Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
When you go into the Social Hall tomorrow morning, you will notice many, large garbage bags lined up against the south wall. The teens of our parish are primarily responsible for those bags. No, they did not engage in a cleaning project today, or rake leaves from outside. Those bags are not filled with trash or yard waste.
Earlier today, out GOYAns prepared 250 food packets for their peers at Entrada and Diamond Ridge High Schools. Very soon, the kids at those schools will be on Fall Break, and many of them will not have anything to eat while away from school. Our children, with the support of our St. Anna’s Outreach Ministry Team and our Food Support Ministry assembled the bags that will go home with the students from these two, beloved alternative high schools located in nearby Midvale.
The Blue Bin that you see every time you come into the church is there to help fill their food pantries. This is an ongoing effort, and we always encourage you that every time you come into the church building, please bring non-perishable food items, to be delivered to the schools each and every Tuesday. Today’s project was separate and apart from our continual effort of helping to stock their pantries. This project was specific in helping to ensure proper nutrition to children in need who will soon be on Fall Break. For many of these vulnerable youth, no school means no meals.
Thank you to everyone who has donated towards these worthy efforts. Your contributions to our Food Service Ministry provide ongoing supplements to our Blue Bin, as well as help us shop for projects such as today’s. The 250 bags that were prepared today cost over $2,500 to provide. Your love and generosity helped make them possible.
Please pray for the children and their families who will utilize these food bags, as well as for the children who assembled them, and the people who supported them. Everyone has their vulnerabilities and challenges. When we work together to help alleviate them, the Holy Spirit shines through us.
God bless you all for your kindness and sensitivities to those in need.
With Much Love in Christ,
Fr. Anthony Savas
Protopresbyter