I-HELP

Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program

St. Dunstan’s is among several dozen congregations supporting I-HELP of Monterey County, helping men and women who are clean and sober but “down on their luck” and without housing, food, and material comforts.  In I-HELP, they find hospitality, shelter, a hot meal and compassion. 

Each evening the I-HELP bus transports men and women from central pick-up points to a hosting church.  St. Dunstan’s hosts four times a month: men on the first and third Thursdays, the second Friday, and women on the third Saturday. We provide dinner for 18-25 men on the third Thursday, with other churches providing a hot meal on the other nights. Our women’s group is small but growing.

Our dinners are hearty meals – meat, vegetables, salad, rolls, and dessert.  The breakfast bag includes a muffin, fruit, a hardboiled egg, a nutrition bar, and juice.  The parishioner team gathers mid-afternoon to set up and cook. Many on the team stay to eat with our guests, hear their stories and enjoy their company.

I-HELP tides these men and women over as they look for employment and housing.  We rejoice with them when news comes that someone has found work or a place to live and has moved on.  Our reward is the smiles we see and the words of gratitude we hear.