St. Martin's was started 40 years ago to address the issue of hunger in the poorest part of the Springfield community. St. Martin's feeds approximately 2000 families each

month, with a large portion of those families headed by a senior citizen or have a senior living with them. Families are provided with food and clothing at no cost with no requirements or restrictions. Essentials are also provided, such as hygiene products and household items. The organization is run entirely by volunteers; there is no paid staff. It is our goal to make sure our clients get as much of what they need as possible. We are unique in that we provide food, clothing, and other items for free, that we are open more than

most other similar organizations, and that we have no overhead. Where there are similar

services, they tend to have very limited hours, are open once a week or once a month

a few hours, and only provide food. Every dollar goes toward feeding those most in

need and in assisting our most vulnerable citizens. St. Martin's is open three days a week, we are on two major bus lines, and we operate in the heart of the density of need. Many

people walk or ride the bus to our location. We work in tandem with other organizations, as many of them send people to us when they are closed. We try to assist other agencies as we can, often offering donated items that we think they may need. St. Martin's has a broad, non-denominational base of support in the Springfield community because of its reach and mission to service those most in need with no barriers. Volunteers, 20 or more at a time, show up from every walk of life and work together to make a difference, and they do. St. Martin's would not beable to work without the strong, wide-ranging community support.