778 S. Almaden Avenue, San Jose 95110

Santa Maria Urban Ministry serves San Jose's inner city community by providing basic services for short-term needs such as food, clothing and transportation, and by supporting long-term transformation through education, counseling, and after-school and seasonal programs. SMUM endeavors to be the living presence of Jesus Christ, offering to all a safe place of welcome, service and positive transformation.

SMUM is located in San Jose, very close to downtown San Jose at 778 S. Almaden Avenue. It is about a 20 minute drive from St. Timothy's, right off 280.

SMUM was organized in 1983, as the "diocesan charity." It started out as a food pantry and has evolved to being a non-profit agency providing many different kinds of services to the indigent of San Jose. Each year, the number of people who come to the Ministry for its services who live in the zip code areas served by SMUM grows by at least 4%. The number of homeless people served at the Ministry (those who can provide no permanent address with a zip code) has tripled in the past two years and continues to increase at that rate or more this year.

Current Programs

• FOOD PANTRY - SMUM is an agency affiliated with the Second Harvest Food Bank. It distributes food to over 1200 people a month, 65% of whom are children.
  
  
• ABC Playtime - prepares children ages 3-5 for kindergarten by working on academics, behavior and creativity. Most of the children come from Spanish-speaking homes so this program provides some English immersion that helps the children to cope when they enter the public school system. (Classes are held 3 mornings a week for up to 16 children.)
  
  
• Community Closet - provides free clothing and small household items for some 300 needy persons a month.
  
  
• Local Motion Ministry - provides emergency transportation and food deliveries to seniors as well as donation pick-ups.
  
  
• Studio 17 - An after school program youth aged 6-17 held in a well-maintained and serviced computer lab with 10 computer stations. This program gives the students access to computers and homework assistance. There are plans to expand this program to an evening program for adults, providing computer training but also access to the internet to do job searches, etc.
  
  
• ESL - English as a Second Language is provided for adults. SMUM is also exploring an offering of Spanish as a Second Language, which would be helpful to those who wish to serve the Latino community.
  
  
• Pastoral Counseling - available upon request.
  
  

Seasonal Programs

• Giving Day - There is a local dentist who opens her office about once a quarter on a Saturday to offer free emergency dental care to uninsured clients. (About 30 people are served each quarter.)
  
  
• FIRST STEP - This program provides new clothing, backpacks and school supplies to children and youth at the start of the school year. About 800 backpacks are given out.
  
  
• Christmas Gifts - New toys, clothing and gift certificates are provided to over 1000 children each year.
  
  
• VITA - Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is provided to low and moderate income families from February to April 15. The service provides the e-filing of tax forms.
  
  
• Warm Heart Ministry - This winter-time ministry provides homeless clients with clean, serviceable sleeping bags, blankets and warm clothing.
  
  

Return to Dreamtime in the Australian Outback.