| The Social
Concerns Committee is now in the 16th year of service to St. Theresa's
parish. It is made up of volunteers who give their time to make sure that
varied needs and requests are satisfied when brought to the attention of the
committee. |
|
Social
Concerns: Works throughout the year serving people in need. The
committee is most "visible" at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our
Thanksgiving food and turkey drive helped over 40 needy families last
year. Food, turkey and monetary gifts are given by parishioners and friends
to help us meet those needs. At Christmas, most parishioners are familiar
with our "Giving Tree," which is set up in the church vestibule.
Specific needs of children and adults are brought to our attention and we
make a "gift tag" to hang on the tree for each one. Our parishioners
take a tag (or two or more), buy and wrap the gift, and bring it back to
church on a designated weekend. The members of the committee make sure the
gifts reach the recipients in time for Christmas. This past year, our
generous parishioners provided over 500 gifts for needy people!
Throughout the year, the committee supervises a parish food pantry.
Monthly donations of food and paper goods, along with monetary donations, help
the committee to provide food to families or individuals in temporary or
emergency need. A shopping basket is placed in the church vestibule the
last weekend of the month so that parishioners may donate non-perishables
as they are able. |
| We are in constant
outreach to parishioners and community members who contact us or who are
brought to our attention. People who need someone just to talk to, or who
have been ill, or are shut-ins at home, or are in nursing homes are helped
by members of the committee.
Members are aware of organization and the type of help they provide;
when necessary, people in extreme need are referred to these other
organizations which can provide sustained help over a long period of time. |
| There
are many people who need temporary help. It may be due to job loss,
family illness, or an emergency situation. There may have been a problem
which someone couldn't solve alone. This is WHY the Social Concerns
committee exists. As an extension of our parish family, we are eager to
help and consider it a privilege when people allow us to extend a loving,
helping hand during difficult times. We can't do this work alone; the
caring and sharing of our parishioners and friends allows us to be an
extension of Christ's work in the parish.
Whatsoever you do to
the least of my brothers, that you do unto me. |
