Saint Mary of Sorrows

HYPOTHERMIA RESPONSE MINISTRY

February 28 - March 6, 2010

Offering Hospitality to Our Homeless Neighbor

 

 “The Fruit of Love Is Service”  Mother Teresa

During the week of February 28 to March 6, St. Mary’s will offer the warmth of shelter, food, and fellowship to some of our most vulnerable Northern Virginia neighbors. For the past four winters we have been blessed to serve in this ministry.  This year we will be joined by parishioners from Burke Presbyterian Church, St. George’s United Methodist Church, and St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel in serving our guests at St. Mary’s.

 

DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Jan  23-24           Sign up in Farrell Hall and the Historic

                           Church for service.

Feb  8                    Volunteer Orientation in Farrell Hall                               (7 p.m. – 9 p.m.)

Feb 13-14            Brown Bag Sunday collection

 

You are welcome to visit the following Hypothermia shelters prior to our ministry:

Feb  7- 13           Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Fairfax                                St. Stephen’s UMC, Burke

Feb  14-20           St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Springfield                 Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fairfax

Feb  21-27           Unitarian Universalist Church, Oakton                             St. Matthew’s UMC, Fairfax

 

“For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat;

I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink;

I was a stranger, and you invited me in.”  MATTHEW 25

 

 

In partnership with faith communities, Fairfax County and FACETS have been offering the 2009-2010 Hypothermia Prevention Program since November 22, 2009. St. Mary of Sorrows is one of twenty-seven faith communities hosting the overflow of guests in their churches.  To learn more about this program, please contact FACETS Hypothermia Prevention Program Coordinator: Barbara Tate (703) 865-5090 or btate@facetscares.org.

 

Please sign up in Farrell Hall and the Historic Church on Jan  23-24 or contact the parishioners listed below to find out how you can volunteer. Some of the opportunities to serve are:

 

·         Pray for our guests and this ministry.

·        Contribute to the Brown Bag Sunday collection on Feb 13-14.

·         Contribute baked goods for desserts and breakfast.

·         Volunteer overnight or for a 2-4 hour shift.

o        Register guests; distribute sleeping gear.

o        Serve dinner or breakfast meals.

o        Prepare light breakfast and snacks.

o        Participate in evening activities.

o        Assist with safety and security.

o        Serve as a van rider in transportation of guests.

o        Assist guests for departure and clean church areas used for the shelter.

·         Group opportunities

o        Prepare evening meal for St. Mary’s guests.

o        Help set up church for shelter on Feb 28.

o        Help with final clean up on Mar 7.

·         Make a financial donation.  (Please make check payable to St. Mary of Sorrows with “Hypothermia” in the memo and give to the receptionist.).

 

BROWN BAG SUNDAY

Feb 13-14

 

In addition to food for the St. Mary’s pantry, we are collecting the following items for the Hypothermia Response Ministry.  Please label your brown bag “Shelter Donations”.

 

       Heavy paper plates      Nutritious snacks    Small paper plates       Hot chocolate

       Hot/cold cups (8 oz)    Bottled water            Plastic cutlery             Powdered drinks

       Napkins                      Ground decaf coffee Toothbrushes              Disposable razors

       Travel size:  Soap, shaving cream, toothpaste

To volunteer or for more information please contact Bill Forster:  wforster1@cox.net or (703) 591-2377,

Marjorie Weeda:  mweeda@aol.com or  (703) 250-4473, Marlene Atkinson:  mma608@gmail.com or (703) 323-1433,

Carolyn LaRosa: c.a.larosa@mac.com (703) 618-9907, or

Fred Burgess (Safety & Security) Fredman26@aol.com (703) 425-7483

 

Or call Team Leaders for:

Sunday (Feb  28)                    Jack Finnerty:  jjfinnerty@verizon.net or (703) 591-7422

               Wednesday (Mar  3)               John Enzmann:  jenzmann@comcast.net or (703) 590-8492

Thursday  (Mar  4)                  Craig Koszycki:  craigkoszycki@carfax.com or (703) 278-1018

Friday  (Mar  5)                       Joe Fleming: jgflemingdds@verizon.net or (703) 591-7713

Saturday  (Mar  6)                   Colleen Woodard: cwoodard@fed-tech.com  or (703) 321-0984

 

                                Please note:  Burke Presbyterian Church volunteers will host the shelter at St. Mary’s on Mar  1 and  2.