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Outreach

 

Tri-Parish Outreach
(518) 929-4369


Catholic Charities: In addition to Women’s History Month, March is also Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness month. Catholic Charities Disabilities Services provides service coordination and clinical services to individuals with a traumatic brain injury. Based out of Albany, they serve the entire 14 country region within the Diocese of Albany including Columbia. For more information please call 518-783-1111.—Theresa Lux, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Columbia and Greene Counties.

Caring Cards Ministry: The Caring Cards Ministry would like to wish a peaceful and joyous Christmas to all in our tri-parish community. May you cherish the birth of Our Savior with joy in your heart! If you or someone you know could benefit from the love shared in our monthly cards, please contact either of the coordinators:
Chris Mrynec: St. John the Baptist or Sue Merrill: St. James

Sidewalk Warriors of Troy: We are continuing our first ever food drive and asking for three specific items: boxed cereal, pasta of any type, and/or spaghetti sauce in jars or large cans. Remember, we are at 35 State Street in Troy every Thursday at 6pm if you want to join us. And if you are unable to join us, please bring your items to the CCNCC offices at 1025 Kinderhook Street, Valatie. They will be sure everything gets to us. Contact: Sue Seymour.

 

Good Works Calendar:

Friday, April 12

Food Pantry: at the Church of St. Joseph/Stuyvesant Falls Friday, April 12 from 1:30-3:30 PM. Please continue to refer those in need to our pantry. The Church of St. Joseph food pantry is collecting the following items in March: canned soup; crackers; oatmeal; coffee; hot chocolate. Please place any donated items in the red wagon in the athering space. Thank you for your assistance!

Despensa de alimentos: en la Iglesia de St. Joseph/ Stuyvesant Falls el viernes  12 de abril de 1:30-3:30 PM. Continúe remitiendo a los necesitados a nuestra despensa.

 

Donations Sought for Our Ministries:
Spring Donation Drives:

 

Please think of OutReach as a means by which serviceable items can be shared. Please call OutReach at (518) 929-4369 if you have items to give away or if you know of individuals or families in need of specific items. This week, a white bedspread and clothes for men, women, and children were donated to OutReach and distributed in the Catholic Community of Northern Columbia County. All donated items are transacted confidentially and at no cost

Social worker and parishioner, Deb Kelsey, advises that her clients need toiletry items, such as shampoo, conditioner, talcum powder, deodorant and tissues. They would be happy to receive healthcare items in sample size or regular size. To share, please bring donated items to the wicker basket in the Gathering Space.

Local food pantry donations : Please considering contributing the following to the food pantries this spring: canned fruits, soup and vegetables, fresh fruit and vegetables, fruit juices (fresh or canned), light desserts (pudding, Jello), sealed bread or rolls, and condiments. Thank you.

The Annual St. James Easter Food Drive begins on Wednesday, February 14th and ends at Easter time. This drive is held every year during Lent to benefit the Chatham and Ghent food pantries. If you would like to contribute, please write a check payable to your designated food pantry (Chatham or Ghent for St. James parishioners). We will mail all checks to the appropriate pantry. We will also continue to collect non-perishable foods in the large wicker basket in the St. James Gathering Space for the pantries.

St. John the Baptist is accepting Easter donations for the Valatie Ecumenical food pantry. Donation envelopes are on the welcome tables or you may mail your donation to the office. Checks should be made payable to: Valatie Ecumenical food pantry.

Outreach and Faith Formation: On March 3rd and 10th at St. John the Baptist and St. James, respectively, a representative of OutReach met with parents of our Faith  Formation children to discuss our OutReach program and its expansion. Initially, this spring, we hope to conduct our Non-Foods Collection scheduled in May at St. John's Parish and at St Joseph's Parish, along with the usual collection at St. James. Also, we plan to look into Facebook for placement of items of furniture donated to OutReach and distributed in northern Columbia County. Both meetings were very fruitful!

In addition to used prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses, the local Lions Club is happy to receive books on tape for their recipients. If you have any to share, please bring them to the Gathering Space at St James.

Calling all gardeners: As you begin planning your spring garden, please consider planting an extra row of vegetables for donation to the food pantries at harvest.

Knitters: During the winter there is need for knitted mittens and scarves to be given to children in local schools and to adults via food pantries. If you would like to share your talents, please call Marilyn Martin at (518) 392-9751. Thank you for your consideration.

OutReach volunteers are needed to provide rides to local appointments (medical, etc.) on call. If you would like to join our team, please call OutReach at (518) 929-4369 to
volunteer.

If you are aware of individuals or families in need of OutReach services, please fill out the brief clipping in this week's bulletin and submit the information to the St. James parish office for forwarding to our OutReach team. Your input is very important and we are highly appreciative of it.

 

Fun Facts:

Did you know....

The following is the "charter" of the Roman Catholic Church: You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.... I will give you keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loosen on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:18-19).