Divine Mercy Missions Launches Monthly Pizza Outreach for Those in Need

On the first Sunday of each month, starting in March 2024, Divine Mercy Missions will provide free pizza to individuals in need on Gore Street, Sault Ste. Marie. This initiative, known as Operation Mercy Relief, aims to support vulnerable residents and is part of a broader outreach effort by the organization. Each session will take place outside the Save Our Young Adults (SOYA) depot and will continue through at least June.

During the inaugural session, volunteers served pizza, coffee, and hot chocolate from a trailer operated by Divine Mercy Missions. Claudette Breton, who organizes the outreach, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the ministry’s existence. “There’s a lot of people who don’t realize that this ministry even exists. So, instead of having the trailer parked all the time, we decided to take it out,” Breton explained.

In addition to food and beverages, the trailer provides warm winter gloves and hats. Some items are store-bought, while others are hand-knitted by members of Our Lady of Good Council. As the colder months approach, volunteers plan to distribute winter jackets as well. “The people are blessed with the food or the coats or the mitts or the gloves, but we’re blessed because we’re able to see the joy in their faces,” Breton added.

Offering Hope and Community Support

Volunteer Joe Ruscio highlighted the outreach’s goal of providing hope to those who may feel isolated. “For a lot of people on the streets, there is no hope,” Ruscio said. On the last Sunday of every month, Divine Mercy Missions also serves a free meal at Our Lady of Good Council, further extending its support to the community. Breton indicated that more locations for the trailer’s outreach will be announced soon.

The initiative does not impose religious beliefs on those served. However, if individuals express interest, they can receive a ‘prayer packet’ containing excerpts from scripture. Ruscio elaborated on the deeper impact of the outreach, stating, “It’s not our job to change people. We’re just there to make the introduction.”

In some instances, volunteers engage with those they serve by offering to pray with them. Breton recounted a poignant moment when a woman expressed gratitude for being touched after years of isolation. “One lady said to me, ‘I haven’t been touched by anyone in years.’ They don’t feel that touch of fellowship, and that’s when it becomes a real blessing for us,” she shared.

Collaboration with Local Organizations

Although the SOYA depot is closed on Sundays, volunteers from that organization assisted Divine Mercy Missions on the opening day of the outreach. Connie Raynor-Elliott, founder of SOYA, praised the initiative for addressing food insecurity, noting that many street-level agencies do not operate on Sundays. “They help out so many people in the community,” Raynor-Elliott remarked, highlighting the long-standing relationship between Divine Mercy Missions and SOYA, which has included providing a free Christmas meal for years.

Divine Mercy Missions has a history of serving the Sault Ste. Marie community, even if it is not as widely recognized as other outreach agencies. The monthly pizza initiative represents a significant step in their ongoing commitment to support those in need, fostering a sense of community and hope for the vulnerable populations in the area.