From: John Manse, Director, North End Soup Kitchen Programs of Catholic Charities of Shiawassee & Genesee Counties, 6/28/2006, wrote:

I cant begin to tell you how much we apprecate the donation of 371 Bags. 

We received 1005 personal need items valued at $2133.75. We also received 1610 food items valued at $1850.00.

Our total value of the items is $3983.75 !! (2615 items)

Our shelves and pantry are again full thanks to St. Francis Parish.  We appreciate this generous donation.    The personal needs lady is so happy and the cooks are smiling again as well. In the end, the poor and needy folks around here will benefit. Because of you, our mission will continue. On behalf of all of us, thank you and your church very very much. 

The Last weekend in June 2006 we delivered a 26 foot u-haul truck of groceries & non-perishable food items to the North-end Soup Kitchen & food programs of the Catholic Charities, in FLINT for people living in poverty.

Thanks to all of you that went shopping, and special thanks to Susan Wawrzaszek for her excellent coordination of this drive & Michelle Eiden & to Chris Mollo for coordinating & driving our U-haul truck.

And, thanks to Rita Kieras who helped us with coordination of the 7th graders and the Confirmation candidates who helped with stapling lists and passing out bags at masses. 

And, thanks to special help from: Ignatius Arokiaraj & family, Josephine Colatruglio, Michelle Eiden, Kelly Gauthier & family, Katie Jackel, Chris Kempton, Robert Klingler, Florence Kruzas, Andrew Nash, Blaine Nash, Matthew Schnaidt, Susan Wawrzaszek, Jean Welch, Ed & Sharon Wright.

St. Francis Parish CANTICLE NEWS August/September 2006:
On the afternoon of June 25th, a diverse and spirited group of about 20 St. Francis parishioners traveled to Flint to deliver the groceries and personal care items donated by the generous people of St. Francis.  The donations were delivered to an operation called the North End Soup Kitchen (NESK).

The NESK, also known as The Fr. John Blasko Center, is one of the programs run by Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties (see http://www.catholiccharitiessg.org for further details).  Every day of the year, this facility servers one hot meal (lunch) free of charge to the homeless, hungry, and/or poor people of the community in which it is located.  Jon Manse (see photo to the right), the coordinator of the facility, stated that the meal served at the NESK is typically the only meal a lot of them eat on any given day.  The meals served at the NESK are prepared by a staff of volunteers.  The NESK has been in operation since 1940.

As a parish family, we donated almost $4000 worth of food and personal care items: 1005 personal care items valued at $2134 and 1610 food items valued at $1850.  The food items will be used to prepare meals, and the personal care items are handed-out on an as-needed, case-by-case basis.  This donation meant a lot to the operation at the NESK.  It really helped to replenish the NESK pantry.  On behalf of the NESK Jon Manse thanks the people of St. Francis for this generous donation!  Thanks also to the 7th graders and the Confirmation candidates who helped with stapling lists to the grocery bags and passing out the bags at the masses.

The NESK was gracious enough to serve us lunch.  The meal consisted of baked chicken, steamed carrots, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a donut.  While it was probably not the tastiest meal most of us have ever had, it was certainly quite good.

To obtain a lot of the food supplies needed to run the NSK, Jon runs his own small version of Food Gatherers.  He has one van that runs around Flint gathering food from restaurants and grocery stores that would otherwise be thrown away.  It was good to hear how some food delivery truck drivers would go out of their way to save food instead of taking the easier option of simply throwing it away.  On the other hand, Jon commented how some stores and delivery truck drivers flatly refused to donate their unwanted food; they rather just throw it way!

Again, thanks to everyone who helped make this a very successful food drive!  The generous donation of your money and/or time is greatly appreciated!  We plan to support the NESK again next summer.

THANK YOU for the Food! 
Last weekend, June 12, 2005, our parish delivered about  700 grocery bags – that’s about 2000 lbs. of non-perishable food items for people with HIV and AIDS living in poverty who are assisted through the Wellness House of Michigan, in Detroit.   Since Wellness House is currently feeding about 500 families (and government financial assistance is on hold) they are in dire need of our help and grateful for the groceries that we donated, which is the only food that they will have through the month of July. 

Thanks to all of you (especially those not named here) who went shopping and/or helped to deliver the groceries: (Special thanks to our project coordinators underlined here.)  Ignatius Arokiaraj, Beverly, Dennis, Caitlin Burke, Sara & Ernesto Figueroa Family, Marty Javornisky, Agnes Jensen, Peter Machado, Berna & Robert Planck, &  Sharon & Ed Wright, Mary Clair Wissman & Scott Wright.  Well done! 
See photos!!

Last year November 2003:  The response from the invited agencies determined that the groceries are given to households here in Washtenaw County.  St. Francis Parish volunteers deliver to many households and some persons choose to pick-up their own bags at St. Francis School Gym.

About 825 bags of groceries were given out.

162 is the TOTAL number of households we served with food/groceries last weekend. And, we delivered groceries to 107 households. While the rest picked-up groceries themselves. 

