Welcome to St. James Haven

Restoring Hope and Offering Dignity to Men in Need

St. James Haven — Responding to a Need

St. James Haven in Meadville, PA is an outreach ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania. In keeping with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania’s mission of “unity of neighbor with neighbor and neighbor with God without distinction”, St. James Haven provides a place of welcome, refuge, food and comfort for homeless men each night.

Join us for our October Drive-Thru Fundraiser Dinner!

November 19, 2026

3pm – 6pm

Come and enjoy pot roast with roasted potatoes & carrots, roll, and a sweet treat.

Cost: Your meal is available for a donation amount of your choice.
 ($5 minimum donation)
 
Thank you to our sponsor, VNA Alliance!
 
St James November Drive Thru
St. James Haven Location

St. James Haven

  • Accommodates up to 14 men each night.
  • Provides a clean, dry shelter and comfortable bed.
  • Offers a nutritious meal each evening, provided by local donors.
  • Works closely with local police, housing and mental health agencies.
  • Is staffed by two resident managers.
  • Is open 365 days/year from 6pm—7am.
  • Is financially supported primarily by public and private donations.

Generous Community Support has been the key to continuing our Mission.

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Men served annually.
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Our Mission

In keeping with the Sisters of St Joseph mission, “Unity of neighbor with neighbor and neighbor with God without distinction,” St. James Haven, established by the Associates, provides a place of welcome, nightly refuge, food, and comfort for homeless men in the Meadville, PA area.

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Picking up paper towels? Stocking up on snacks? Or buying sandwich baggies?

🛒 Next time you're shopping, consider picking up an extra item or two for St. James Haven!

These and other household necessities help to keep the Haven running smoothly so that we can focus on what matters most — supporting our guests as they work toward stability and independence.

📍 Donations can be dropped off at 779 N. Main Street, Meadville.

💙 Can't donate right now? Sharing this post is another great way to support our mission and help us reach someone who can!

Looking for other ways to support the Haven? Scan the QR code or visit:
stjameshaven.org/how-you-can-help/
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Picking up paper tow

Please consider donating an evening meal to St. James Haven, helping ensure that our guests receive a hot dinner, comfort, and dignity at the end of the day. 🏠🍛

🤝 Signing up is simple! 🤝

Visit: stjameshaven.org/how-you-can-help/
- Click on "Meal Donation"
- The current calendar and donation info will load on the right-hand side of your screen
- Choose an available date (shown with a blue dot)
- Follow the prompts (just 3 clicks!) to complete sign up

We welcome home-cooked meals as well as take-out orders. Donors are welcome to deliver or stay and serve/share the meal with our guests.

Thank you in advance! 💙
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Just a little bit of your time can make a lot of difference! 💙

This month, our friends at Palmiero Toyota are giving our community an opportunity to support local nonprofits, and St. James Haven needs YOUR vote!

Every vote is a show of support for our mission of providing safe shelter, essential necessities, and a helping hand to men experiencing homelessness.

As you're out and about this month, please consider stopping by Palmiero Toyota to cast your vote for St. James Haven! It only takes a moment to show your support, but the impact could go so much further.

Thank you to Palmiero Toyota for supporting local organizations and to our wonderful community for always showing up for your neighbors! 😊Palmiero Toyota Give Back voting kicks off Monday!

This year, we're holding 3 Golden Ticket Thursdays, giving you even more ways to support local organizations!

Each Thursday, bring a donation for that week's featured organization and receive an extra Golden Ticket vote.

Plus, the organization that collects the most Golden Tickets each week will receive an additional $500 prize!

Mark your calendars:
Thursday, November 5 – Toys for Tots Toy Drive
Thursday, November 12 – Non-perishable food items, canned goods, and more
Thursday, November 19 – Non-perishable food items, canned goods, and more

Bring a donation, earn an extra vote, and help make a difference in our community.
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We Believe that We can Best Serve With Your Help

Help us continue to provide our guests with love, respect, and kindness as they get back on their feet. Find out how you can help with a donation or as a volunteer.

Hear What Our Guests Have to Say…

I had it all at one time. A wonderful wife, great job, and friends - we had a lot of fun together. We camped, went for car rides, and lived life together. My life changed instantly when I lost my wife, granddaughter, and mother in a 21-day period. I spiraled into depression and began drinking. I lost everything to alcohol. Instead of paying bills, I paid for alcohol. On the verge of discontent and homelessness, I found St. James Haven. They welcomed me with warm, open arms. They've given me a roof over my head, food, and clean clothes. The staff and everyone are great. They helped me get my life back together again.
Larry
When I had lost it all - my career, money, home and found myself completely out of hope - St. James Haven was there. It isn't just a shelter; it is a springboard to a real second chance at life. They have a staff who truly cares about their guests and fosters independence, discipline, and overall individual growth. I would not be where I am today without St. James Haven, and owe my second chance at a bright future with a professional career to the people who make St. James possible. They helped me find hope, as well as myself, again.
Frank
St. James Haven saved my life. They provided delicious food every night, washed my clothes, and helped me get connected with other agencies to find housing.This taught me structure and I learned how to take care of things. They made me feel like someone does care about me. I was allowed to stay until I felt I could successfully live on my own. I have two daughters that I hope to have move back in with me so we can be a happy family again.
Todd

St. James and the Scallop Shell

Having been a fisherman and having taken the road that helped him discover his spirit, the scallop shell is the symbol of St. James and it relates to two layers of the human condition; the physical and the spiritual. St. James was an ordinary pilgrim like the rest of us. He walked a long difficult road with Jesus; he was imprisoned by his raging emotions, and he went through metaphoric fires to free himself and discover the vastness of his spirit. He learned how to live an authentic, peaceful life and he shared his personal lessons with others.

Source: http://www.theroadtosantiago.com

Financial Contribution

You can easily donate using our secure online form. If you prefer to donate by mail please make your check payable to St. James Haven and send it to

St. James Haven
P.O. Box 15
Meadville, PA 16335

If you have questions, please feel free to call us at 814-337-6082.

Meal Donation

At St. James Haven, we serve a hot, nutritious meal to our guests every evening—and it’s all made possible by the kindness and generosity of our community.
 
If you’d like to donate a meal, we’d be so grateful! Just use the easy-to-access calendar below to pick a day that works best for you.
 
We ask that meals be able to feed up to 16 men, as we can accommodate 15 guests and two resident managers, and our numbers may vary from day to day. Donating a meal is a wonderful way to serve together—with friends, family, church groups, life groups, or co-workers.
 
You’re welcome to prepare a home-cooked meal or order from one of our fantastic local restaurants. Meals may be dropped off between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM on the day you’ve selected. If that time doesn’t work for you or if you have any questions about preparing or dropping off a meal, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Samantha at Samantha.stump@ssjerie.org.
 
Thank you for being a part of this mission and for helping us care for our guests with love and dignity.

Volunteer & Inspire

We regularly need volunteers to help maintain the Haven.

  • Serving nightly meals.
  • Helping with our Third Thursday “Drive-Thru” Community Dinners.
  • Cleaning
  • Yardwork – mowing, weeding
  • Answering Phones

If you have questions, please feel free to call us at 814-337-6082.

Personal Care Items

Our guests come to us with very little. If you would like to help provide personal care and household items, please see our suggested items below. You can also download a printable shopping list.

At this time we are not accepting any clothing donations due to storage constraints.

St. James Haven does accept new unused socks and underwear.