The We Are Friends ministry of Logan St. John Church has helped more than 200 families and individuals in the past two years. In doing so, it has depleted the supply of furniture and household goods it has available to meet people’s needs and seeks help in replenishing its stock. It also needs short-term financial aid to pay everyday expenses.
We Are Friends was founded by Deacon Don Robers of St. John Church and several community representatives, including county municipal and common pleas court judges, to help the needy of the Logan region, especially those recovering from drug addiction.
It has provided furniture, bedding and household items and has helped some people with groceries and clothing, funeral expenses and rent and utility payments. Deacon Robers said the recent increases in the cost of nearly everything have resulted in more requests for assistance.
We Are Friends receives new bedframes and mattresses at a deep discount through an online auction but needs other bedroom furniture and bedding; small couches, small chairs or small recliners and end tables and lamps for living areas; bath towels, washcloths and personal hygiene items; small microwaves, small kitchen tables and chairs, dishes, silverware, dishwashing items and kitchen utensils.
The ministry does not accept knickknacks, picture frames, clothes, yard sale items or heavy furniture.
Its total expenses were a little less than $10,000 last year. It received $4,000 grants from The Catholic Foundation and South Central Power Co. The foundation’s grant was the last in a three-year grant cycle and will not be available in 2023, while the South Central grant was stipulated for use only in bed and mattress purchases and was $1,000 less than the ministry spent for those items last year.
A fund for long-term financing that the ministry set up with The Catholic Foundation has increased from a $5,000 starting amount to about $35,000 through support from generous donors. “This fund goes on forever,” Deacon Robers said. “By donating to this fund, your gift will keep on giving.”
To help We Are Friends with its immediate needs, send a check payable to We Are Friends to Deacon Robers at St. John Catholic Church, 351 N. Market St., Logan OH 43138.
To donate to the ministry’s Catholic Foundation fund, write a check to The Catholic Foundation, We Are Friends (noting Fund ID #325KJ in the memo section) and mail it to The Catholic Foundation, 257 E. Broad St., Columbus OH 43215.
To give online, go to www.catholic-foundation.org and find the Giving tab, select Existing Funds from the menu and then search for We Are Friends Donor Advised Fund to complete your donation.
