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MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary
  • About
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Eagle Scout Shed

Two reasons why our new equipment shed is magnificent: one is the spirit in which it was built. Eagle Scout candidate David Seery (shown wearing green jacket) plus more than 20 scouts, family members and friends enthusiastically built it together to fulfill David's project.

Secondly, it will serve as a holding place for gardening tools for the food production initiatives of the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary in the 53206 zip code -- which is a food desert.

Photos by Carol Starr.

Walls came tumbling down

Until Saturday, the second floor of the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary building at 2461 W. Center Street consisted of 52 large storage units made of concrete blocks built years ago when the City of Milwaukee owned the building. In only three hours 21 members of Kappa Sigma, a fraternity at Marquette University, reduced all 52 storage units to rubble with sledgehammers and gusto.

These images, dust and all, were captured by photographer Carol Starr. Shown are Kappa Sigma service project leaders (l to r) Kale Kazyak, Riley McCoy and Edward Mordini with Sister MacCanon Brown. Future plans for second floor include a free health care clinic and a free vision center.

Let There Be Light on FOX6

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"The building is big because the need is big, and we are on our way. We very much hope that people, more and more people get behind us. We need volunteers. We need more donors. We need to bring this into reality," said Brown.

​Watch MacCanon on Fox6's broadcast here

Ozaukee Congregational Church and Wisconsin Congregationalist Association Volunteers

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An army of angels reorganized the doorway ministry space and all of our clothing and furniture holdings in our building-under-construction at 2461 W. Center Street on March 3rd, 2018. Several of our key dedicated volunteers united with youth from Ozaukee Congregational Church and Wisconsin Congregationalist Association Youth and Camp Committee during their 30-hour fast for World Vision. A huge task but accomplished so easily and quickly ! We are grateful.

St. Matthias Sleeping Bag Ministry Brings Warmth to Less Fortunate

“What we see, especially in our doorway ministry, are the underfed, undernourished, undergarbed,” she said. “It’s just gripping to visibly see this in that sub-zero weather people wearing thin jackets (and) no gloves.” “We tell the people when we give them the sleeping bags — we say, the group that made this prayed over it — and they prayed for you,” she said. “It means so much that the people cry.”

​Read more about the generosity of St. Matthias Church weaving warmth into the lives of Milwaukee's homeless

University School of Milwaukee Student LEaders

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On January 16, 2018, at a library filled with vibrant students of University School of Milwaukee, a few projects were launched in partnership with the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary. Simhan is USM student leader for the "Amani Garden" established at USM 5 years ago to provide fresh produce for the Amani Neighborhood via MBHS. Bringing USM garden crops to the MBHS outreach site has become a USM student tradition.

Shown (left to right) Manasai Simhan, student; Sister MacCanon Brown; Holly Morse, Compass 9 Freshman Project Advisor; Joanna Beamon, MBHS volunteer and Master Gardener UW-Extension awardee; and Laura Klein, Compass 9 Freshman Project Assistant Advisor. 

Milwaukee Tzu Chi Volunteers

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Devoted to compassionate work, friends from our partnering Milwaukee Tzu Chi chapter recently prepared and served the meal for the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary Friday meal program, and also shared handmade gifts and hygiene items for the MBHS Sunday clothing distribution. Shown here with MBHS staff and volunteers. Tzu Chi is an international Taiwanese Buddist humanitarian organization with over 10 million volunteers throughout 47 countries. MBHS respects all faiths.

414Ward with Maccanon  Brown

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A new project is filling a gap in one of Milwaukee's poorest neighborhoods: A sanctuary for those with nowhere to go. The Sanctuary Shelter is being built to help the less fortunate on the north side.Sister Maccnon Brown discusses this project in this segment of 414ward. 

​Watch MacCanon on Today's WTMJ4 broadcast here


414ward MSOE students help produce food for Milwaukee homeless shelter

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Sister MacCanon Brown has reached out to an untapped resource to help complete her mission. Students at the Milwaukee School of Engineering are working with Sister Brown to create an aquaponics system that will help the shelter produce most of the food needed to feed residents. Nick Brnot, MSOE student, joined Sister Brown on 414ward to talk about it.

