Metro Catholic Outreach

08/27/2026

Amazing August Activities
(a two minute read)

Email from Metro Catholic Outreach Amazing August Activities     All Saints - Immaculate Conception - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton - St. John XXIII - St. Joseph - St. Jude - St. Ludmila St. Matthew - St. P

08/26/2026

Urgently Needed!
It is the basics that we don’t appreciate until they’re gone.
We are in immediate need of TP and bottled water for our clients. Please drop off at any area Catholic Church or here at Metro Catholic Outreach, Monday-Thursday, 9:00-3:00.
Thank you to all our wonderful donors!

08/24/2026

Every week, there are students in the Catholic school system experiencing weekends of food insecurity in their homes. Similar to HACAP's backpack program in the public schools, MCO provides bags of weekend supplies for those families in need of provisions.
Stocked with nutritious and easy to prepare food, our pantry volunteers assemble individual bags each week. The school counselors keep us apprised of the number of students in each school with this need. Volunteers deliver the bags to the various schools on Thursdays or Fridays.
As the school year starts once again this week, we depend on your donations of items such as mac & cheese cups, breakfast bars, ramen cups, fruit cups, cereal cups, etc.
Forty or more students are helped every single weekend. Thanks to all our donors for helping with this great program!

08/20/2026

Feeding Friends
(a two minute read)

Email from Metro Catholic Outreach Feeding Friends     All Saints - Immaculate Conception - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton - St. John XXIII - St. Joseph - St. Jude - St. Ludmila St. Matthew - St. Patrick - S

08/06/2026

Sunny Summertime Smiles
(a two minute read)

Email from Metro Catholic Outreach Sunny Summertime Smiles     All Saints - Immaculate Conception - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton - St. John XXIII - St. Joseph - St. Jude - St. Ludmila St. Matthew - St. Pat

08/03/2026

MCO Parish Month Success!

Thank you for your generous support of Metro Catholic Outreach during our parish month of June. Because of your generosity, donations grew to more than 20 boxes each week!

Your kindness helps provide food and essential items to neighbors in need - we couldn't do this important work without you!

08/03/2026

2025-26 Fiscal Year Ends

As our fiscal year ended in June, we have some amazing totals to share from 7/1/25 through 6/30/26:

•5,035 individual households picked up food boxes -- 18,186 individuals. (About 20% of households pick up more than once a month)

•10,277 boxes of groceries were distributed, each individually packed by our faithful volunteers

•1,255 school bags with weekend provisions went home to 602 households in the Catholic schools system

•10,095 bags of food and supplies were distributed to folks living outside

•Of 418,934 pounds of food distributed, 66,881 pounds was food donated from parishioners and walk-in donors. The remaining 352,073 pounds was purchased or donated from retailers or wholesalers.

•$80,740.50 was paid to landlords or utility companies, helping 137 families stay in their homes.

Thanks to ALL our donors of food and cash to feed and help all these local folks in need of our assistance. Our clients are always so grateful when they pick up food or we pay a bill that keeps their water or power on!

07/30/2026

Goodbye July
(a two minute read)

Email from Metro Catholic Outreach Goodbye July     All Saints - Immaculate Conception - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton - St. John XXIII - St. Joseph - St. Jude - St. Ludmila St. Matthew - St. Patrick - St.

07/28/2026

Thirty years ago, Prairiewoods put down roots in Hiawatha. This year, we're grateful to celebrate three decades of inviting people in Eastern Iowa to reconnect with the natural world.

Join us on Wednesday, July 29 at 11:30 a.m. for our 30th Anniversary Ribbon Cutting Ceremony as we commemorate this milestone alongside the Mayor of Hiawatha, members of the Hiawatha City Council and representatives from HEDCO (Hiawatha Economic Development Corporation).

After the ceremony, enjoy complimentary refreshments and a tour of Prairiewoods!

🎉 This event is FREE, open to the public and no registration is required. We'd love to celebrate this special anniversary with our neighbors, friends and the entire community!

07/27/2026

Every Monday from 1:00 - 2:00 PM, we have volunteers waiting at our dock to receive any of your garden bounty you would like to bring us.
Getting it all fresh on Mondays allows us to sort and package your nutritious home-grown fare for distribution to our neighbors in need on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
No need to call first, just show up between 1:00 and 2:00.
Thanks for keeping our volunteers Monica and Mary busy on Monday afternoons!