Shelter Care Ministries Receives 2019 Excelsior Award!

During an night of honoring those who contribute to the strength of the Rockford community, the Rockford Register Star presented Shelter Care Ministries with the 2019 Excelsior Award "for its decades-long commitment to helping homeless families and those suffering from mental illness."

What began almost 35 years ago as an effort by Emmanuel parishioners to provide a weekly hot meal to the increasing numbers of homeless, mentally ill residents -- primarily men -- walking about downtown Rockford has grown into a 501(c)3 organization that last year housed 201 people, 68 adults and 133 children; provided a safe and supportive day program for 60-80 adults per day who live with mental illness and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless; and provided 2,990 hours of no-cost daycare to 111 children five years of age and younger whose families are experiencing homelessness.

We are so proud of the important, loving, and faithful work provided to the most vulnerable among us by all those associated with Shelter Care Ministries!