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| Summer at St. Vincent’s | |
| By Doreen Johnson | |
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Summer for many of us is a time to relax and to refresh ourselves before the children return to school in the fall or before the demands of work increase. With a little extra time on our hands we are also able to renew our relationship with God through sharing our time with others who need help. Summer at St. Vincent’s lends itself to many opportunities to share our talents through volunteer experiences. Every day of the year the Elizabeth Ann Seton Room is open. Volunteers serve from 8:00 until 10:00. From 8:30 until 10:00 breakfast is served to our homeless guests at the sandwich window. The room works because of the kindness of volunteers who either work most days or some days to ensure that the homeless eat at least one meal a day. Last year a newcomer volunteered at the Elizabeth Ann Seton Room during her summer vacation. She stated, "Dave and Zachary have a way with the people who come there. I think it’s nice how they know the people’s names; who can have sugar and who can’t; and all sorts of things about them. When I was there I felt that I was doing important work, and it made me feel good inside." I was proud to hear that my teenage daughter was happy to serve in the Elizabeth Ann Seton Room at St. Vincent’s. In addition to hosting homeless guests each day of the year, the Elizabeth Ann Seton Room also serves as a food pantry every Tuesday and on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The food pantry serves over one hundred families each month with canned goods, dry goods, and healthy treats. I have had the opportunity to volunteer in the food pantry in the past, and each time I walked away from the experience feeling that God really did place people on earth to help one another in different ways. The cheerful attitudes of some of the patrons and their gratitude for the groceries that would help them to eat for the month truly lifted my spirit. The giving spirit in the food pantry only improves during holiday seasons when food drives are held in order to provide additional supplies so that families may also celebrate with special food and treats. On the last weekend of June, there is a collective effort on the part of many churches in the archdiocese as well as other community organizations. The Greater Chicago Food Depository Hunger Walk will take place. This year the Hunger Walk is Saturday, June 24 at 9:30 a.m. Volunteers are needed to walk and people are needed to sponsor the walkers in order to provide both food and funds to keep the Greater Chicago Food Depository up and running. The pledges are divided among... |
...the parishes and community organizations so that each may serve its respective clientele appropriately. Volunteers for this walk have generally had a great day and usually return the next year to dawn their sneakers and walk in the name of feeding the hungry. In July the Vincentian Outreach Young Adults (VOYA) group will take a trip to New Orleans. This trip is intended to help transform New Orleans from the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina to a town renewed by energy and unity. Low-income houses will be repaired and a school will be painted during the days. The evenings will be filled with prayer and reflection. The people of New Orleans will be rebuilding their city and their lives; the volunteers will share in that process. The trip is planned for July 8-13. Young adults between the ages of 21 and 39 are encouraged to volunteer. The registration cost is $192.00. Transportation is to be provided by each volunteer. More details can be found at www.voya.us. July is also the month during which St. Vincent’s participates in the Sheffield Garden Walk. This year the Garden Walk is the weekend of July 22 and 23. The Garden Walk is in need of volunteers to help organize the event and to carry out tasks at the event. There are ticket booths for people to purchase tickets in order to buy treats such as grilled brats and beverages. There is a need for people to run the booths, prepare the food items, organize the volunteers, carry heavy items, and to clean up after it is all over. The Garden Walk is a great opportunity to meet people from St. Vincent’s who may attend a different mass and to also meet people from the community who help support the church through their patronage at the Garden Walk. All year long, St. Vincent’s is open for prayer and reflection. If you have a talent for reading to large groups of people, singing before large groups of people, standing before large groups of people, and even carrying a wicker basket to collect offerings from large groups of people, St. Vincent’s would be glad to welcome your services. The masses rely upon lay ministers to run smoothly. Lectors, singers for the choirs, Eucharistic ministers, and ushers are needed for each mass. Although the attendance for each mass is lower in the summer than any other time of the year, the need for volunteers to help at mass is present throughout the year. The presence of more volunteers will only help the church community to continue to thrive. Summer at St. Vincent’s is a wonderful experience. It is fulfilling, it is peaceful, and it is a time for reflection. There is a good deal to do, and if you have the time to spare, please share it with the community of St. Vincent de Paul Church. |
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