Once a month parishioners gather in the Cardiff Center to make bag lunches for the Port Ministry in Chicago. This is another hands-on way of seeking to feed the hungry.

The Port Ministry of Our Lady of the Ridge - St. Linus Parish has 26 volunteers. Each volunteer is assigned four (4) Saturdays during our year, which runs from September to June. We meet in the Cardiff Center at 11 AM; and we usually meet on the third or fourth Saturday (with some variance around the holidays).

The Port volunteers are not only energetic, but generous, supplying: napkins, lunch bags, sandwich bags, candy, plastic spoons and foam cups to support our work. As of June 25, 2022, our last meeting of 2021-2022, we will have provided 2,000+ sandwiches; 2,000 lunches (sandwich, fruit cup, candy, cookie, chips and napkin packet with a spoon and wipes; and 2,000 cups and fruit punch/lemonade mix or cocoa mix (depending on the season).

Thank you to Father Mark and the parish for underwriting the bread, lunch meat, applesauce, containers, drink mix, chips, cheese, and condiments which go to complete our lunches and sandwiches. Your generosity is unstinting.

I salute all the volunteers who work so hard to bring the hands and feet of Jesus in providing for the least of His brethren. I am humbled by their dedication and generosity and consider it a privilege to work with them.

If you would like to volunteer, please call Mary Campobasso at 708-424-6544.

Sincerely,
Mary Campobasso, Coordinator

THE PORT MINISTRIES - A PLACE OF PRAYER AND HOPE - The Bread Truck is a "soup kitchen on wheels" that drives eight (8) different locations around the neighborhood to battle hunger by providing meals to under-served community members.

Meals are donated to The Port Ministry from various parishes, partners and corporations then distributed six days a week through the Bread Truck. The Bread Truck provides over 134,000 meals per year.

The Port Ministry was founded by Fr. Augustin Milon, OFM on May 26, 1985 in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood. It has expanded its programs to include a free Health Clinic, After School Tutoring, Home Visitation and Supplemental Education.

CLICK HERE for more information about Port Ministries in Chicago.