Mary's table provides a hot nutritious meal six days a week, including all holidays except Christmas Day. Meals are served to all who come regardless of their situation and no identification is required. After our guests are seated, volunteers serve them their coffee, ice tea, and/or milk. There are no limits on the number of servings for each guest. They are allowed to eat as often as they wish or need to eat.Over 8,000 meals are served each month. Our food comes from many different sources: almost all of our meat is donated; some food and all staples are purchased from food banks, stores and large corporations. We share food among our fellow non-profits when there is an over abundance.

St. Martin de Porres Emergency Food Bag Program distributes food bags every Wednesday, except the first Wednesday of the Month. Approximately 1,200 families are helped each month. For those with a facility to cook the bags contain beans, rice, tomato sauce, bread, cereal, fruit, etc. For the homeless and unable to cook the bags contain canned foods, cups of soup, energy bars, peanut butter and jelly, fruit, bread and bottled water. No identification is required to receive assistance.

Showers are available for women on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 am to 10:30 am and for men on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 am to 10:30 am. Prior to their shower each person is given clean clothing and a hygiene packet.

is open at the Center on Wednesday mornings

each quarter

St. Joseph's Clothes Closet distributes free clothing. Clothing is distributed to women and children on Mondays from 9am to 11am. We usually have a good supply of women's clothing but there is a great need for men's, children's and infant's clothing.

Mary's Children Program is an outreach established to help mother/guardians in crisis with infant needs: formula, diapers, blankets, bottles, baby food, shampoo and lotion. This program serves approximately 60 families each month. The items are given free of charge but do require a referral from a social worker, doctor or hospital.

An Annual Christmas Party is held in December. This outreach has grown into a very large and heartwarming event. Thanks to hundreds of generous donors and organizations we are able to serve over 1,300 children and 600 adults. In addition to a warm holiday meal, Mary's Mercy Center gives each child a new wrapped gift and candy. As a special surprise each child participates in a drawing. If their ticket says "WINNER" they receive a larger gift and if the ticket says "BIKE" they receive a new bike. Adults and older teens receive a "shoebox" with toiletries and some special item, a wallet, cologne, or a scarf for example.

Veronica's Home of Mercy I and Veronica's Home of Mercy II, long-term Catholic/Christian residential homes, are committed to providing a home for adult pregnant women and their children as a healthy alternative to abortion, domestic violence, substance abuse and/or homelessness. Veronica's Home of Mercy provides a loving and affirming atmosphere that will restore dignity to women. The goal is to enable the individual woman to integrate into society and live with a renewed sense of her own worth and dignity. It is important to know that Veronica's Home of Mercy has never refused admission to any woman because of race, creed or lack of funds
Our Program is extensive and comprehensive. Qualified staff provide drug and alcohol counseling, twelve-step meetings, child care, transportation, life skills and 24-hour supervision. In collaboration with ten other institutions and professional programs within the community Veronica's Home of Mercy offers the following:

• Mental Health
• Coping Skills
• Bible Sharing
• Drug & Alcohol Reha
• Domestic Violence Education & Counseling
• Rape Crisis Counseling
• Family Counseling
• Self Reliance and Child Development Education
• Budgeting
• Cooking
• Child Care
• Prenatal Classes
• Dental Hygiene
• Extensive Parenting Classes
• GED Preparation
• Tutoring

Veronica's Home of Mercy has deep roots in the community. We are committed to the larger community, and the larger community is committed and involved with Veronica's Home of Mercy.

After Care

Follow through is very important. It can mean the difference between a resident's success and failure. Casa Merced I, Casa Merced II and Casa Merced III are our re-entry homes. These single-family residential homes are reserved for women who have finished the program at Veronica's Home of Mercy and are doing extremely well but are in need of some assistance until they finish school. These homes provide a more relaxed atmosphere and greater independence. The low rent and access to the support of the staff helps ease the women back into society.

We encourage our residents to keep in touch with us. Our staff, in-house classes and activities are readily available to our graduates. If they leave in good standing we invite them to come back and celebrate holidays and birthdays with us. This is especially helpful for those who have no family

With 47% of the city residents on welfare, food stamps, Medi-Cal, or a combination thereof; 38% living at or below the poverty level; and over 50% of the population is living at 200% of the federal poverty level, San Bernardino is the second poorest city in the nation just behind Detroit.

While the City of San Bernardino accounts for only 10% of the county’s population it has 40% of its homeless population and approximately 70% are males. The San Bernardino County 2013 Homeless Count and Subpopulation Survey found 2,321 homeless individuals throughout the county. Approximately 45% of the homeless population had been homeless for a year or more, 34% abused alcohol and/or drugs and 26% experienced mental illness.

Most individuals experiencing homelessness reported a job loss, unemployment or alcohol/drug use as the primary event or condition that led to their homelessness. Without structured, formal, comprehensive support, many of these individuals will remain living on the streets and resort to criminal activities resulting in increased costs to the taxpayers and a decrease in community safety.

There are comprehensive programs for homeless women and homeless women with children however there are no comprehensive housing programs for homeless men in the Central San Bernardino Region.

Mary’s Mercy Center has been serving homeless individuals and individuals at-risk of becoming homeless with dignity and respect since 1987. Over the years, thousands of individuals have received hot meals, clothing, supportive services, showers, food, medical and dental services through Mary’s Mercy Center.Since 1995, Mary’s Mercy Center has been providing women and women with children comprehensive, transitional housing services. This program has grown and now serves well over 100 individuals annually.

In 2012, with an understanding of the lack of resources for homeless men, Mary’s Mercy Center made a commitment to provide the same high quality, evidence-based programming for men that they do for women. Mary’s Village will provide comprehensive services including behavioral health, medical and other supportive services, at one location. Mary’s Mercy Center is looking forward to working with the community to improve the lives of homeless individuals, thus changing the entire community.”

“We have made at least the start in discovering the meaning in human life when we plant shade trees under which we will never sit.” -Elton Trueblood