The Response to the Cry of the Poor is a call to promote eco-justice, aware that we are called to defend human life from conception to death, and all forms of life on Earth. Actions could include projects to promote solidarity, with special attention given to vulnerable groups such as indigenous communities, refugees, migrants, and children at risk, analysis and improvement of social systems, and social service programmes.
Current initiatives at St. Kate's that support this goal include:
Food Access Hub - The Food Access Hub (FAH) is a shared ministry between St. Catherine University and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Together they have developed a robust response to food insecurity, nutrition and personal wellness needs on the St. Kate's campus and beyond. The primary mode for this ministry is the St. Kate's/CSJ Food Shelf. This bimonthly food shelf provides dry goods, hygiene products, fresh produce, meat, eggs, milk, and seasonal garden produce to St. Kate's students and community members, and patients of a campus-based community health clinic serving Latinx adults. The CSJ and St. Kate's community gardens, encourage local land cultivation, access to fresh produce, and teach gardening skills to community members and St. Kate's students. Both of these projects have led to more recent commitments to food rescue as well. Much of the produce given out by the FAH food shelf is rescued food that is procured through community partnerships. Recent projects have also attempted to expand food rescue on our own campus with catered food from Carondelet Center events as well as St. Kate's events catered by Sodexo.
Katies End Hunger - This student-created program seeks to evenly redistribute meal plan declining balance points. St. Kate's students are required to take a declining balance usable at the on-site dining hall, marketplace, and other locations. Individual students may donate excess points towards a pool that is overseen by Katies End Hunger. This pool is then distributed to students who require more points to keep consistent access to the dining hall throughout the semester. This has helped to distribute thousands of points to students who are in greater need of access to university-provided meals.