2003 Coordinator was: Patti Hoffman.  Thanks to all of the persons that signed-up to work on the Food Drive last weekend, especially: Cynthia Carnevale, Alan & Craig & Elaine & Lorraine Cordeiro, Elaine Cosme-Petersen, Carolyn Denton, Leslie Denton, Christine Hays, Claudia Hays, Kimberly Hays, Matthew Hays, Matthew Hays, Victoria & Patricia Hoffman, Marty Javornisky, Agnes Jensen, James Jensen, Charles & Mary Kellermann, Rosaleen Kirk, Robert Klingler, Deborah Kloska, Cecilia Miller, Deanna Newman, Mark Oberdoerster, Christophe Sandouno, Ashish Sarkar, Jay Sarkar, Charles Satarino, Colleen Satarino, Ann Scott, Seha Son, Dorothy Spencer, Molly Stamos, Nicholas Stamos, Barry Wissman, Grace Wissman, Jack Wissman, Kathryn Wissman, Mary Wissman, Edward Wright, Sharon Wright, & Rita Zyber. 

Here are some statistics:  (As of today, November 17, 2003) 
-- About 825 bags of groceries were given out.
-- 21 household representatives Picked-Up on Sunday. 
-- 107 households to whom we Delivered on Sunday. 
-- For the sake of about 34 households - 3 agency representatives Picked-Up at 845AM Monday. 
    --- HOPE Clinic 4 households; 
    --- CSTS - Ellsworth, about 20 households; 
    --- Neighborhood Senior Services, about 10 households. 
-- 162 TOTAL number of households served with food/groceries.

   --- 8 of the household representatives did not show up to get food. 
-- 170 is the total number of Households that were actually identified for the program by the agencies. 
------------------ 
Before the drive, (over the phone with the agency representatives) we committed to provide & deliver food/groceries 180 households, as the total number. 
Of these 180 total households 
------  (Note "CSTS" = Community Support & Treatment Services) 
15 to  CSTS, Developmental Disabilities, Varsity, Ann Arbor. 
20 to  CSTS, Ellsworth, Ann Arbor.
20 to  CSTS,  TOWNER, Ypsilanti. 
15 to  CSTS,  Huron Valley Child Guidance Clinic (HVCGC), Ann Arbor. 
10 to  Catholic Social Services @ North-Side Community Center 
25 to  SOS Community Services 
50 to  Community Action Network 
20 to  Hope Clinic, Inc. 
 5 to   Washtenaw Regional Dialysis 
------------------------------------------- 

From: John Manse, Director, North End Soup Kitchen Programs of Catholic Charities of Shiawassee & Genesee Counties, 6/28/2006, wrote:

I cant begin to tell you how much we apprecate the donation of 371 Bags. 

We received 1005 personal need items valued at $2133.75. We also received 1610 food items valued at $1850.00.

Our total value of the items is $3983.75 !! (2615 items)

Our shelves and pantry are again full thanks to St. Francis Parish.  We appreciate this generous donation.    The personal needs lady is so happy and the cooks are smiling again as well. In the end, the poor and needy folks around here will benefit. Because of you, our mission will continue. On behalf of all of us, thank you and your church very very much. 

The Last weekend in June 2006 we delivered a 26 foot u-haul truck of groceries & non-perishable food items to the North-end Soup Kitchen & food programs of the Catholic Charities, in FLINT for people living in poverty.

Thanks to all of you that went shopping, and special thanks to Susan Wawrzaszek for her excellent coordination of this drive & Michelle Eiden & to Chris Mollo for coordinating & driving our U-haul truck.

And, thanks to Rita Kieras who helped us with coordination of the 7th graders and the Confirmation candidates who helped with stapling lists and passing out bags at masses. 

And, thanks to special help from: Ignatius Arokiaraj & family, Josephine Colatruglio, Michelle Eiden, Kelly Gauthier & family, Katie Jackel, Chris Kempton, Robert Klingler, Florence Kruzas, Andrew Nash, Blaine Nash, Matthew Schnaidt, Susan Wawrzaszek, Jean Welch, Ed & Sharon Wright.

St. Francis Parish CANTICLE NEWS August/September 2006:
On the afternoon of June 25th, a diverse and spirited group of about 20 St. Francis parishioners traveled to Flint to deliver the groceries and personal care items donated by the generous people of St. Francis.  The donations were delivered to an operation called the North End Soup Kitchen (NESK).

The NESK, also known as The Fr. John Blasko Center, is one of the programs run by Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties (see http://www.catholiccharitiessg.org for further details).  Every day of the year, this facility servers one hot meal (lunch) free of charge to the homeless, hungry, and/or poor people of the community in which it is located.  Jon Manse (see photo to the right), the coordinator of the facility, stated that the meal served at the NESK is typically the only meal a lot of them eat on any given day.  The meals served at the NESK are prepared by a staff of volunteers.  The NESK has been in operation since 1940.

