Support St. James Haven during Crawford Gives August 24 – 27! A portion of donations are matched to provide even more support to our mission!

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 June Drive-Thru Fundraiser Dinner!

June 18, 2026

3pm – 6pm

Come and enjoy a meatball sandwich, chips, salad, and a sweet treat.

Cost: Your meal is available for a donation amount of your choice.
($5 minimum donation)

Thank you to our sponsors, Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania and the Mission & Ministries Foundation!

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.

Nights of shelter provided to men each year.

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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.

Keep up with the Latest News

St. James Haven is with Blue Canopy Marketing and 7 others.

One of the things I love most about my job is investing in our managers, helping them develop their leadership skills, and giving them opportunities to flourish and grow.

This year, we invested in Chris by supporting his participation in Leadership Meadville.

Chris has been with us for nearly three years, and during that time, he has grown leaps and bounds both professionally and personally. Watching him step into the leader he was created to be and seeing his confidence build month after month has been incredibly rewarding. It has truly been an honor to challenge, encourage, and support him as he continues to grow into a strong and capable leader.

Many of our board members (Kim Adsit, Lou Sanchez, Cass Shimek, Nick Novosel, Joanne Helides, Meagan Waters, and Mandy Mahoney) showed up at the luncheon to show their support.

Thank you Chris Kidder for all you do to make a difference in the lives of each of our guests on a nightly basis. ... See MoreSee Less

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St. James Haven

Welcome to this week's HEARTS BEHIND THE HAVEN!

Through these posts, you'll meet the volunteer Board members who are behind-the-scenes of the Haven's Community Drive-Thru Dinners, special events, and many of the daily operations. With the support of our community, the mission of St. James Haven is not only possible, it's happening.

👉This week we'll meet Kimberly Bidwell. Kim is one of the board's newest members, but she's already made a big positive impact. With a professional background in drug and alcohol recovery, Kim has been a huge asset to our ongoing transitional-living project. She also brings to the board her creative and hands-on talents, designing and fabricating the medals for our "Run for Shelter" 5K event. We appreciate all that she brings to the group. Make sure to say hello to Kim below!

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"Kimberly Bidwell is the Case Management Supervisor at Crawford County Drug & Alcohol, where she has worked for 20 years. She oversees case management services and works across systems to help individuals navigate recovery and access the support they need.

After stepping into her supervisory role, her work began to overlap more with St. James, leading to a strong working relationship with Samantha. This led to them working together on a funding proposal for the transitional living project, offering insight on substance use and recovery needs. Working alongside St. James gave her a clear view of the organization’s role in the community, which led her to join the Board of Directors.
💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙 ... See MoreSee Less

Welcome to this week

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St. James Haven

We'll be dancing in the street! Join us for the annual Sound Off for St. James Haven Concert Fundraiser! 🎤🥁🎸🎼 ... See MoreSee Less

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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.

Financial Contribution

Meal Donation

Volunteer & Inspire

Personal Care Items

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