“If we wish to give satisfaction to our good God, we must not stop to consider what we would like to do, but rather what He wishes us to do. Our Lord will know where to find you when He intends to give you other work to do.”
-St. Louise de Marillac-
Each year, throughout the school year, our school serves many families and individuals in need who live within mere miles of us. And we are found by them. Sometimes it starts with a simple phone call, an offhand mention in the lobby, or a note that finds its way to our door. These are our calls to service.
September: Holy Family Institute
Holy Family Institute, just off the parkway in Edgewood, requested clothing donations for back to school. They happily received our clothing donations, and were exceptionally touched that someone included several bags of brand new underwear. Apparently underwear is always in short supply for the kids, especially young pre-teens, and teenagers. One of Holy Family’s volunteers mentioned that she will actually take used underwear from the bags carefully wash and press them to give to those school kids in need. This conversation led to another subject, that food stamps do not cover feminine products. Well, that call was quickly answered by STL moms and now they have a walk in closet full of products for the moms and daughters who rely on the Holy Family Institute.
October: St. Paul’s Food bank
The need of the families in Pittsburgh is unpredictable, and the leaders of St. Paul’s Food Bank work very hard to meet their needs. In order to assist them with the purchase of food items, our students hosted a Dress Down Day on Halloween, and collected $1,192.40. This donation will go directly toward the purchase of food to help these families in the Pittsburgh area.
November: Mooncrest
Just a few miles past the lights and shopping bustle of Robinson Town Center is a neighborhood of families who have come to rely on St. Louise for Thanksgiving dinner. The Junior High students are leading the collection, sorting, and organizing of hundreds of food products to provide families with a complete Thanksgiving Dinner; and to have enough food to help to feed the families for a month. Eight years ago, the students fed 10 families. This year we were able to help 25 families. The food boxes were delivered by a group of eighth grade students on Monday, November 21, 2011.
December: The homeless of Pittsburgh
Every Monday evening, a group of volunteers goes into the city of Pittsburgh to help the homeless. They provide food, clothing, shoes, blankets, and toiletry items to anyone that is in need. During the Christmas season, there is a two week period of time when the assistance that is available to help the homeless of Pittsburgh is minimal. The leader of the Blanket Monday group will offer presents and paper McDonald’s gift certificates to the homeless so that they may have a hot meal during this period of time. We will be collecting paper McDonald’s paper Gift Certificates to assist with the Blanket Monday mission that is held in the city. We will also be collecting toys for the children whose families are participants in the program.
January: Holy Family Institute and St. Louise Angel Fund
We will be collecting gently used winter coats to help the children of the Holy Family Institute. We will also be hosting our annual Pancake Breakfast to help to build the Angel Fund at St. Louise. *We will also be starting “ST. LOUISE’S TABLE” in January….more information to follow!
February: Lovewalk
Imagine a young, single girl that has decided to choose life. She has so many needs for herself and her child. The leaders of St. Rosalia’s provide classes and practical items for the parents. In order to assist with this worthwhile organization located in Pittsburgh, we will begin our Lovewalk Collection. We will be collecting diapers, wipes, and formula to help the participants of St. Rosalia’s. All families of St. Louise are encouraged to participate in the Lovewalk for the Poor on Sunday, February 12, 2012.
March: SHIM and Catholic Charities
St. Louise parish assists the organizers of SHIM (South Hills Interfaith Ministry) and Catholic Charities by helping to provide items that are needed to assist the refugees that are housed at Alvernia Gardens. There will be more details to follow once we have a list of items that are needed.
April: Heart and Sole
Each year, about 45 minutes away, in Greene County, there are many school children that literally face the challenge of finding shoes for school. Sister Audrey Quinn and Sister Sue Fazzini have made it their mission to collect new shoes for the children that they assist in that area. For the past eight years we have tried to help them with their mission. We collect new shoes for them to distribute to the many children of Greene County…children that live within an hour of St. Louise. We will have our annual collection of shoes, sneakers, and backpacks to assist the Heart and Sole organization that provides shoes to children so that they may attend school.
“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”
–Mother Teresa
