For the ninth year, St. Jude Parish held its annual Service Day Program.
On March 30, more than 100 church members accomplished various projects.
Members organized, assembled and delivered Pantry Packs of food and Need Kits filled with hygiene items to organizations that help hundreds of families and children living in poverty in Eastside communities.
St. Jude’s mission is to bring organizations and volunteers together to help communities experiencing the effects of poverty, loss of employment and abuse. Service Day is just one of three major things the parish is involved in to help these communities.
The service day is overseen by Sister Betty Schumacher and Molly Boll in fundraising.
The first projects included assembling Pantry Packs. Church members assembled bags of food that included products such as soup, dried and canned fruit and more. This year, all Pantry Packs were given to the Lake Washington School District for children living in poverty.
Church members also assembled Need Kits with hygiene products such as shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste and more. The kits were delivered to LWSD, Lifewire and Sophia’s Way.
Other projects included light housekeeping and yard work for clients of Catholic Community Services. In addition, large flower planters were planted at Sophia’s Way in Bellevue.
St. Jude children made thank you posters for the Redmond police and fire departments, as well as small art pieces that were attached to each Pantry Pack.
Sack lunches were assembled and distributed by church members. One-hundred twenty-five sack lunches were made and given to the Safe Parking Program at Lake Washington Methodist Church, Sophia Way, the Together Center as well as to the residents of Camp Unity and Safe Parking at St. Jude.
Hundreds of meal coupons were donated by various fast food restaurants in Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland and Woodinville. The coupons will be used to put on dinners at New Bethlehem Project in Kirkland (dinner for 45 homeless families), Sophia’s Way in Bellevue (lunch for 45 elderly homeless women), Friends of Youth in Redmond (meal coupons for lunch for homeless youths), St. Jude Parish Safe Parking program and Camp Unity in Redmond (dinner for 33 homeless people), the Methodist Church Safe Parking program in Kirkland (dinner for 35 homeless families and children) and the Duvall Food Bank (pizza coupons for families lacking sufficient food).
Ten assisted living communities from Mercer Island to Woodinville donated and packed Hygiene Kits along with St. Jude members. The seniors also made motivational art cards to put into each kit and Pantry Pack.
Various dental clinics in Redmond and Kirkland also donated hundreds of toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss for the hygiene kits. Retail stores in Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland donated gift cards to purchase items for the hygiene kits and pantry packs.
St. Jude Parish members assembled Need Kits with hygiene products at the annual Service Day on March 30. Need Kits were also assembled by elders of 10 assisted living communities. The elderly also donated motivational art cards to put inside each kit. Stephanie Quiroz/staff photo
Church members assembled Pantry Packs that were given to the Lake Washington school District for children living in poverty. Stephanie Quiroz/staff photo
St. Jude Parish members planted flowers and plants for Sophia’s Way in Bellevue. Stephanie Quiroz/staff photo
Hygiene kits were delivered to the Lake Washington School District, Lifewire, and Sophia’s Way. Stephanie Quiroz/ staff photo
Retail stores in Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland donated gift cards to purchase items for the hygiene kits and pantry packs. Stephanie Quiroz/staff photo
St. Jude Parish members assembled Need Kits with hygiene products at the annual Service Day on March 30. Need Kits were also assembled by elders of 10 assisted living communities. The elderly also donated motivational art cards to put inside each kit. Stephanie Quiroz/staff photo
