Thank you for volunteering with the Archdiocese of Baltimore Grief Ministry— we are so grateful for your willingness to support families in Baltimore City who have suffered the terrible trauma of losing a loved one to homicide.
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What is the Archdiocesan Grief Ministry?
What is the Archdiocesan Grief Ministry?
The Archdiocese of Baltimore Grief Ministry is an initiative to demonstrate as a community our care and concern for families who have lost a loved one to violence. In partnership with city agencies and other nonprofits throughout the City who serve families of homicide victims, the Grief Ministry has created a network of volunteers from churches, schools, universities and other organizations to provide care packages, sympathy notes, and other support to surviving families.
To learn more, visit the Archdiocese of Baltimore's Grief Ministry webpage.
How Do I Sign-Up?
How Do I Sign-Up?
New to this ministry? If you are a new volunteer, please first fill-out our New Volunteer Profile Form. Or, send an email to Yvonne Wenger, Director, Archdiocese of Baltimore, Office of Community Affairs, at: yvonne.wenger@archbalt.org
Already a registered volunteer? We contact our volunteers monthly by email— asking people to visit our "SIGN-UP NOW" webpage (see top right) to sign-up for various activities depending on their availability that month. We confirm by email and include further instructions. Below is menu of volunteer options- for individuals and communities. For a printable list of Archdiocesan Grief Ministry Volunteer Options (click here).
Ways to Volunteer!
Ways to Volunteer!
Option 1— Pray for Victims (weekly)
Option 1— Pray for Victims (weekly)
Each week, the Grief Ministry sends all pastors in the Archdiocese the names and ages of victims who have lost their lives most recently to homicide in the City— and asks them to include the names during the Prayers of the Faithful at weekend masses. Once you are signed-up as a Grief Ministry volunteer, we will also automatically include you on this weekly email so that you can keep these victims and their families in your prayers.
Option 2— Write Sympathy Notes (monthly)
Option 2— Write Sympathy Notes (monthly)
Each month, the Grief Ministry seeks volunteers to write sympathy notes to surviving families. We ask five to six volunteers to send sympathy notes to the families who lost a loved one in the past month (the same victims for whom we have been praying weekly.) An additional five to six volunteers sign-up to write sympathy notes to families who are observing the one-year anniversary of the death of a loved one. A list of four to five names of victims and surviving family members are sent to each volunteer, along with a template note and instructions for where to send the completed notes. (Addresses of surviving families are not shared. Rather, letters are sent to the Grief Ministry for addressing and mailing.) You can sign-up for one or both groups..
This is a very popular activity so we try to rotate through the volunteers who sign-up to ensure everyone has an opportunity to send notes periodically.
Option 3— Deliver Fresh Foods to the Pantry (some Tuesdays)
Option 3— Deliver Fresh Foods to the Pantry (some Tuesdays)
Each week on Tuesdays, volunteers deliver fresh foods & sympathy notes to the panty. Pantry Volunteers bundle both this fresh/ perishable food and non-perishable items into grocery bags. Every Wednesday, the Grief Ministry provides care packages to the Homicide Survivor Advocacy Program of the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) for delivery to families throughout Baltimore City who have recently lost a loved one to homicide. The Grief Ministry Care Packages provide a bridge for BPD staff to enter the homes of grieving families with a tangible sign of the community's concern and care. These care packages are thus ready for pick-up by the BPD Wednesdays through Fridays!
The Grief Ministry Food Pantry is located in Federal Hill at Holy Cross Church (110 E. West St. Baltimore MD 21230) .
Option 4— Volunteer in the Pantry (some Tuesdays)
Option 4— Volunteer in the Pantry (some Tuesdays)
Each week on Tuesday, pantry volunteers prepare the Grief Ministry Care Packages (5-10/ week) each week on Tuesdays- at the Grief Ministry Pantry (located at Holy Cross Church in Federal Hill, Baltimore)- for the BPD to pick-up on Wednesdays. The Grief Ministry Care Packages include: non-perishable/ canned food items, taken from the pantry shelves, and add fresh produce/groceries and a sympathy note, delivered to the pantry on Tuesday mornings. Packages may also include baby or children’s items taken from the pantry shelves. [See Care Package Instructions, here.]
Additional opportunities for communities...
Additional opportunities for communities...
Option 5— Host a Collection Drive for the Pantry (periodic)
Option 5— Host a Collection Drive for the Pantry (periodic)
Every Wednesday, the Grief Ministry provides care packages to the Homicide Survivor Advocacy Program of the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) for delivery to families throughout Baltimore City who have recently lost a loved one to homicide. The Grief Ministry Care Packages provide a bridge for BPD staff to enter the homes of grieving families with a tangible sign of the community's concern and extend care.
Each Tuesday, pantry volunteers prepare the Grief Ministry Care Packages (5-10/ week) at the Grief Ministry Pantry (located at Holy Cross Church in Federal Hill, Baltimore) for the BPD to pick-up on Wednesdays. Thus, every Tuesday, the ministry needs two sets of volunteers. (1) One set of volunteers drops off bags of fresh produce/groceries and hand-written sympathy notes at the food pantry. (2) The second set of volunteers organize the pantry, are available to receive the drop off of perishable food, and prepare the Care Packages for the BPD.
The Grief Ministry Care Packages include: non-perishable/ canned food items, taken from the pantry shelves, and add fresh produce/groceries and a sympathy note, delivered to the pantry on Tuesday mornings. Packages may also include baby or children’s items taken from the pantry shelves. [See Care Package Instructions, here.]
We routinely need communities to run collection drives for the non-perishable food items and baby or children's items. Sign-up to do a collection in your community!
Option 6— Host a Fundraiser (periodic)
Option 6— Host a Fundraiser (periodic)
Host an "out of uniform" day at your school- or other creative idea- to support the work of the Grief Ministry. Don't forget to contact us for educational resources!
View Care Package Lists!
View Care Package Lists!
Get Directions!
Get Directions!
Grief Ministry Pantry
Grief Ministry Pantry
Located in Federal Hill at
Holy Cross Catholic Church
110 E. West St., Baltimore, MD 21230
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