For 30 years, the West Side Catholic Centerhas offered hospitality, hot meals, a women and children's shelter, clothing, household goods, advocacy and emergency services to those in need at no charge. The West Side Catholic Center relies on hundreds of volunteers to maintain its services. Our volunteers consist of individuals, church and civic groups, student organizations, and area businesses.
Our Mission
Grounded in faith, hope, love and respect for those we serve, the West Side Catholic Center assists all who come in need of food, clothing, shelter and advocacy.
31% of Cleveland's residents and almost half of Cleveland's children live in poverty. Cries for help include: food and medication, lack of heat and water, homelessness, help in search of a job, lack of transportation....these are just some of the critical needs that we address at the Center each day.
Community support includes our partnership with other food and emergency service providers, such as many other churches and faith-based organizations. We are members of the Cleveland Food Bank and receive food donations from Harvest for Hunger, as well as regular deliveries of in-kind donations and grocery surplus from local businesses throughout Greater Cleveland.
We collaborate with other emergency service agencies including the Cleveland Veterans Association, the Cuyahoga County Office on Homeless Services, Y-Haven, Applewood, Providence House, Salvation Army, Care Alliance, Recovery Resources, Seeds of Literacy, Murtis Taylor Mental Health Services and the State ID Collaborative.
The West Side Catholic Center was established in 1977 by several area churches that saw a critical need within the community due to extreme poverty. We are a unique, private, not-for-profit agency with Catholic roots, independent of the Catholic Diocese and Catholic Charities.
Our programs respond to the needs of men, women, and children in Cleveland, regardless of their religious affiliation, and WSCC has no geographical limits on its service area. All services are provided free of charge.
