 |
|
Service to others is important to the St. Francis Parish Family. We care for each other by provding support and communication in time of need. This Inreach assistance includes prayer, counseling, evergency meals, rides for seniors, and our church newsletters. Saint Anna's -- One Year Later! Saint Anna's - From Heartache to Hope Read Annagrams from our sister church, Saint Anna's, in New Orleans! One of the more popular, hands-on outreach events is the AmeriCares Homefront Project. This will be the seventh year that St. Francis participated in this one-day community based home repair program that helps homeowners and community centers who are physically or financially unable to maintain their homes/facilities. Volunteers provide one day of service to help a homeowner in need with painting, plumbing, carpentry, electrical and yard work, all at no cost to the recipients. Twice a year we support The Midnight Run which provides food and clothing to the homeless in New York City. Pastor Mark Lingle organizes these runs in November and April for the St. Francis Youth Group. Warm clothing and personal hygiene items are collected and packaged. On the night of the run, food is prepared and distributed along with the collected clothing and toiletry items to individuals living on the streets in New York City. The Midnight Runs help to instill community awareness in the participants. Each year, the St. Francis Sunday school classes participate in the Heifer project. Children are asked to collect and fill plastic arks with change The money collected is used to buy various animals for rural communities in need. The children have the opportunity to choose which animals to buy based on the amount of funds collected. Throughout the year we find ample opportunities to help those in need. Food baskets strategically placed in the church and chapel were constantly being filled and brought to our local food banks. Twice a year parishoners also assist at the New Covenant House of Hospitality, cooking and serving lunch. The Christmas Dove program continues to expand with 30 families receiving food boxes and 15 green doves collected to support scholarship and energy needs. On a regular basis, individual St. Francis parishioners donate computers, toys, books, and clothing to needy families. Outreach to our community beyond the parish also involves contributions to a variety of organizations such as St. Luke's Lifeworks which provides emergency shelters, transitional housing for the mentally at risk, and an AIDS residence, and Person-to-Person which provides food, clothing and assistance to the needy. Read reflections from one of our youth about their recent service project in Brazil. Read more in our Outreach Brochure (PDF file). Download a printable donation acknowledgement form (PDF file). |
|
|