IHM Midnight Run is the parish's homeless ministry and runs as part of a larger organization that coordinates over 1,000 relief missions per year in which volunteers from churches, synagogues, schools and other civic groups distribute food, clothing, blankets and personal care items to the homeless poor on the streets of New York City. The late-night relief efforts create a forum for trust, sharing, understanding and affection. That human exchange, rather than the exchange of goods, is the essence of the Midnight Run mission.
 
At the parish level, we collect supplies of items such as travel-sized toiletries, jeans, shirts, hoodies, winter coats, hats, gloves, blankets/sleeping bags, backpacks etc.  We have a team that sorts the donations and stores them in our closet in preparation for our 'Runs' which occur every 6-8 weeks.  Our Runs are usually on a Saturday night, but can also be 'Breakfast Runs' early morning on Saturdays or Sundays.  We stop at 3-4 pre-arranged locations in Manhattan where we distribute the supplies to people on the streets who have been made aware of our schedule.
 
Midnight Run is not a solution to homelessness. Our goal is to forge a bond between housed and homeless people by establishing a foundation of sharing and caring from which solutions may evolve. Through Midnight Run, volunteers come to see people on the streets as real people, not a commodity.  And, homeless men and women interact with mainstream adults and teenagers whose commitments and concerns go beyond their own lives and families.

Prior to the Runs, we send out a signup request to parishioners seeking volunteers to put together bagged meals. On the night of a Run, we gather in the lower church to load supplies and lunches into the vehicles we take into the city.

Use the contact form below if you have questions or want to get involved: go on a Run,  help with sorting, and/or assist with food prep before each Run. Your message will be mailed to Paul Doyle, the IHM Midnight Run Coordinator, I[email protected].