Chicago Distributes Winter Supplies to Homeless

As winter engulfed Chicago in December 2021, members of the Chicago Region began an annual tradition of traveling to the encampments of the city’s homeless community to place Malta winter coats and socks into the hands of our lords the poor and the sick.

From the start, the nonprofit organization Featherfist has enthusiastically embraced the Malta Coat project. Serving homeless men, women and children, and those at risk of becoming homeless throughout Chicago since 1984, its streetwise and knowledgeable members continue to volunteer on their days off to guide and accompany Malta members. They have become a treasured extension of our Malta family and have helped the project grow in size and scope.

Last month, following a 6:30 a.m. rosary at Featherfist’s Southside headquarters, 17 Malta volunteers and 12 “street wise” Featherfist volunteers split into six teams and, traveling in Featherfist vehicles, doubled the size of prior year efforts by hand-delivering 200 Malta coats, and more than 600 pairs of socks, hand warmers, gloves, and toiletries to the souls inhabiting the street and park encampments of Chicago’s homeless community.