Honoring Vision Of Pontiff With 'Concrete Works Of Mercy And Justice' At Project Home
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Project Home is holding "Pope-Ups" at three locations in Center City to raise awareness about homeless initiatives in advance of the Papal visit next month. The first one takes place today.
The purpose of Pope-Up Day is to rally the public around the issues of hunger, homelessness, and poverty.
"We want to honor the vision of Pope Francis by concrete works of mercy and justice" says Sister Mary Scullion, executive director of Project Home.
She is teaming up with volunteers, who will be stationed in Love Park, at 17th and Chestnut, and at 18th and Walnut once a week on Tuesdays (with a Wednesday rain date) through mid-September to encourage participation on two homeless-related initiatives.
"We'll be asking people to act with mercy and provide a gift to the Francis Fund, and/or send a letter to the representative in Congress to end or prevent hunger and homelessness," she says.
The Francis Fund will provide short-term funding for about 50 poverty-related organizations in Philadelphia and Camden. The Act for Justice Campaign is an effort to lobby Congress for a national response to poverty.
Scullion says Project Home has raised roughly $900,000 of their $1.4 million goal. They've also sent about 5000 letters to Congress. "So many people from all faiths and all walks of life want to get involved," she says.
Volunteers will be wearing yellow Mercy and Justice t-shirts. To donate to the Francis fund text "Francis" to 20222. You can find more information at mercyandjustice.org.
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