Catholic Charities of New York will welcome the People of Hope: Faith-Filled Stories of Neighbors Helping Neighbors Mobile Museum, a nationwide storytelling initiative produced by Catholic Charities USA, when it makes its first stop in New York City on March 26–27, 2026.
The People of Hope Mobile Museum is an immersive traveling exhibit that celebrates the power of Christian service and the transformative impact of neighbors helping neighbors. Housed in a 53-foot tractor-trailer traveling across the United States, the museum will visit more than 150 communities over the next three years, sharing stories of compassion, resilience, and faith in action.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York and Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens will serve as co-hosts for the museum’s inaugural stop, which will take place adjacent to Union Square at 881 Broadway in Manhattan. The museum will be open to the public on Thursday, March 26, from 11:30 AM to 6 PM, and Friday, March 27, from 12 PM to 6 PM, with last entry at 5:30 PM each day.
Visitors to the museum will experience a multimedia exhibit designed to help people better understand the realities faced by neighbors in need and the impact of charitable service. The experience includes:
• Video stories from Catholic Charities staff, volunteers, and community members sharing encounters that changed their lives
• An interactive poverty simulation that allows visitors to step into another person’s situation and make difficult decisions
• National and state data showing the scope of need across the United States
• A recording booth where visitors can share their own stories of hope and service
The exhibit is intended for visitors age 14 and older, as some content addresses sensitive themes related to poverty and hardship.
The museum is part of a national storytelling initiative made possible by a $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., supporting efforts to highlight the role of faith-based service in strengthening communities across the country. Catholic Charities USA, founded in 1910, is one of the nation’s largest social service networks, serving millions of people each year through local Catholic Charities agencies. Here in New York, Catholic Charities of New York serves more than 400,000 people each year — reaching over 1,000 neighbors every day with food, housing support, counseling, immigration and refugee services, youth programs, emergency assistance, and much more.
The People of Hope Mobile Museum brings these stories to life, showing how acts of compassion — both large and small — can change lives and strengthen communities.
All are invited to visit the museum during its New York City stop and experience firsthand the stories of hope that continue to unfold every day through the work of Catholic Charities.
For more information about the national tour, visit: https://peopleofhope.us/tour-stops/