As a parish family, we donated almost $4000 worth of food and personal care items: 1005 personal care items valued at $2134 and 1610 food items valued at $1850.  The food items will be used to prepare meals, and the personal care items are handed-out on an as-needed, case-by-case basis.  This donation meant a lot to the operation at the NESK.  It really helped to replenish the NESK pantry.  On behalf of the NESK Jon Manse thanks the people of St. Francis for this generous donation!  Thanks also to the 7th graders and the Confirmation candidates who helped with stapling lists to the grocery bags and passing out the bags at the masses.

The NESK was gracious enough to serve us lunch.  The meal consisted of baked chicken, steamed carrots, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a donut.  While it was probably not the tastiest meal most of us have ever had, it was certainly quite good.

To obtain a lot of the food supplies needed to run the NSK, Jon runs his own small version of Food Gatherers.  He has one van that runs around Flint gathering food from restaurants and grocery stores that would otherwise be thrown away.  It was good to hear how some food delivery truck drivers would go out of their way to save food instead of taking the easier option of simply throwing it away.  On the other hand, Jon commented how some stores and delivery truck drivers flatly refused to donate their unwanted food; they rather just throw it way!

Again, thanks to everyone who helped make this a very successful food drive!  The generous donation of your money and/or time is greatly appreciated!  We plan to support the NESK again next summer.

THANK YOU for the Food! 
Last weekend, June 12, 2005, our parish delivered about  700 grocery bags – that’s about 2000 lbs. of non-perishable food items for people with HIV and AIDS living in poverty who are assisted through the Wellness House of Michigan, in Detroit.   Since Wellness House is currently feeding about 500 families (and government financial assistance is on hold) they are in dire need of our help and grateful for the groceries that we donated, which is the only food that they will have through the month of July. 

Thanks to all of you (especially those not named here) who went shopping and/or helped to deliver the groceries: (Special thanks to our project coordinators underlined here.)  Ignatius Arokiaraj, Beverly, Dennis, Caitlin Burke, Sara & Ernesto Figueroa Family, Marty Javornisky, Agnes Jensen, Peter Machado, Berna & Robert Planck, &  Sharon & Ed Wright, Mary Clair Wissman & Scott Wright.  Well done! 
See photos!!

Last year November 2003:  The response from the invited agencies determined that the groceries are given to households here in Washtenaw County.  St. Francis Parish volunteers deliver to many households and some persons choose to pick-up their own bags at St. Francis School Gym.

About 825 bags of groceries were given out.

162 is the TOTAL number of households we served with food/groceries last weekend. And, we delivered groceries to 107 households. While the rest picked-up groceries themselves. 

2003 Coordinator was: Patti Hoffman.  Thanks to all of the persons that signed-up to work on the Food Drive last weekend, especially: Cynthia Carnevale, Alan & Craig & Elaine & Lorraine Cordeiro, Elaine Cosme-Petersen, Carolyn Denton, Leslie Denton, Christine Hays, Claudia Hays, Kimberly Hays, Matthew Hays, Matthew Hays, Victoria & Patricia Hoffman, Marty Javornisky, Agnes Jensen, James Jensen, Charles & Mary Kellermann, Rosaleen Kirk, Robert Klingler, Deborah Kloska, Cecilia Miller, Deanna Newman, Mark Oberdoerster, Christophe Sandouno, Ashish Sarkar, Jay Sarkar, Charles Satarino, Colleen Satarino, Ann Scott, Seha Son, Dorothy Spencer, Molly Stamos, Nicholas Stamos, Barry Wissman, Grace Wissman, Jack Wissman, Kathryn Wissman, Mary Wissman, Edward Wright, Sharon Wright, & Rita Zyber. 

Here are some statistics:  (As of today, November 17, 2003) 
-- About 825 bags of groceries were given out.
-- 21 household representatives Picked-Up on Sunday. 
-- 107 households to whom we Delivered on Sunday. 
-- For the sake of about 34 households - 3 agency representatives Picked-Up at 845AM Monday. 
    --- HOPE Clinic 4 households;
    --- CSTS - Ellsworth, about 20 households; 
    --- Neighborhood Senior Services, about 10 households. 
-- 162 TOTAL number of households served with food/groceries.

   --- 8 of the household representatives did not show up to get food. 
-- 170 is the total number of Households that were actually identified for the program by the agencies. 
------------------ 
Before the drive, (over the phone with the agency representatives) we committed to provide & deliver food/groceries 180 households, as the total number. 
Of these 180 total households 
------  (Note "CSTS" = Community Support & Treatment Services) 
15 to  CSTS, Developmental Disabilities, Varsity, Ann Arbor. 
20 to  CSTS, Ellsworth, Ann Arbor. 
20 to  CSTS,  TOWNER, Ypsilanti. 
15 to  CSTS,  Huron Valley Child Guidance Clinic (HVCGC), Ann Arbor. 
10 to  Catholic Social Services @ North-Side Community Center 
25 to  SOS Community Services 
50 to  Community Action Network 
20 to  Hope Clinic, Inc. 
 5 to   Washtenaw Regional Dialysis 
-------------------------------------------