​Watch MacCanon and Nick on Today's WTMJ4 broadcast here


Homeless sanctuary on MKE's north-side takes step forward

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A five-story 1920s building at 24th and Center Streets was once a factory and then a warehouse. Now demolition crews are inside taking the first steps of turning it into a homeless sanctuary. Brown said workers just got done with phase one of demolition. There's still a long way to go, but Brown's dream is becoming a reality. "We've raised 100,000 and we need about $300,000 more for the first floor," she said. Her short-term goal is to open the first floor of the shelter sometime late next year. "A major help center not just giving basics like food and shelter and hygiene, safety, a non-violent space, but a tool-kit," she said. A tool-kit that will help 80 to 100 people a day. After the first floor is complete, Brown envisions opening each floor of this building for a greenhouse, medical care, creative space and job training.

​Watch MacCanon on Today's WTMJ4 broadcast here

MacCanon Brown receives 2017 Social Innovation Prize

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On Thursday, November 16, the Social Innovation Prize in Wisconsin Ninth Annual Awards Luncheon recognized Sr. Edna Lonergan, OSF of St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care Inc., Sr. MacCanon Brown, SFCC of MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary (shown in photo), and Linda Hand of Senior Resource Center located in Sawyer County, WI for their creative approaches to addressing social and economic challenges in the community.

Retreat to Holy Hill

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Our pilgrimage to Holy Hill Sunday, November 12th, 2017, was inspiring to 22 dedicated MBHS volunteers.

Participants in our mini-retreat were (shown, left to right)
  • 1st row: Pat Sullivan, Sister MacCanon Brown, Marianne Miller, Juanita Luke, Susan Neidorfler;
  • 2nd row: Joanna Beamon, Julia Johnson, Katy Doss, Connie Moorer, Darius Smith;
  • 3rd row: Eddie Kentle, Sister Margaret Underwood, Geraldine Lucas, Ernest Moorer, Carolyn Shelby;
  • 4th row: Carol Edwards, Anita Baugh, Deacon Jim Chrisien, Waymetta Wilkerson, Anthony Carter and Nancy Earle.

Also shown is Anita Baugh leading us in a litany titled "I Am Victorious.”

Fall Harvest

Our first harvest from our first raised garden beds!

Shown are volunteers Carol Edwards and Darius Smith. We are thanking John Gibbs for making our new sign for our green space.

​Also Shown (left to right) are John Gibbs, Beverly Wiliams, Eddie Kentle, Sister MacCanon Brown, Eileen Gibbs, Joanna Beamon, Carol Edwards, Geraldine Lucas, Darius Smith and Waymetta Wilkerson. (Photo by Connie Moorer)

Footprints On Our Hearts

Six outstanding students from Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska made "footprints on our hearts" between October 15 - 20.

They were here to do service in marginalized communities and worked hard. They took part in 3 of our weekly outreach events.

Partnering with Marquette University

The big dreams we are dreaming for the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary at 2461 W. Center St. are becoming a reality.

​Our partnerships include Marquette University Campus Ministry. Shown are Marquette students committed to our Thursday Doorway Ministry with us on September 21st.

Volunteers Wade Into Green Space Thanks to Winkie's And KK Landscaping & Horticulture

Saturday, September 9 was our second raised garden planting event on our green space - this time in 4 wading pools !

​Our team of enthusiastic volunteers included (see posed photo, left to right): Connie Moorer, Jeffrey Davis, Larry Neidorfler, John Fruncek, Holly Morse, Don Lybeck and Eddie Kentle.

​This event was sponsored by Kristen Kakatch of KK Landscaping & Horticulture. Wading Pools compliments of Winkie's on Silver Spring.

Advisor to project: Barbara Aho. We planted late crops to demonstrate our commitment to bring more food into the 53206 zip code -- Milwaukee's "food desert."

Outpost Sponsors Wooden Garden Beds

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Thanks to Outposts Natural Foods' sponsorship of the raised wooden garden beds. The City of Milwaukee gave MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary green space next to our building at 2461 W. Center St., and shown are Eric from Victory Gardens Initiative and dedicated MBHS volunteer Eddie Kentle.

​More developments to come!

June 2017 Tour

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Front row left to right: Sister MacCanon Brown, Thomas Mitchell of Community Journal, Marianne Miller, Carol Edwards, Connie Moore.

