Common Ground, whose mission is to fight HIV and its related illnesses especially amongst those who are homeless or facing poverty, is one of the Parish’s outreach partners. As a St. Matthew’s Parish outreach partner, Common Ground is the beneficiary of an annual cash grant and monthly meals such as Tuesday’s dinner, where parishioners prepared and then served Thanksgiving dinner to Common Ground clients.
“It’s humbling to see the daunting challenges faced by these youths and the tremendous people who work to help them,†said parishioner and Pacific Palisades resident Piper Taurek who along with Jackie Ehlers and Kathleen Bitting organized the event. “We’re all God’s children and it’s a blessing to be able to share the joy of Thanksgiving with Common 
Ground,†added Bitting, also of Pacific Palisades.
The Parish of St. Matthew welcomes everyone at their regularly scheduled services. The Parish’s next project will be to prepare and serve a Christmas meal for homeless and low-income individuals at Bread and Roses Café, a service of St. Joseph Center in Venice.
St. Joseph Center is also an outreach partner of the Parish. Parishioners will sign up to shop for gifts requested by homeless and low-income families through St. Joseph Center’s “Adopt a Family†program. To “adopt†a family or a homeless individual, come to coffee on the patio after one of the two Sunday morning service during advent.
For more on Common Ground: www.commongroundwestside.org
For more on The Parish of St. Matthew: www.stmatthews.com
For more information on St. Joseph Center www.stjosephctr.org
