Labre Homeless Outreach (WTC)
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Labre is a weekly opportunity for student leaders and participants to form relationships with people experiencing homelessness in downtown Chicago, offering both a simple meal and conversation. The focus of Labre is to facilitate a deeper exploration of issues of justice through encounters with individuals. After going on a Labre route, students participate in a debrief to reflect on the complexities of homelessness in downtown Chicago.
Please contact labre@luc.edu with any questions.
Sign up and join us
We gather Thursdays from 4:30-8:00pm. We meet in Baumhart Hall on the Water Tower Campus for food preparation and community building. Then we depart from the WTC on pre-established routes to distribute food and visit with those we encounter. We then return to the Baumhart Hall for reflection. Participants must be able to commit for the entire time frame.
Note that space is limited, so please sign up ahead of time:
- Sign into LUCommunity
- Look at the events list on the Campus Ministry page
- Scroll down the events and look for upcoming “Labre Homeless Outreach” events.
- Click on the day that you hope to attend.
- Fill out the registration form.
Contact us
For more information, please contact Labre via email at labre@luc.edu.
Follow us on Instagram!
Donate funds to Labre
If you would like to make a monetary donation to Labre, you may do so online or by mail.
Online: Please visit this website to provide a donation to Labre.
By mail: Please make checks payable to "Loyola University Chicago" and add "Labre" in the notes section and mail to:
Director of Campus Ministry
Loyola University Chicago
1032 W. Sheridan Rd
Chicago, IL 60660
Donate food to Labre
Labre accepts food, clothing, toiletries, blankets, and winter gear donations all year. Labre typically prepares meals for 40 people each Thursday. If your student organization, fraternity, or class would like to donate, please see the following guidelines. Please consider donations containing high protein.
Acceptable food donations we can take any time:
- Granola bars
- Trail mix (individually wrapped)
- Peanut butter
- Jelly
- Fruit snacks
- Lemonade mix
- Hot cocoa mix
- Bottled water
Acceptable food donations we can take Mon-Wed for the upcoming Labre Outreach:
- Fresh fruit (bananas, apples, oranges, cuties)
- 2 loaves of Bread
- Up to 48 hotdog buns
- Up to 48 hotdogs
Donate clothing or Winter Gear: (Please make sure they are lightly used and in good condition)
Men’s clothing:
- Used or new Tshirts, long-sleeved shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, sweaters, sweatpants, undershirts, jeans, pants
- Used winter coats
- New underwear
- Socks (especially ones that are warm, winterproofed, wool)
Women’s clothing:
- Used or new Tshirts, long-sleeved shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, sweaters, undershirts, jeans, pants, leggings
- Used winter coats
- Socks (especially ones that are warm, winterproofed, wool)
Winter gear:
- Winter hats
- Winter gloves
- Scarves
- Hand warmers
- Blankets (fleece blankets or fleece blanket kits work well)
Donate Hygiene kit items:
- Gallon sized ziplock bags
- Razors
- Travel sized items:
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Soap
- Lotion
- Chapstick
- Mouthwash
- Comb
- Hand sanitizer
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
Please contact eheitzman@luc.edu with any questions about donation needs and times to drop off donations.
History of Labre
Modeled after Labre Ministries from St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland in 2002, the program has been active at Loyola University Chicago for over a decade.
Saint Benedict Joseph Labre was born in France in 1748 to wealthy middle-class family. After deciding this was not the path to which he was being called, he left his family, education, and comfortable life to become a pilgrim. He traveled around Europe leading a minimalistic life, sharing what extra food he had with the poor. He befriended those experiencing homelessness along the way and shared in community and conversation with them. He died in Rome in April of 1783 and today is recognized as the patron saint of homeless persons. His devotion and commitment to loving God and loving his neighbor is the foundation of the Labre ministry.
Labre is a weekly opportunity for student leaders and participants to form relationships with people experiencing homelessness in downtown Chicago, offering both a simple meal and conversation. The focus of Labre is to facilitate a deeper exploration of issues of justice through encounters with individuals. After going on a Labre route, students participate in a debrief to reflect on the complexities of homelessness in downtown Chicago.
Please contact labre@luc.edu with any questions.
Sign up and join us
We gather Thursdays from 4:30-8:00pm. We meet in Baumhart Hall on the Water Tower Campus for food preparation and community building. Then we depart from the WTC on pre-established routes to distribute food and visit with those we encounter. We then return to the Baumhart Hall for reflection. Participants must be able to commit for the entire time frame.
Note that space is limited, so please sign up ahead of time:
- Sign into LUCommunity
- Look at the events list on the Campus Ministry page
- Scroll down the events and look for upcoming “Labre Homeless Outreach” events.
- Click on the day that you hope to attend.
- Fill out the registration form.
Contact us
For more information, please contact Labre via email at labre@luc.edu.
Follow us on Instagram!
Donate funds to Labre
If you would like to make a monetary donation to Labre, you may do so online or by mail.
Online: Please visit this website to provide a donation to Labre.
By mail: Please make checks payable to "Loyola University Chicago" and add "Labre" in the notes section and mail to:
Director of Campus Ministry
Loyola University Chicago
1032 W. Sheridan Rd
Chicago, IL 60660
Donate food to Labre
Labre accepts food, clothing, toiletries, blankets, and winter gear donations all year. Labre typically prepares meals for 40 people each Thursday. If your student organization, fraternity, or class would like to donate, please see the following guidelines. Please consider donations containing high protein.
Acceptable food donations we can take any time:
- Granola bars
- Trail mix (individually wrapped)
- Peanut butter
- Jelly
- Fruit snacks
- Lemonade mix
- Hot cocoa mix
- Bottled water
Acceptable food donations we can take Mon-Wed for the upcoming Labre Outreach:
- Fresh fruit (bananas, apples, oranges, cuties)
- 2 loaves of Bread
- Up to 48 hotdog buns
- Up to 48 hotdogs
Donate clothing or Winter Gear: (Please make sure they are lightly used and in good condition)
Men’s clothing:
- Used or new Tshirts, long-sleeved shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, sweaters, sweatpants, undershirts, jeans, pants
- Used winter coats
- New underwear
- Socks (especially ones that are warm, winterproofed, wool)
Women’s clothing:
- Used or new Tshirts, long-sleeved shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, sweaters, undershirts, jeans, pants, leggings
- Used winter coats
- Socks (especially ones that are warm, winterproofed, wool)
Winter gear:
- Winter hats
- Winter gloves
- Scarves
- Hand warmers
- Blankets (fleece blankets or fleece blanket kits work well)
Donate Hygiene kit items:
- Gallon sized ziplock bags
- Razors
- Travel sized items:
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Soap
- Lotion
- Chapstick
- Mouthwash
- Comb
- Hand sanitizer
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
Please contact eheitzman@luc.edu with any questions about donation needs and times to drop off donations.
History of Labre
Modeled after Labre Ministries from St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland in 2002, the program has been active at Loyola University Chicago for over a decade.
Saint Benedict Joseph Labre was born in France in 1748 to wealthy middle-class family. After deciding this was not the path to which he was being called, he left his family, education, and comfortable life to become a pilgrim. He traveled around Europe leading a minimalistic life, sharing what extra food he had with the poor. He befriended those experiencing homelessness along the way and shared in community and conversation with them. He died in Rome in April of 1783 and today is recognized as the patron saint of homeless persons. His devotion and commitment to loving God and loving his neighbor is the foundation of the Labre ministry.