​Second row left to right: Lee Martin, MPD 5th District Captain Timothy Heier, Lieutenant Liam Looney, Anthony Carter, Clare Peiffer. Photo by Jana Braam

MacCanon Brown moves forward

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Watch Sister MacCanon Brown speak exclusively with CBS 58 about moving on with her new project to welcome and empower Milwaukee's homeless. Be sure to watch both segments exclusive to CBS 58:

View Part One
​
​View Part Two

Residents must drive neighborhood revitalization, grassroots leaders say

In Milwaukee, many of the jobs that made the city a destination for African-Americans during the early 20th Century disappeared as factories once located in the central city moved overseas or to the suburbs. High rates of incarceration in Milwaukee County — where one in eight black men has served time behind bars, many for non-violent drug offenses — have created additional barriers to employment.

Sister MacCanon Brown, who has worked with the city’s homeless for more than 20 years and leads a ministry that provides free clothing, resources and meals to those in need, said many impoverished individuals are hardworking people of faith. However, she acknowledged, “When one economy doesn’t work for people, some will turn to another economy to put food on the table.”

“Urban revitalization needs to be driven by life-giving solutions that need to flow out of an inclusive vision, not a negative reaction,” said Brown.


Read more at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

New 'homeless sanctuary' to open in 53206 ZIP code

“It’s a faith thing,” referencing the additional $25,000 needed to begin construction.  “And we believe in what we’re doing.”

Brown says she’ll submit final plans to the City of Milwaukee for approval later this month.  If accepted, the organization could begin interior renovation in April.

Listen to an audio tour of the new building and to hear 88Nine Radio Milwaukee's interview

MacCanon Brown one of 2016 most inspiring people

The Catholic Herald named MacCanon Brown one of the ten most inspiring people of 2016:

A rift in 2013 with the board of directors at the daytime homeless shelter that she founded 21 years earlier left MacCanon Brown, 71, on the outside looking in. She was no longer welcome at Repairers of the Breach, the ministry she described as her life’s work. Admitting she was devastated and dying a thousand deaths, Brown, a member of SS. Peter and Paul and St. Benedict parishes, Milwaukee, did not despair. Instead, she refocused her efforts and found another part of Milwaukee that could use her efforts. In spring 2014, she and her supporters announced the founding of the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary to serve the city’s Amani neighborhood, specifically the 53206 zip code.

“This place will be a mecca of solidarity — just as in my previous work, where we brought many, many faith-based groups to be in solidarity with the people who are homeless and impoverished,” she said. “We believe this will be a place where miracles will happen.” (Catholic Herald, Oct. 27)

Work Begins on MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary

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On Dec. 30, the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary purchased a five-story building that will provide daytime shelter and much-needed services for homeless and at-risk people in Milwaukee’s inner city. The 35,000-square-foot structure is located in the heart of the 53206 ZIP code, considered the most impoverished neighborhood in Milwaukee, a city ranked third worst in the U.S. for urban poverty among the country’s 50 largest cities.

Brown hopes that work will begin this spring on rehabbing the building, a former factory-turned-warehouse. The first floor—providing basic services such as food, clothing and showers—is scheduled to be fully operational in fall. The Sanctuary will be developed story by story, with one floor devoted to employment services, one to an array of health clinics, one to urban agriculture and aquaponics, and one to providing an auditorium and meeting rooms for community groups. A garden is planned for the rooftop.

Keep reading about the future plans at Shepherd Express who named MacCanon July 2016's Hero of the Week

OnMilwaukee: Urban spelunking: Eschweiler building & potential homeless shelter

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One would hope that Grueschow would be pleased to know that nearly a century after he built his warehouse, there is a plan to make the building invaluable to the surrounding Amani neighborhood, which is located in Wisconsin's most impoverished zip code, 53206.

Sister MacCanon Brown of the Sisters for Christian Community – who founded and later split with Repairers of the Breach – hopes to purchase the building and open it in stages as a homeless sanctuary.

Keep reading about the history of this building and future plans at OnMilwaukee


WUWM: New Milwaukee Ordinance Bans Panhandling on Median Strips

MacCanon Brown supports keeping panhandlers off medians. She's worked with homeless people for more than 20 years, most recently at a homeless sanctuary that bears her name. Brown also backs the city's effort earlier this year to distribute handouts and posters, which inform panhandlers about safety net programs.

“Those programs give people the tools to change their lifestyles, to advance in their situations, and it makes more sense to give money to those programs,” Brown says.

Listen to MacCanon discuss with WUWM on the new Milwaukee Ordinance

Catholic Herald: Ministry to homeless continues

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"There’s a saying that when God closes a door, somewhere, he’s sure to open a window.

