The Cor Unum Meal Center arose from the vision of a group of men and women in South Lawrence, MA, who were moved by compassion to respond concretely to the growing needs of the hungry in their city. These men and women have become part of the long tradition of the provision of care for the least fortunate in Lawrence through St. Patrick Parish.
St. Patrick Parish was founded in 1872. For over 130 years, the leaders of St. Patrick’s have creatively addressed the spiritual, social, and educational needs of the people of Lawrence. The parish has a large elementary school (established in 1906), extensive programming for children and teenagers, and broad outreach efforts for adults of all ages. St. Patrick’s currently operates a food pantry, through which more than 500 people are provided with groceries each month. The parish functions in three languages – English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Research began at the end of 2001 to explore in further depth the reality of hunger in Lawrence, to review existing food resources in the city, and to identify unmet needs. After extensive study, it was determined that there was a compelling need for additional food for the hungry and a significant demand for a meal center to be established in South Lawrence. In the spring of 2002, a committee was established to proceed with the planning and organization of the Cor Unum Meal Center.
In the autumn of 2004, a capital campaign was launched to raise $1.5+ million for the construction of the center. In September 2005, the fundraising goal for the construction of Cor Unum was reached. At the same time, a capital campaign was launched to raise $400,000 to fund the center’s operational expenses.
Construction of the Cor Unum Meal Center was completed in the fall of 2006, with more than $500,000 raised to begin the operations. The doors of the Cor Unum Meal Center were opened to welcome guests on September 30, 2006.