Click Here to Access the Walk-In Ministry Pamphlets:
Walk-In Ministry Pamphlet 2023
Walk-In-Ministry-Pamphlet-2024
On a rotating basis, each Downtown Pittsburgh Ministerium church serves for one week at a time in addressing the needs of those who “walk-in” seeking assistance. The needs presented are many: emergency food, prescription medication, shelter, transportation to medical appointments or employment, aid in applying for all manner of governmentally supported social programs, eye glasses, etc.
In a typical week, the church on duty will see approximately 75 clients. Costs for the ministry beyond in-kind gifts are borne by each congregation with some small assistance from the Ministerium. Congregation members usually provide non-perishable food items and toiletries on a regular basis. The “walk-in” ministry of our downtown churches is the only such social service provided in downtown Pittsburgh.
The demands placed on the churches have increased in recent years. With cut-backs in governmental social programs, a greater and greater burden falls on the religious community.
The Downtown Pittsburgh Ministerium is grateful to generous individuals and a small number of organizations for their support of this social ministry. Gifts to the Ministerium are shared equally with the five congregations which provide the “walk in” ministry.
A client entering any participating church is referred to the church on duty that particular week.
Participating Churches:
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
412-471-3436
320 Sixth Avenue
Monday – Thursday, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Accessible entrance off Oliver Avenue
Emergency food and toiletries, Referrals to appropriate social services.
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL
412-232-6404
328 Sixth Avenue
Monday – Thursday, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Accessible entrance off Oliver Avenue
Emergency food and toiletries, Local bus tickets for a verified job interviews or medical appointments, Referrals to appropriate social services, Voter registration
SMITHFIELD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
412-281-1811
620 Smithfield Street
Monday – Thursday, 8:30 – 11:30 AM
Knock on the wooden, street level door on Smithfield Street
Official food pantry for downtown residents, Senior boxes for qualifying individuals, Referrals to appropriate social services.
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH
412-471-8125
615 Grant Street
Monday – Thursday, 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Accessible entrance off Grant Street
Emergency food and toiletries, including frozen meat, Local bus tickets for verified job interviews or medical appointments, Referrals to appropriate social services
Our partner ministries at Divine Mercy Parish and Shepherd’s Heart Fellowship offer the following services that are available every week:
DIVINE MERCY ROMAN CATHOLIC PARISH: SAINT MARY OF MERCY
412-471-0257, dial ext. 3 for Red Door
202 Stanwix Street
At Stanwix Street door:
St. Faustina’s Gate, 10:30-11:30 AM Monday – Saturday.
Offering clothing, food pantry, toiletries, local bus tickets (for
doctors appointments and job interviews)
At Blvd of the Allies door (The Red Door):
Breakfast from 9:00-10:30 AM, Monday – Saturday.
Lunch from 10:30-11:30 AM, Monday – Saturday.
Dinner at 5:00-5:30 PM, Monday – Friday.
Midday Meal from 1:00-2:00 PM on Sundays
SHEPHERD’S HEART FELLOWSHIP
412-281-1305
13 Pride Street
Enter by rear door.
Drop-In Center with Resource Center, Monday-Friday, 7:30-10:00 AM; Sunday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Available resources include clothing, shoes, boots, blankets, sanitizer, soap, etc.
Free Shuttle Bus service Monday- Friday, 7:15 AM – 1:00 PM
Bus provides transportation to medical appointments, the Veterans Administration, probation office, work, and other important appointments.
ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR PARISH
412-281-3141
91 Crawford Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Food Pantry every 10th and 25th of the Month (not on weekends) from 10:00 am– 1:00 pm
