Outreach
The Outreach Committee at St. Matthew’s seeks to give specific direction to parishioners who wish to follow Jesus’ instructions to feed and clothe the needy, primarily in our own community.
All year we collect and deliver food, cleaning supplies and toiletries for several charities, such as the Salvation Army, Home Sweet Home Mission and Clare House. In winter we collect and deliver coats; this year we held a Diaper Drive as well. We make a special effort to provide a Thanksgiving Bounty to people in need in our parish. We sponsor a mitten tree at Christmas time and a school-supplies drive in August for The Children’s Foundation.
ITEMS OF THE MONTH
During April, 2012, the Outreach Committee is collecting items for the Neville House Shelter. A program of Mid Central Community Action., the shelter has a daily capacity of 13 women and children, and 4 infants. It offers special provisions to assist individuals with disabilities, males in need of shelter, and families larger than shelter room capacity. Responding to crisis and increasing self-sufficiency among its residents are the central features of Neville House assistance. Residents work closely with trained domestic violence caseworkers who assist in finding resources for housing, childcare, employment, legal representation, transportation and enhancement of life skills.
Because people arrive at Neville House in crisis, they are often in need of an initial change of clothing. Donations of NEW sweat suits/lounge wear for adult women (all sizes), NEW packages of underwear, socks and sweat suits for children, and UNOPENED packages of diapers, feminine hygiene products, and toiletries are in constant need. Personal travel bags and used cell phones are also important donations for Neville House. The phones are cleared of all personal information and can then be used by victims of domestic violence as an emergency phone for 911 calls as no service plan is required to utilize 911.
Thank you for your generosity.
~ The Outreach Committee
