“If you give a man a fish, you have fed him for a day.
If you teach him to fish, you have fed him for a lifetime”*
Written by and photos by L. M. Land
Featured photo: Volunteers pack up a food donation for Friday’s food pantry pickups.
Nestled in a wooded neighborhood in the North End of Flint, St. Luke’s N.E.W. Life Center is a resource for those who are struggling to make ends meet, emotionally and financially. Their expansive programs are faith-based, designed to empower men and women by teaching life skills, literacy, workplace training, self-esteem and self-sufficiency.
Sister Carol Weber, executive director of St Luke’s, explained that “The center is not really affiliated with the church. We are here for everybody. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your faith denomination is or if you don’t have one.”
St. Luke’s features a food pantry every Friday, and clothing is available on Wednesday and Friday. Housewares and more are available for those in need. At Christmas time, they have gift bags for families in zip codes 48504 and 48505. (Sign up is finished for this Christmas. For Christmas 2025, sign up begins in October 2025 for gift bags.) St. Luke’s partners with St John Vianney for the Christmas project.
Catholic Sisters Judy Blake, CS-J and Carol Weber, OP, began what became St. Luke around 1994 by simply handing out their homemade Christmas cookies and clothes for the homeless one night near Flint’s soup kitchen. They saw how great the need was and began doing it monthly.
Sister Judy explained this experience in her book, “Voices.”
I quote: “We met so many marginalized people on the street, I felt like we were in a third-world country. We got to hear people’s stories. We’ve even sat on the curbs to listen to people pour out their hearts to us.”
The Sisters expanded their services year after year. Fast forward 30 years: the program they designed is extensive and life-changing for those who are ready to invest in themselves.
“We exist to teach, not to make a profit,” explained Sister Carol of their work-study programs.
She added: “Our goal is to help them build a resume so they can be hired into the job force. This is why we exist.”
Joining the lawn care and snow removal team is one such opportunity. St Luke’s is contracted by Genesee County and paid by the Genesee County senior millage for this service.
The pallet-making program is temporarily on hold. You learn how to drive a hi-low truck, use a nail gun and other skills to build wood objects, your self-confidence and a resume.
Sewing is another skill you can learn at St. Luke’s. Those learning to sew get a choice of fabric, and they learn to make items like blankets and pajama pants. Those who are more skilled have the option of working in the sewing room, where commercial contracts for Michigan businesses are fulfilled. Those who move to the commercial sewing area will also teach a new person the same skills and be paid.
Many women who came to St. Luke’s for help were in abusive relationships. The Sisters developed the Resilient Women program to help these women with their specific needs. They partner with the YWCA for this program.
Sister Carol explained that there are many levels of need that are complex in this situation. Women tend to be more difficult to house as they generally also have children with them. This program also supplies emotional support in a safe environment and aims to develop self-esteem and new skills.
Another difficulty is that “You have to get these women into stable housing, that is an issue here in this city. There is no place to put people,” said Sister Carol.
Other programs are:
- An adult literacy center which offers one-on-one tutoring in reading, math, GED preparation, basic computer skills, MTA bus passes and much more.
- A multiple-session Employment Prep Program focuses on developing goals, skills and training to get and keep a job.
- After-school tutoring with a certified educator for elementary school children.
- An eye clinic offers comprehensive eye exams, vision screenings, frames, lens and more with equipment and products that were generously donated.
- A seasonal hoop house for growing healthy food provides another opportunity to learn.
This holiday season, consider donating your time, food, clothing, housewares, or to St. Luke’s building repair fund so they can continue this important work.
Donations are accepted on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Furniture cannot be accepted.
Unfortunately, Sister Judy passed on two years ago, but you can still hear her voice in two inspirational books she wrote about the growth of St. Luke’s and many life-changing stories by those who came for help.
“Beyond Survival to New Life: Unleashing the power within each of us” and “Voices: St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center,” written with Sister Carol, are available for sale at St. Luke’s.
St. Luke’s N.E.W. Life Center is located at 3115 Lawndale Ave, Flint, 810-239-8710, Info@stlukenewlifectr.com, www.StLukeNewLife.com
*It is unclear who wrote the introductory quote. It could be inspired by Matthew 4:1. It is also attributed to 6th century B.C. Chinese philosopher Lao Tz, novelist Anne Isabella Ritchie in 1884, and 12th-century rabbi, physician philosopher Maimonides, as well as from an Italian proverb…Its essence is a truth that speaks through the ages.
