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
School Supplies for Children's Foundation
For the last few years, our parishioners have generously provided school supplies for the children and youth who are served through the Mid-Central Regional office of The Children's Foundation of Children's Home and Aid (CHA) in Bloomington. CHA has helped the most disadvantaged low-income families of McLean County and the surrounding area for almost 120 years, which annually figures more than 3,000 children and families. Our parish donations have helped one of its most vulnerable population: children and youth recently placed in foster care situations who do not have access to shopping resources. During July and August, the Outreach Committee will again collect school supplies and deliver to the Foundation starting in August through mid-September. Several organizations collect in our community but tend to focus on elementary aged children; however, Junior High and High School youth have as great a need for supplies.
We have been pleased that our parish has recognized this oversight and helped to fill that gap. Backpacks (without comic characters), calculators, pens, filler paper, expandable binders, organizers, thumb drives and blank cds are just some of the welcome items for the youth. Of course, items for children are always welcome: we simply wanted you to know the critical needs of this organization. To learn more about the Children's Home & Aid, see http://www.childrenshomeandaid.org/
Thank you for your generosity. ~ The Outreach Committee
