Catholic Charities, St. Elizabeth Center

How often do you use your car? Take the bus? Hop on the Rapid Train? In the City of Lorain - indeed in all of Lorain County - public transportation is limited. The Lorain County Transit (LCT) has only 4 buses on two routes with no evening or weekend service. So how do those without the means to afford an automobile get to medical appointments, job interviews, Walmart, or even to the St. Elizabeth Center? The truth is, sometimes, they simply don't go. Other times they walk or get a ride from a friend or family member. None of these options offers the security of having one's own car or being able to rely on a vibrant public transportation system. The St. Elizabeth Center tries to fill this gap by paying for clients' transportation through Lyft, and with our own van. Help us to make much-needed repairs to our van which is used in our homeless outreach efforts by transporting individuals residing at the St. Elizabeth Center. These individuals may need to go to appointments, community resource centers, and local vendors that help us to provide clients with basic needs such as clean linens in our shelter and food in our cafeteria. Our dream is to one day purchase a van that is wheelchair accessible to better serve all of our clients.

With your help, we will be able to continue to fill in the transportation gap in Lorain County.

Help us to buy bus tickets and Lyft gift cards. 

Help us to buy bicycles and bike locks. 

Help us, help our clients get to work, government offices, medical centers, and the grocery store!

Contributions received will be used for transportation efforts in 2024.

Who We Are

Catholic Charities has been a steadfast provider of food and shelter to Lorain residents for more than 20 years. Catholic Charities provides a place in central Lorain for persons who are homeless, hungry, or otherwise vulnerable to receive assistance.

In the summer of 2017, Lorain Family Center (aka 8th Street) and St. Joseph Overnight Shelter combined ministries in the suitably named St. Elizabeth Center. St. Elizabeth of Hungary lived a life full of prayer and service to the poor. She is often depicted with a basket of bread to show her devotion to the poor and hungry. St. Elizabeth administered to the sick, supported the poor, and was dedicated to works of charity. The St. Elizabeth Center was dedicated by Bishop Perez on October 31, 2017.

Today, many faith groups, businesses, civic organizations, and individual volunteers support what has truly become a multi-purpose Center serving the Greater Lorain Community.