and the flooring was blessed in a dedication ceremony.

The Dorothy Day Center has a computer, paid for by a grant, to track the daily temperatures of the walk-in freezer, refrigerator, and the building.

There is no plaque with donor names, only a framed piece of paper with signatures of those who donated construction labor.

The building was built and paid for by private donations in one year. It cost $107,000.

Each month, the Regional Food Bank delivers about 12,000 lbs. of food. With money donations, volunteer buyers can acquire fresh items like milk, butter, eggs, meat, and cheese.

The Dorothy Day Center is an all-volunteer operation. Most do their jobs without others knowing who does them.

A traveling crucifix and a diary passes among the volunteers. Made by an Oklahoma City firefighter, the cross travels with the book for each person to record their thoughts.

48,000 people have received food assistance since the ministry began in 2005.

Though we are based in the Catholic Church, people of all faiths volunteer and receive.

The Holy Spirit has called more than 100 helpers in surprising and unusual ways. More volunteers and donations are always needed. For information and volunteer opportunities, visit the website www.thedorothydaycenter.com

"Jesus Christ, though he was rich, for your sake became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9

Welcome to the St. Charles Community Organic Garden

Our garden is next to the Dorothy Day Center, and is part of the food sharing ministry. Volunteer grocery deliverers can pick from it, and bring food to folks who have little or no access to garden-fresh vegetables.

It is also part of our parish. Stop by after Mass and choose a few things for your own table!

It is in a neighborhood. We never know where there is need, and no child of God should be denied food.

Our organic garden serves many communities. Obviously, five raised beds cannot feed this many people. That brings us to another important role; to demonstrate and teach. You too, can build a garden for your own back yard. Raised beds are low-maintenance, easy to water, requires little weeding, and fits in compact, sunny places. We offer occasional free classes, workshops, and special events for this purpose.

Rising food prices and an awareness of the superior nutritional value of home-grown foods make this a ministry whose time has come. Our grandparents and great-grandparents knew it. In the days when most Americans lived on farms or in small towns, kitchen gardens were commonplace.

As spiritual people, our little green oasis is much more than a collection of plants. God created the first garden, and His Son suffered in one at Gethsemane. Gardens can be a place of holy significance, where we bring our joys and sorrows, and spend time in prayer and reflection. A box by the compost bin contains prayer materials, and chairs are available for workers and visitors to rest and admire the Creator's handiwork.

Volunteers are always needed and time involved is minimal. Jobs include watering, weeding, fertilizing, and plant staking. Watchful eyes are needed to spot sick plants or insect infestation, and implement organic remedies. In spring and late summer, we meet to till the soil and start new crops.

For further information contact the garden coordinator at stcharlesgarden@cox.net or visit the website http://www.thedorothydaycenter.com/ and click on The St. Charles Community Garden

"Let us press on to know the Lord . . . He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters teh earth." Hosea 6:3

The Dorothy Day Center and St. Charles Community Garden

The Dorothy Day Center is a food ministry that serves nearly 12,000 individuals and families yearly in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Dedicated in 2005, the Center is a 2,000-square foot warehouse with a walk-in freezer and refrigerator. It is a part of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church's social ministries program. St. Charles is located in Warr Acres, Oklahoma.

The Dorothy Day Center is an all volunteer operation. More than 100 people from all faiths and walks of life donate time and expertise. They serve as grocery deliverers, warehouse helpers, gardeners, fundraisers, and grocery shoppers, among many other tasks.

The ministry is a delivery only service, providing help to people referred by Catholic Charities, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Department of Human Services, school systems, and many other agencies.

Food for the Dorothy Day Center comes from three sources: the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and donations of non-perishable grocery items. Monetary gifts allow volunteer shoppers to purchase items hard to find on a food pantry diet, such as vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat, and cheese.


In 2007, the St. Charles Community Garden opened next door to the Center building. It was an Eagle Scout project that grew out of a need to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for people receiving food aid, parishioners, and our friends and neighbors in the community around the church.



For further information: http://www.thedorothydaycenter.com/

http://www.stcharlesokc.org/