From the very beginning, the mission of the Little Sisters of the Poor has been sustained by trust in God’s Providence—and the generosity of others.
Saint Jeanne Jugan, our foundress, began collecting alms in the streets of Brittany in the early 1800s. With a simple basket gifted to her by the Hospitaller Brothers of Saint John of God, she knocked on doors and asked for whatever might help: food, clothing, money, or goods in kind. Her only goal was to meet the needs of the elderly poor in her care.
For Jeanne, collecting was not begging—it was an invitation to be part of something greater. “We shall share them, Sir,” she once said to a benefactor who questioned her mission. “You will provide for them, and I will care for their needs.”
She believed deeply that all people are part of one human family, and that caring for one another is a shared responsibility. That spirit of shared mission still guides us today.
Jeanne Jugan made the bold decision that the Little Sisters would never rely on guaranteed income. Instead, we would rely on Divine Providence and the generosity of benefactors—trusting that what was needed would be provided, day by day. More than 170 years later, this radical faith has sustained over 200 homes around the world.
Today, Little Sisters continue Jeanne’s tradition of collecting by:
Visiting markets and businesses for food and essentials
Appealing to local parishes on weekends
Hosting fundraising events and outreach drives
Sending requests by mail
Engaging with communities at shopping centres and public events
Every donation—large or small—helps us provide not only for basic needs, but for the comforts that uplift the lives of the elderly in our care.
Your support helps us continue this legacy of love, compassion, and trust.