The adage certainly holds true in the life MacCanon Brown – a minister’s daughter turned writer and teacher, a Milwaukee transplant at risk of homelessness who herself became the executive director of one of the city’s best-regarded homeless nonprofits."


Keep reading the new issue of the Catholic Herald featuring an article about work at MBHS and MacCanon's journey of leadership.

MSOE visits MBHS

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MSOE Honors students during their October 5th tour of 2461 W. Center--the building we will purchase by December 23rd. A lively discussion about the building plans included Assistant Professor DeAnna Leitzke, Professor Michael Carriere and interior design professional Sheila Semrou.

We are MBHS

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A living "bouquet" of faces and hearts who make up a few among the "WE" of the vision of our organization. These very dedicated volunteers toured 2461 W. Center St. -- the building we will purchase for our permanent site by December 23rd, 2016.

Musical Infusion of Hope

For those who missed our October 9 "Musical Infusion of Hope" event at the Coffeehouse, you can hear highlights of it on Ben Meren's "Just Talkin'" show taped 9/24 at Riverwest Radio.  During this show enjoy legendary performances by Ben Merens and Steve Haberman of songs about homelessness.

Roots, jazz, blues and hope

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You can support the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary at The Coffee House on October 11, 7:00 - 9:00pm to help create a field of dreams in the 53206 zip code.

Join MacCanon Brown and hear performances from Professor Pinkerton, John Sieger, and Steve Cohen.

Doors open at 6:30pm at 1905 W Wisconsin Ave at The Coffee House.

Get Your Blues On Morning BLend

This video and content Featured on The Morning Blend

The MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary was founded and named in 2014 by a group of supporters who desire for MacCanon Brown’s work with homeless people to continue. Based on MacCanon Brown’s tireless work spanning 23 years, the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary is planning a new daytime sanctuary and multi-resource center for homeless and at-risk homeless adults in Milwaukee’s 53206 zip code--Wisconsin’s most impoverished neighborhood. We are joined Sister MacCanon Brown herself to discuss the organization and to discuss a special event to benefit it, featuring our second guest Adekola Adedapo.

Get your blues on with MBHS

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Sr. MacCanon Brown's Opinion piece of Michael Brown published in the Journal Sentinel's Crossroards

Read the blog post here or on JSOnline.

Weekly Clothing Distribution

Hephatha Lutheran Church on 1720 W Locust is allowing us to distribute donated clothing during their lunch time every Sunday from Noon until 1:00 pm. What is graceful is that this church is in the Amani neighborhood just a few blocks from our future site. We have been given this opportunity until we acquire our building of interest at 2461 W Center St and begin a Doorway Ministry. As you can see below, we have already received a large amount of donated winter coats, blankets and clothing.
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Thanks to the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary team of volunteers who distributed clothing on February 8:

From left to right, first row:  Sonya Lee-Ball; Destiny; Jeff Evans, veteran; Nathaniel Blake; Lee Martin;

Second row:  Sr. MacCanon Brown (SFCC); Clarease Dozier; Pastor Mary Martha Kannass of Hephatha Lutheran Church; Warren Green and Billy Joseph, veterans; Dorothy Jackson; Patti Peplinski.

Not shown is photographer Sr. Judith Smith (SFCC).


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We'll be on the air with good news

If you are hungry for some good news for a change, tune in to view a program about the efforts of the emerging MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary (MBHS) organization to create a new daytime homeless sanctuary and multi-resource center in Milwaukee’s Amani neighborhood. It is good news in contrast to many other news items which capture our attention.

It can be viewed on Time Warner Public Channel 96, or AT&T U-Verse. Channel 99.  Here are the showtimes:
  • January 19 at 5:00 p.m.
  • January 21 at 11:30 p.m.
  • January 24 at 4:00 p.m.
  • January 26 at 5:00 p.m.
  • January 28 at 10:30 p.m.
  • January 31 at 4:00 p.m.
  • February 2 at 5:00 p.m.
  • February 4 at 10:30 p.m.
  • February 7 at 4:00 p.m.

This program was taped in the studios of MATA Community Media. The host and producer for this show is Charles Love. The program features a premiere performance by Steve Haberman singing his original song “The Heart of the City.”  Jill Haberman reads a poem she wrote for the occasion titled “Sanctuary.” Other participants include Scott Fisk, volunteer; Sandra Wilson, neighborhood resident; and Sr. MacCanon Brown (SFCC), President of MBHS.

