Mary Jo Copeland

Children having fun with Mary Jo. (cardinal Newman Heritage Project)

She serves over 240,000 meals each year for the people who need it. She gives out over 375,000 pounds of food each year to people in need. She gives shelter to over 500 people in need of a good shelter for the night. The people on the streets of Minneapolis, Minnesota call her their street mother. The city officials call her an extraordinary leader, but she is not looking for the praise. She helps everyone in need. She is an amazing woman and is the founder and director of Sharing and Caring Hands. This amazing woman is Mary Jo Copeland.

This is a picture of Mary Jo and parents. (Laurellynn)

Mary Jo started Sharing and Caring Hands because of her painful past. She grew up in a house where her parents fought often. At the end of each fight her emotionally disturbed father beat her mother. Mary Jo was emotionally and socially unable to function properly. Children made fun of her because they didn't understand how hard it was for her to live with her problems.

Mary Jo Copeland was born October 23, 1942, in Rochester Minnesota. She married Dick Copeland, a college student. They were married in April 1961. From 1961 to 1981 she was a full time mother, until her youngest of 12 children began school. In 1985 Mary Jo started Sharing and Caring Hands. Then in 1998 Mary Jo converted the old Sharing and Caring Hands building into a Childrens's Activity Center. Also a Teen center for all of the children living at Sharing and Caring Hands. Sharing and Caring Hands grew from a small volunteer organization to a bigger and better place for children and teens.

Sharing and Caring Hands main building. (Sharing and Caring Hands)

Sharing and Caring Hands is an organization for the poor. The people that she helps might need a little more help because they might not have food or clothes. Mary Jo does many generous things. She provides meals, clothing, showers, shelter, bus/car rides, and other help that people will need. In Sharing and Caring Hands no one is ever let down when they need a little help. It is a place where volunteers can commit their own time to help make a difference in others lives. Mary Jo has a tradition of washing and applying ointment to blistered, sore, and tired feet. Sharing and Caring Hands is a place to those who are alone, afraid, or just people in need of hope. Sharing and Caring helps over 20,000 people and $400,000 is spent each month to help out the people in need. All of the money they get is by donations.

This is a book about Mary Jo Copeland. (Amazon )

Mary Jo Copeland is a hero because she grew up with parents who often fought, and her parents told her that she would do nothing important in life, but she turned out to be doing something very important in her life. Mary Jo Copeland turned out to be one of the most loving, giving, sharing, caring, and wonderful people for making Sharing and Caring Hands possible. She helps those who need help without ever saying no. She has never taken a salary for all the work she has done to make Sharing and Caring Hands possible. She is just an amazing women and an extraordinary leader.