Holiday Food Collection

For the next 3 weeks we are collecting food to fill our Christmas boxes.  Please bring several items so we will have something for everyone.

Sunday Nov, 28 we need:
Applesauce, Canned Fruit, Canned Corn or beans, canned white or sweet potatoes, peanut butter and jelly

Sunday Dec 05 we need:
Cranberry Sauce, Stuffing mixes, pasta & spaghetti sauce, juice, tea, coffee or cocoa

Sunday Dec 12 we need:
Cereal (hot or cold), instant rice or noodle mixes, mayonnaise or salad dressing, fancy cookies, cake mixes & ready made icing

ShopAholics

For those who love to shop please note the great opportunity to help Social Concerns purchase gifts that don't come in or weren't taken.  See the calendar for date and time.

Call Us

If you are in need of a support group but cannot make the ones held here at St. Joseph, please call the leaders listed on the front of the bulletin.   They have dates, times, locations and phone numbers for other groups in the diocese.

Immigration Alert

Please let anyone you know that has immigration issues or concerns that Catholic Charities offers confidential help on a sliding scale fee.  Contact their Immigration Office at 732-826-9160.

Mission News

Reports are in from two of the missionaries we support.  In Honduras Fr. Emil writes that his building projects continue and that they are building bigger bungalows for the abused mothers and children he serves.  This is the project we support.

Mary, from Bethlehem, Israel wrote that our funds helped them buy hydrotherapy equipment for the severely handicapped children they serve.

To read their letters and see Mary's pictures look at Social Concern's bulletin board.

Giving Tree

Please save your Giving Tree flyer and follow it carefully.   We ask that you take tags only if you can meet the delivery deadline of Dec. 12.  Gifts that are not brought in on time will be purchased with Social Concerns emergency funds.  If you run into last minute problems, call and let us know.

Attention Youth

There are a number of fun holiday projects that are at convenient times for your participation.  Sorting Gifts is a favorite.  Can you imagine what 500 gifts look like?  Would you like to know you helped make Christmas very special for some little boy or girl?  Join us Sunday Dec. 12 at 3:00 or 4:30.  Be sure you register with Ann.

Please Be Patient

With the many Social Concerns holiday projects lots of calls come in as people sign up to volunteer.  It would help if you would leave your name, phone and date of project on our voice mail.  Your call will be returned only if the project is filled.  Thank you for your understanding.

Calls about the Giving Tree will be answered as soon as possible.

Reminder

Remember that Giving Tree gifts are not to be wrapped.  You may use a gift bag or include paper with your gift.  This is done so that gifts can be double checked against our list.  We appreciate your cooperation with this.

Pro Life Reflection

The Choose Life Newspaper recently reported that Oregon now publicly funds drugs for assisted suicide, but cuts off funding for some pain management for terminal and chronic illness.  The effect is chilling.  The state is sending a message to the sick who cannot afford adequate pain control: "We will not help you alleviate pain unless your chosen method to relieve suffering is to die."  How could any of us ever say that to a loved one or any human being?

Action Alerts

To speak out on behalf of the hungry write your senators urging them to approve the president's request for $970 million for debt relief for poor countries.   Reason: heavy debt blocks development in poor countries.  Bill # S.1690.

On behalf of the monarch butterfly your voice is needed to protest the use of genetically engineered Bt corn which paralyzes their digestive systems and they die from hunger.  EDF is asking that while this is studied farmers plant buffer rows of corn.  Write EPA, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.

Pig farms, located in known flood plains, abound in N. Carolina.   During hurricane Floyd their waste and dead carcasses flowed freely through homes, schools and churches causing immense environmental damage.  EPA will develop new standards to see that this never happens again.  Show your support by writing to Chuck Fox, U.S. EPA 401 M. Street, S.W. Washington D.D. 20460.