What better way of getting out a message than public access cable television? We hope you encourage others to watch it, too. It is hoped the new daytime sanctuary being established in the most impoverished neighborhood in Wisconsin will also offer 24-hour emergency warming room services for homeless adults in future winters.

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Agencies provide help to community's hungry

University School Milwaukee in River Hills has joined the food distribution effort with the help of a long-time Milwaukee-based social justice leader, a champion of the city's homeless.

Holly Morse, a Spanish teacher at the school, said the school's efforts to begin engaging freshmen in hands-on community projects found its inspiration from Sr. MacCanon Brown (SFCC), former executive director of Repairers of the Breach in Milwaukee who now heads MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary.

"I asked her to speak to the students," Morse said. "Her presentation led to a group of students who wanted to help by growing food."



Picturephoto by Sheila Semrou
Tent City Sleepover For Homeless Awareness

A tent city sleepover for homeless awareness was held September 27 - 28 by 15 youth from St Luke's Catholic Church, Brookfield.  This social justice event served as a fund-raiser to support the outreach and advocacy of the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary organization. 

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Our Amani Neighborhood Fresh Produce Distribution Team

On Wednesday, September 10, Milwaukee Alderman Willie Wade met with and encouraged representatives of seven community groups and churches who collaborate to distribute hundreds of pounds of fresh produce weekly to Amani neighborhood residents. This is an initiative of the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary organization.

This project is related to the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary organization’s efforts to become established in the Amani Neighborhood. Plans are underway to create a daytime Sanctuary and multi-resource center for homeless and at-risk homeless adults nearby.

Shown in the group photo in first row, left to right, are Sara Krohn, Tikkun Ha-Ir organization; Sr. MacCanon Brown (SFCC), President of MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary, Inc.; Seventh District Alderman Willie Wade; Peggy Schmidt, St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church; Pam Frydman-Roza, Food Justice Coordinator, Surplus Harvest Milwaukee, Tikkun Ha-Ir. Second row, left to right: Samual Odin, Tikkun Ha-Ir; Holly Morse, Freshman Service Project Advisor for USM Compass 9 Program, University School; Kip Jacobs, master gardener, University School; Carolunett Humphries, Bethesda Baptist Church; Minister Nathaniel Blake, Hampton Avenue Church of Christ; Dorothy Jackson, Executive Associate, MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary; and Percyellious Blake, Hampton Avenue Church of Christ. Another collaborative partnership not shown are representatives of Wells Fargo Bank, Villard Branch.



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USM Amani Garden Project to Provide Produce for Milwaukee Neighborhood

Freshmen in USM's Compass 9 program were on campus, along with District 7 Alderman Willie C. Wade, and 7th District Youth Council Member Sydnei Parker '15 to dedicate a new garden space to provide produce to Milwaukee's Amani Neighborhood on Saturday, May 31. A special thank you to the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary Inc. for serving as the facilitators and eventual distributors of the produce to the Amani neighborhood.


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MacCanon Brown announces new initiative to help the homeless

Sr. MacCanon Brown (SFCC) has worked for 22 years as a homeless advocate in Milwaukee — and now, she has a new project in the works. “It’s very affirming. I’m overwhelmed of course — and at the same time it’s a reminder there is much more work to be done in this city, and to have unity around that — the work that needs to be done in areas of people who are impoverished or homeless, it’s huge work. It needs to continue,” Brown said.


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After Repairers' split, MacCanon Brown focuses on new day shelter

A new nonprofit that will be called the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary Inc. is being organize by Sr. MacCanon Brown (SFCC) and her supporters to provide a day shelter for the homeless.


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Standing tall for the city's homeless

Her time with Repairers of the Breach may be over for now, but it's comforting to know Sr. MacCanon Brown (SFCC) is still doing the work she loves best.

It's her path, and she's still following it, even in the bitter cold.




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National Coalition for the Homeless letter honoring the ongoing advocacy work of Sr. MacCanon Brown (SFCC).


"Celebration of Hope" honoring Sr. MacCanon Brown (SFCC)

"Celebration of Hope" took place March, 29, 2014 at the Italian Community Center. Photos courtesy of Anita Burgermeister.
MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary, Inc.
PO Box 80165, Milwaukee, WI 53208
414-404-0600 
 
Copyright © MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary.  All rights reserved.

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