Community Outreach
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Our Lady Help of Christians Community Outreach Committee is responsible for providing aid and comfort to the needy and homeless in the Waldorf area in the following ways:Annual Coat Drive – conducts a collection of new and used children and adult coats, scarves, gloves and boots which are then distributed thru the Children’s Aid Society and Catholic Charities
Holiday Baskets – during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons holiday baskets are distributed to fifty needy families in the local area. Certain items are donated by the parishioners while the majority of canned goods and other non-perishable items are purchased at the local supermarkets. Perishable items are purchased thru SHARE and vary with each holiday. All baskets are delivered to the requestors by parish volunteers. For more information on volunteering follow this link: Holiday Food Baskets
Sharing Sunday – conducted the first weekend of each month at all Masses where parishioners donate non-perishable food items and toiletries. The food items are distributed to the local food pantries and the toiletries are donated to Angel’s Watch shelter for abused women and children.
Christmas in April – a Charles County wide endeavor conducted the last Saturday of April each year. No more than twenty houses are selected, by a committee, to be refurbished by both skilled and non-skilled individuals of various disciplines in order to upgrade the residence to a livable domicile. The parish provides between 90-120 volunteers each year along with a substantial donation provided by the parishioners. For more information on volunteering follow this link: Christmas in April
Safe Nights – a program sponsored by a private county organization which provides shelter for the homeless at specific locations between October and April for a time period of one week, The committee partners-up with a non-Catholic denomination and provides breakfast and dinner along with a snack bag at various times during the week. In addition, volunteers provide home laundry service for the washing of bed linen and towels.
The Outreach Committee meets every 1st Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
Please contact the office at 301-645-7112 for further information or assistance.
Outreach News:- Wednesday, August 28, the Outreach Committee met at The Angel’s Watch Family Shelter to make dinner for the residents. Dolores Cacciaglia, Debbie Shuck-Reynolds, Renee White, Leandra Roscoe, Linda Potter, John Van Blarcom Joan Etbauer and Joan Dulcey prepared baked chicken, mac and cheese, mixed vegetables, salad and fruit salad for the current residents of the Family Shelter. There was enough food for lunch the next day as well. All the food was donated by those who prepared the meal.
- Outreach also provides dinner for the shelter every third Sunday of the month. We welcome prepared casseroles as well as fresh fruit and pudding cups for this meal. Please contact, Dolores Cacciaglia (240-682-2715) to contribute towards this meal.
- We will be having the annual coat drive again very soon. Please look out for bargains for new winter coats, hats and gloves. We also take used children’s coats as long as they are clean and in good condition. They will be brought to the Children’s aid Society for distribution. There will be a box outside the office for these.
- We thank all who continue to donate canned goods for sharing. Please Do Not leave items that need to be refrigerated, only canned goods, dry cereal, rice and pasta. Please be sure that they are not out of date.
- The Family Shelter also was very grateful for all the sanitary supplies as well as diapers, toothpaste, and other toiletries that you so generously supplied, during May and June.
- The other big event we have coming up is The Thanksgiving Meal for 50 families in need. We will supply a turkey breast and a gift card for the fixins for Thanksgiving. We ask all to continue with your generosity by donating money towards this cause. Please put your donation in an envelope marked for “Outreach/ Thanksgiving baskets” in the collection box in the Narthex. The Sunday before Thanksgiving we will also be asking help in distributing these to the families after the 8:30 Mass.
The Outreach committee will meet the first Wednesday in September and November at 7 PM in room 103. All are welcome. Even. If you cannot join our meetings we need your help periodically during the year, especially with donations for our activities to help those both in our parish and in our community.
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