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St. Mary's Community Center

St. Mary’s Community Center: A mission in action

St. Mary’s Community Center is a dynamic outreach initiative of St. Joseph’s/Candler, dedicated to serving and empowering the residents of Savannah’s historic Cuyler-Brownsville neighborhood. This community, rooted in rich African-American heritage and resilience, faces ongoing challenges related to unemployment, limited healthcare, and housing instability. Through resources and concrete action, St. Mary’s works to uplift lives and create meaningful change—one service at a time.

As a trusted community resource center, St. Mary’s offers free, accessible programs that promote financial literacy, education, personal agency, and lifelong empowerment. Whether you're seeking employment assistance, help filing taxes, access to public benefits or a safe space to get connected, we have something for everyone. Our goal is to help individuals and families build a better life through opportunity and support. Accessibility and cost should never be a barrier for our community members to get the tools they need to build their life on their terms. Here’s a look at the no-cost services available to our community.

Comprehensive services for the community

St. Mary’s offers services to support individuals and families facing economic hardship.

Career development

Helping job seekers become job-ready, our workforce services provide:

  • Resume support
  • Job searches
  • Job readiness training
  • Workshop: Smart Money 101

Free tax assistance (January–February)

In addition to seasonal tax preparation, the Center trains community volunteers who become IRS-certified to prepare basic tax returns at no cost. This allows our neighbors to receive their full refund without paying a tax preparer.

  • Free preparation
  • Monday - Thursday afternoons; Saturday morning
  • Walk-ins only

Eye Clinic

Affordable vision care is available for those in need:

  • Discounted eyeglasses starting at $30 through Prevent Blindness Georgia
  • We serve mostly "uninsured" or those with no Vision plan

Public benefits assistance

Our staff processes more than 3,000 applications annually for public benefits. We help with:

  • SNAP - New or renewals
  • Medicaid for children and adults - new or renewals
  • Pregnancy Medicaid
  • TANF

Assistance referrals

  • Walk-ins or phone
  • Social Security issues
  • Utilities & Business
  • Referrals to other agencies for food, clothing, etc.

Bread day

  • Free bread and sweets donations from Publix every first and third Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Senior Citizen Advocacy

  • Refer seniors 65+ to community resources

Public Notary

  • Free notary public
  • Note: Identification must match the person receiving the notary

Office services at no cost to you

We provide free copies, faxes and scanning. Need to get online? Use our computer lab for job searches, school, or benefits access.

Computer Lab Hours:

Monday – Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Monday – Thursday: 1:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Get connected with St. Mary’s

At St. Mary’s, we are more than a community center—we are neighbors helping neighbors thrive. Come visit us to see how our resources can better serve you and your loved ones.

Location: 812 W. 36th Street Savannah, GA 31415

Hours of Operation:

Monday – Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Closed Noon – 1 p.m. for lunch)

Friday: 8:30 a.m. – Noon

Phone: 912-447-0578

Let St. Mary’s Community Center be your partner in progress—where service and dignity make hope come alive.