We had a beautiful day for our third annual Day of Service. Thanks to everyone who participated. Here is a little of what we accomplished and some photos:
- The St Justin SVDP conference would like to thank everyone who contributed to the Thrift Store Truck donations. The truck was so full that extra donations were loaded into a Vincentian’s Suburban to also go to the Thrift Store. In addition, personal care items were collected and taken to Pius V food pantry.
- At the St. Peter and Paul sandwich project, we made about 600 sandwiches and bagged about 250 bags of trail mix. We had laundry soap as well. Many St. Justin folks donated meat, cheese, grocery items, and cash.
- Before the Day of Service we had a completely empty freezer for the freezer meal outreach! This is the first time we had run out of meals. We made 47 meals and restocked our freezer to support friends, families, and neighbors who need a little care. So this was a very timely project for this ministry.
- The Honey-do team accomplished the following:
- The Leaf Team – cleaned out the two classroom window wells and boiler room well of accumulated leaves and debris.
- The Van Gogh Vanguard – repainted about 95% of the curbs
- The High Wire Act – trimmed and lopped all the Bradford pear branches overhanging the school building, and branches about to be entangled in various and sundry electric/phone/cable wires.
- The Windows, Windows and More Faction– cleaned all basement level windows, inside and out.
- The Keep your mind IN the Gutter Crew – cleaned out gutters on the church, school and parish center.
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Team – removal of the ‘not sure what you call them’ bushes to the right of the outdoor classroom in the rectory rear…
- The Fish Chicks and Friars – cleaned out and re-organized the only remaining parish catch all room – just off the main entrance to the cafegymatorium.
- Well, Maybe Yours Doesn’t – deep cleaned the faculty bathroom on the first floor. And the downstairs girls bathroom. And helped with repairing the ceiling in the downstairs boys bathroom.
- The School Deep Clean Crew – cleaned the nooks and crannies, floor boards, and bathroom walls on the basement floor
- The Bookworms – Cleaned and straightened the parish library
- Five of us went to the Room at the Inn Day site. We were blessed to get a tour of the entire facility and hear more about the day to day mechanics of their mission. We spent the day sorting and organizing items in the recreational area and we sorted donated clothing and shoes. We took with us donations of diapers, laundry soap, new children’s clothing, and tons of personal care items so graciously donated by SJM parishioners.
- At the Daughters of St. Paul we weeded their gardens, mulched around the grotto, and tidied up the grounds.
- The kitchen was turned into a cookie producing factory as dozens of chocolate chip cookies hit the ovens. Also the smell of home baked bread filled the cafegymatorium. The volunteer delivery people headed out to 10 homes to brighten some St Justin’s shut-ins with homemade cookies and bread. Several St Justin’s young ladies colored and put together cards to go along with the baked goodies.
- The fleece blankets brigade made 10 blankets for The Safe Place Shelter and 6 blankets will go to St Clare Infusion Center. The project leader firmly believes that if fleece material is left unattended it multiplies as it was being packed up. So ladies we have seed fleece for next time.
- We spruced up the parish grounds and gardens.
- We built bookshelves for Ready Readers.
- We helped around the neighborhood with maintenance and repairs.
- We did some work for the Daughters of St. Paul.
- We made wreaths, paintings, flower pots, stained glass windows, water bottles, pillowcases, and stuffed sock animals for shut ins, students, foster care, and those in need in our community.
- We helped support local students who do not have access to learning
resources over the summer.
