Social Action

The St. Mary Social Action Committee is available to help families and individuals that are parishioners or live within the Hudson City School District in times of need with food, clothing, and furnishings.  For information on how to contribute, or with requests for needs, please contact the Parish Office at 330.653.8118, x221.

 

Saint Joseph Parenting Center

 

SAINT JOSEPH PARENTING CENTER in AKRON is looking for some dedicated volunteers.  Saint Joseph Parenting Center is a non-profit education facility focusing on the prevention of child abuse and neglect of area children.  It is the only education center in Summit County dedicated solely to parenting education of both mothers and fathers.  We are in need of volunteers to work as receptionist, organize our food bank and to teach classes.  We are always looking for men to mentor and teach our fathers.  No previous experience is necessary.  If you feel this ministry may interest you, please contact the Director of Volunteer Services, at 330.252.0647.

 

ST. MARY CHURCH HUNGER GROUP

The Hunger Group of St. Mary’s has been active since 1988.  We began by collecting non-perishable food items and donating them to area hunger shelters, as well as families in our own community of Hudson. 

We also began to volunteer to help St. Bernard’s Parish in their ministry of providing a bagged lunch each day to inner city Akron residents.  Our parish provides the sandwiches and deserts on one Saturday of each month.  We also have volunteers from our parish who work at the center to distribute the lunches.

 

St. Bernard’s Hunger Program

Our group meets once every month to make sandwiches which are distributed on the day

St. Mary’s has committed to feed the visitors that come to the St. Bernard’s Hunger Center in downtown Akron. (Sandwiches are made at St. Mary’s kitchen.)

We also have parishioners that make deserts in their own home for use on this day. Besides sandwiches and desert, the visitors also receive a piece of fruit, a bottle of juice, and a cup of coffee.

If you would like to join in this ministry, your help can be used in the following ways:

  • Join in making sandwiches
  • Have your family supply deserts
  • Contribute fresh fruit, juice, or some other treat of your choice.
  • Contribute a monetary donation to help with the purchase of sandwich supplies.

St. Mary’s Food Collection

FOOD PANTRIES and SOCIAL ACTION folks are always happy to receive donations of non-perishable food.  That food often makes it possible for a family to eat on a given day or to have money to use for medication or utility bills.  So we urge parishioners to donate dry staples, canned goods, spaghetti, peanut butter, juices, and the like.  Next time you are shopping, make use of the buy-one, get-one-free offers, and donate a bag of useful items. The bin for such donations is now located in the brown narthex. 

This ongoing collection of groceries helps those in need in our parish and the following food pantries:

  • Cuyahoga Falls Good Neighbors
  • The Emergency Hunger Center of Macedonia
  • Saint Bernard’s Food Pantry

You can leave your non-perishable donations anytime at the office or in the large container in the brown narthex.  But there are some donations that are not helpful.  Occasionally potatoes or raw eggs are left there. That sort of “help” aids no one.  We don’t pass on to people who are already struggling, foods that could be tainted and are certainly old.  We don’t give them opened packages, half-used spices, or other leftovers.  Please remember dignity.  People who are in need deserve respect, benefit from safe food and paper products and cleaning supplies to help them over a hump or through a difficult time.

 

For more information call JoEllen Collier at 330.650.2739