Skidettes

Skidettes is one of the oldest outreach ministries at St. Bede. The ministry makes and delivers nearly 600 lunches each week to those in need in downtown Los Angeles, delivering to shelters working with a different population on Skid Row.  

The effort began in 1982, when Father Michael Biewend would travel downtown to hear confessions and bring lunches to the destitute inhabitants of Skid Row, according to Skidettes leader Mary Ann Fell. Biewend left St. Bede’s years ago, but the tradition carries on providing lunches to shelters such as: Las Familias Del Pueblo, Jovenes, Angel’s Flight and the Cardinal Manning Center.

Las Familias Del Pueblo provides daycare for the children of workers in L.A.'s textile district. Jovenes is a shelter for  youth between 18 and 25. Angel’s Flight seeks out runaway teens and helps them with food, shelter and training, while St. Vincent De Paul’s Cardinal Manning Center offers food to anyone in need, as well as services for families and children.

Three times a week, volunteers gather with a goal to have as many as 300 lunches — a sandwich, a piece of fruit and a sweet for dessert — all bagged and ready to go before 8:30 am.

Tuesday 6:30–7:30 am, St. Bede Parish Hall
Friday, 7:00–7:30 am, The Caring Churches' Church Hall
Saturday, 6:50 am, St. Bede Parish Hall