Dear Friends and Supporters,
This past year has been one of growth, transformation, and hope for the Franciscan Center for Urban Ministry. In 2024, we served 42,920 meals, a 35% increase over 2023. Despite this rising demand, we finished the year $600 in the black thanks to sound stewardship, your contributions, and the tireless efforts of our volunteers. This is a true testimony to the commitment and generosity of our community.
Our Sandwich Ministry and twice a week hot meals are a combination of many teams of volunteers of all ages providing supplies, making, and passing out the sandwiches, 365 days of the year.
Celebrating 25 Years
In 2025, we will celebrate 25 years since the Franciscan Center first opened its doors. For a quarter of a century, this center has been a place of hope and transformation, and we look forward to reflecting on our shared accomplishments throughout the coming year.
Our Mission
Levo International: Fighting Food Insecurity with Hydroponics
This year, we continued our partnership with Levo International, supporting their urban farm expansion. Volunteers worked across three sites, playing a vital role in relocating the farm from Bloomfield to Homestead Avenue and beginning the transformation of a blighted plot of land into a thriving urban farm. In this new year, we will continue this work, turning what was once an eyesore in Hartford into a space of growth, renewal, and nourishment for the community.
Volunteers of all ages work together to fight food insecurity in the Hartford area. Above, members of our Family and Teen Focus 4:12 Faith Formation programs work with Levo, and adult volunteers built the first greenhouse on the new site.
Increasing Sustainability at our Doorstep: Access to Clean Water
We also deepened our focus on sustainability and care for creation. After eliminating single-use plastic water bottles, we began distributing stainless steel reusable water bottles to our guests. We are also exploring the installation of a permanent water bottle filling station to ensure permanent access to clean water, especially during the summer heat.
Wellness Center: Wellness, Education, and Serving Community Needs
Additionally, our 20-year partnership with the University of Saint Joseph now includes physician assistant students who, alongside nursing students, provide care and wellness checks for our guests, broadening the health services available. This collaboration demonstrates the powerful intersection of education and service in meeting community needs.
Food Security: Sandwiches, Hot Meals, House of Bread
Finally, we are proud to share that our efforts in food security were recognized at a national level. See the video below from our national province that highlights this vital work.
Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance: Advocating for Change, Together
In 2024, we welcomed hundreds of our neighbors from other faith communities as we hosted a Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance multi-faith community meeting in March, as well as GHIAA’s delegates assembly in June. These events helped determine the coalition’s agenda for 2025, which includes affordable housing and equitable fiscal policy in our state.
Father Mike at the State Capitol with clergy members of GHIAA member interfaith congregations.
Housing Insecurity: Partnering with Local Organizations
We sent teams to work with Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together, and St. Francis Builds to help alleviate housing insecurity both near and far. Here in Hartford, our people worked to create five affordable homes. In Oaxaca Mexico, we built three schools, for a total of seven in the last 18 months.
Clare Gallery
The Clare Gallery, celebrating its 21st year, sponsored four exhibitions that consider the Franciscan value of Care for Creation by focusing on artists’ work that has environmental and sustainable connections. The fall exhibition inspired a collaboration with Faith Formation. (See more at spsact.org/clare2)
Open Hearts and Family & Friends of LGBTQ+
Our LGBTQ+ ministry, Open Hearts and the Family & Friends of LGBTQ+, offer opportunities for building community, for nurturing faith, and for mutual support for LGBTQ+ people and their families.
Supporting our Mission
Over 85% of our income is from donations to the Franciscan Center for Urban Ministry, and targeted donations to the Sandwich Ministry, to meet the needs of those who come to our door, and to aid our community partners in their similar work. We thank you for generously supporting these needs in 2024.
The increasing need, and the ever-increasing prices for food and other necessities is a challenge that we are called to meet, together. Let us continue our mission to help those in need and the marginalized in Hartford and the surrounding communities.
In Gratitude
None of this would be possible without you. The volunteers, donors, and supporters who share their time, talents, and resources are the hands and Franciscan hearts of our center. Thank you for walking with us as we serve, grow, and bring hope to those in need.
Peace and all good,
Mike ofm