Some community members and parishioners are taking a new approach to the old concept of “charity.” There are countless governmental and non-profit support systems for citizens in need, but these resources often funnel people through without meeting one fundamental need: community.

That’s where radical hospitality comes in. Community centers and churches are finding ways to bring neighbors together and develop relationships that go beyond the transactional. This often looks like having a weekly meal together where everyone contributes something from bringing a dish, to greeting folks at the door, to helping clear the table.

This radical hospitality movement encourages people, often from a faith-based motivation, to open their lives to their neighbors in need. Not just on Sunday, and not just through traditional means of giving. For instance, hiring low-income neighbors for odd jobs, instead of doing it yourself.