Agency Details:

We open our home to those we can help, providing basic material needs and direction as we call each to his or her own potential.

Description:
The Little Portion Friary is a temporary homeless shelter for homeless men and women. The shelter has 35-40 beds available and the rooms are filled on a first come first serve basis. The Friary is staffed completely by volunteers and survives completely on the goodwill donations of individuals and groups.

The home provides a temporary shelter to the homeless, 18 years of age and older. They are served breakfast, dinner, and are giving clothing when needed. Our clients can be directed to services such as: counseling, support groups, public assistance and rehabilitation programs to help develop more stability in their lives.
Furniture and household items are also donated to help the homeless set up there own apartments.
Volunteers are needed to help provide a multitude of services, such as: helping to prepare food at home or in the Friary; to sort and size clothing; to clean and do laundry; to do outside work; to help maintain the property,; to pick-up donations; and to help supervise the house at all times. Donations include food, paper products, cleaning supplies, personal supplies, household items, and clothing.

History:
The Little Portion Friary, located at 1305 Main Street, Buffalo, NY satisfies the basic needs of the homeless in a supportive home like setting. Deacon John Gainey, his wife Kathy, and Reverend Alexius met one another serving dinner at the Friends of the Night People over on Wadsworth. One cold fall night they wondered where all of the guest went after dinner, and the idea for the shelter was born. They opened officially on Thanksgiving of 1982. Homeless people come from all backgrounds and all deserve dignified treatment. The facility has quite a history. The building was first used as a convent that housed nuns that supported the Bishop O'Hern Highschool. It later turned into an orphanage, and at one time was owned by Erie Community College. All of the administrative offices of the college were housed there. After all this it was rented by the Fransiscan Friars and formerly bought in 1983. This house has always been a safe place to help those in need.

Contact person: Anne Callan, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Address:

PO Box 891 Buffalo, NY 14209