Each night, nearly 250 homeless people call the Dorothy Day Center home. Most people sleep on mats six inches apart.

Last year, the 224,808 meals provided at Dorothy Day meant thousands of children, men and women didn’t have to skip another meal.

The visits to food shelves, the number of families who can’t afford to put food on the table and the demand for emergency shelter rose faster than anyone anticipated in the last year. And we know the numbers will continue to grow this winter.

We don’t put restrictions or requirements on people who need help. We simply meet them where and how they are and provide them with a box of food from the food shelf, a warm meal for them and their families and a warm place to sleep.

But Catholic Charities does more than that. We move people out of poverty. People such as you help those at Dorothy Day build better lives.

Because of people such as you, Diane moved out of the women’s shelter and into stable housing. Today she attends nursing school.

Because of people such as you, Roger found an apartment after becoming homeless at age 55.

Because of people such as you, Keisha ended years of homelessness and moved into a two-bedroom apartment, and she takes parenting and budget classes.

Help us end poverty. You can change people’s lives.