As a committee, our overall goal is to create a variety of opportunities which will
motivate Olivetians to participate in community outreach activities – be it through
volunteering, in-kind donations or monetary contributions.
GIFTS OF HOPE - In December, Olivetian’s eagerly
plucked names from a miniature tree and returned with Christmas gifts destined for
families served by the Gifts of Hope Project organized by Keystone Community Services.
Each child in a family received both a clothing and toy gift. Each family also
received both a functional and a fun gift. Many requests were for warm winter
clothing and Olivetians were very willing to answer the need.
CHRISTMAS FUND - The Christmas Fund Offering (formerly Veterans of the Cross), one of four Special Mission Offerings of the United Church of Christ (UCC), is an important way of sharing our joy at God's renewing and life-giving grace. The Offering, which is administered by the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance of the Pension Boards on behalf of the UCC, is an expression of joy and gratitude to, and for, those who serve the church. Gifts to the Christmas Fund help provide pension and health premium supplementation to low-income retirees, emergency assistance to the families of clergy and lay employees and Christmas Gift checks to hundreds of annuitants.
TRADITION - Continuing the tradition begun by Harvey Heffron, the members of the Community Works committee will be organizing volunteer opportunities during the coming holiday season. Families from the Department of Indian Works will receive food for a Thanksgiving meal. Groceries will be delivered to The Little Sisters of the Poor for their holiday community meals. Through the Keystone Community Services, isolated seniors and families in need will receive gifts. Much of this outreach is funded by your donation to the "Harvey Fund." To make a contribution, please mark a small manila envelope found in the pews with the words "Harvey Fund" and drop it in the offertory plate. Thanks.
Project Home
Olivetian’s staffed evening and overnight shifts at Project Home sites hosted by
St. Paul’s on the Hill church in March and the House of Hope Presbyterian church in October.
Members played with children, served food, and visited with the guests staying in the shelter.
Funds were given to provide food, diapers, and other needed supplies.
The Family Place. During four weekends, Olivetian’s gathered in the
kitchen at the St. Paul First Baptist Church to serve dinners to guests staying at The Family
Place center. The Family Place partners with Project Home to provide a safe place for homeless
families to stay during the day, keeping them off the streets, as Project Home is an overnight
shelter only.
Interfaith Builders. During the summer, we continued our involvement
with Interfaith Builders, an alliance of church and synagogues in the Summit Avenue area
tha works with Habitat for Humanity to construct affordable housing.The project this year was
completing the finishing work on a six-plex townhouse located in a Woodbury development.
$4,000 from the benevolence fund, created when the Olivet kitchen was remodeled, was donated
towards this activity. 22 Olivetian’s worked on the home or donated food to feed
lunch to the volunteers at the construction site.
Tools for Schools. Through the "School Tools" drive,
Olivetian’s donated office items to ensure St. Paul school children had the
essential supplies to begin the school year. The bulging bags delivered to the
St. Paul Council of Churches site included backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and
calculators. These donations were distributed to area programs that serve school
children of all ages.
Thanksgiving tradition. Following the excellent Thanksgiving tradition
begun by Harvey Heffron, members of the Youth Group and Community Works Committee
gathered at the Midway Rainbow grocery store to fill the shopping lists of twenty
families identified by the Department of Indian Works. Over 120 bags of food were
delivered to ensure delicious holiday meals. A large shipment of ham, turkey, and dinner
ingredients was also delivered to The Little Sisters of the Poor for the dinner
they provide for those in need.
Keystone Community Services. Partnering with the Keystone
Community Services, ten gift boxes were assembled by committee members and
later delivered by congregation members to isolated senior citizens. Each of
the boxes included items such as greeting cards and stamps; wall calendar with
large numbers; fleece throw blanket; small frying pan; soap; hand lotion; hot pad;
instant coffee; apples and oranges; and a small box of chocolates.
Keystone Community Food Shelf. Throughout the year, Olivetian’s
left food donations in the pantry grocery cart and several deliveries were made
to the Keystone Community Food Shelf located on University Avenue in St. Paul.
In March a food drive resulted in monetary contribution of $1525 and 128 pounds
of food being sent to the food shelf.
Other Organizations supported through financial contributions in 2006 included: