Charlestown Residents' Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches Help the Homeless

CATONSVILLE, MD (May 21, 2016) -- Charlestown retirement community residents make nearly 200 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches each Wednesday and donate them to Helping Up Mission, a faith-based homeless shelter in Baltimore City for men with alcohol and drug addiction.

An average of 20 residents -- among them Eleanor Weigman (left) and Bernadette Trainor who are pictured -- come to the Renaissance Gardens Activity Room to spend mornings making the sandwiches.

"Our residents enjoy the time they have together to help people in need," said Program Assistant Lauren Clements.

Helping Up Mission believes God’s love can set men free — from drugs and alcohol, from poverty and homelessness, and from any other self-destructive behavior.

However, it is not enough to tell a man who has struggled with addiction for years that “Jesus loves you” and expect a miraculous recovery. Contrary to common thinking, addiction is not simply the result of poor personal choices, immorality, or weakness. It is much more complex.

Consequently, Helping Up Mission's approach to treatment is holistic in nature.

Helping Up Mission's Spiritual and Recovery Program integrates the practical needs of its clients — food, clothing, shelter — with their clinical, mental health, medical, educational, and vocational needs.

All of that is built upon a Gospel foundation. And by God’s grace, it can lead to lasting change.