The Ministry of Caring Guest Bartending Night at Bellefonte Brewing Company

Let's raise a glass to ending homelessness and hunger!

Brother Ronald Giannone, OFM Cap., founded The Ministry of Caring in 1977 after seeing the desperate conditions of the homeless and poor in Wilmington.

Now, with record homelessness, skyrocketing prices, a crisis level shortage of affordable housing and massive federal aid cuts, Brother Ronald is scrambling to find urgently needed replacement funding to meet growing needs in the community.

The core value behind his work, which is shared as The Ministry of Caring motto, is that “the poor should never be treated poorly.”

He began the nonprofit by creating the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia Peninsula’s first shelter for homeless and destitute women, still operating today as Mary Mother of Hope House I after helping 7,000+ residents toward independent living.

It is now among 18 programs he directs. Since 1979, the flagship Emmanuel Dining Room has served 7+ million meals – no questions asked – and is supported by an ecumenical network of nearly 100 faith groups, businesses and other organizations.

Ministry programs also include housing from shelters for the homeless to supportive housing for adults with disabilities as well as childcare for children of poor parents, job training and placement, showers and laundry for the unhoused, and free community distribution of donated food, clothing and home goods.

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