We Are Friends ministry of Logan St. John Church has received a $5,000 grant from The Catholic Foundation to cover short-term needs.
We Are Friends was founded three years ago by Deacon Don Robers of the parish and several community representatives, including Hocking County Municipal and Common Pleas Court judges, to help the area’s needy, especially those recovering from drug addiction.
The foundation’s grant will enable the organization to continue providing furniture, bedding and household items and helping people with groceries and clothing, funeral expenses and rent and utility payments.
Deacon Robers said continued recent increases in the cost of nearly everything have resulted in more requests for assistance. More than 200 individuals and families have been helped by We Are Friends in 2023.
The organization receives new bedframes and mattresses at a discount but needs other bedroom furniture and bedding; small couches, small chairs or small recliners and end tables and lamps for living areas; bath towels, washcloths and personal hygiene items; small microwaves, small kitchen tables and chairs, dishes, silverware, dishwashing items and kitchen utensils.
The ministry does not accept knickknacks, picture frames, clothes, yard sale items or heavy furniture.
Besides the recent grant, We Are Friends has set up a donor-advised fund for long-term financing with the foundation that has increased from a $5,000 starting amount to about $35,000 through support from generous donors.
“This fund goes on forever,” Deacon Robers said. “By donating to this fund, your gift will keep on giving.”
To help We Are Friends with its immediate needs, send a check payable to We Are Friends to the organization in care of St. John Catholic Church, 351 N. Market St., Logan, Ohio 43138.
To donate to the ministry’s Catholic Foundation fund, write a check to The Catholic Foundation, We Are Friends (noting Fund ID #325KJ in the memo section) and mail it to The Catholic Foundation, 257 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43215.
To give online, go to www.catholic-foundation.org and find the Giving tab, select Existing Funds from the menu, type “We Are Friends” in the search box and click the link to “We Are Friends Donor Advised Fund” to complete your donation.
Additional information about the fund is available from the foundation’s Dan Kurth at (614) 443-8893. All donations are tax-deductible.