Charities
&
St. John Neumann's
Continued Growth in Stewardship

“Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me”, MT. 25:40

The following information is being provided to St. John Neumann parishioners as we continue to grow in our awareness of what it means to be stewards of God’s blessings. We hope to raise $25,000 in our 25^th anniversary celebrations to direct to the poor and needy.  The upcoming Ice Cream Social on August 18^th will be free of charge. There will be an opportunity at the social (and at other 25^th Anniversary celebrations this year) to direct monies to one of the charities listed below. We hope that the information provided will help guide you and your family.

Our Lady of The Wayside

Our Lady of The Wayside has been experiencing tremendous growth that is enabling the lives of the physically and mentally challenged children and adults entrusted to their care. Their mission, "To make life the best it can be for our residents”, is being realized because of the great response they receive from caring individuals in the community.

Founded in 1967, OLW was a pioneer in the residential approach to providing care for individuals with mental and physical challenges. The Wayside owns and operates three large homes in Avon, Ohio and provides services in supported living homes in Lorain and Cuyahoga counties. These facilities are home to approximately 100 children and adults with a wide range of mental and physical challenges. The original residence, Wayside Children’s Home, opened in 1971. The Croft Home, established in 1975, is a residence for semi-independent men and women. Guadalupe House, adjacent to the Children’s Home, opened in 1983 and is home to adults with multiple disabilities.

At OLW, the concentration is on abilities – focused through a variety of programs that include aquatic, music, occupational, physical, and speech therapy, as well as educational and occupational opportunities. The Wayside also provides services in cooperation Cuyahoga and Lorain County Boards of Mental retardation and Developmental Disabilities at supported living homes in residential neighborhoods. In addition, The Wayside offers adjunct services within the surrounding communities. These include transportation, respite care, personal care, and daily living assistance. The Wayside is a non-profit, non-denominational agency and has 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service.

Our Lady Of The Wayside also facilitates communication between families interested in residential services. Those at Our Lady of The Wayside strive to go far beyond mandated services to provide quality, meaningful programs that enhance the lives of those they serve. Love, faith, courage, and conviction are the essence of the driving force at work at Our Lady of The Wayside.

St. Boniface

Sister Dianne Skubby

“Dear Fr. Kraig, and Parishioners of St. John Neumann,

Thank you for all your care and help in the past, especially with regard to food, monetary donations, and Christmas presents for needy children. We are most grateful and appreciative.

Congratulations on the 25^th anniversary of the founding of your parish. You really are an excellent example of what “being church” is all about. You show us what it means to “grow together in Christ.” Your Christian lifestyle strengthens the faith of all of us. Thank you.

What do we do with the food donations and monetary contributions? Our volunteers, most of whom are poor, needy, and often in difficult situations themselves, pack and deliver food to approximately 90 to 100 families a month. Without your help, many folks in the neighborhood would go hungry. Our SVDP Conference helps with medicine bills, heating and electric bills, essential home appliances, and any emergency needs that may surface.”

Sister Dianne’s letter goes on to provide examples of the situations they work with and work that they do.

Sister Dianne reflects: “…The husband goes to work every day with tooth aches, but no money to see a dentist. The wife, who cannot work because of physical disabilities, volunteers in all the projects of St. Boniface Food Programs… This couple also provides a bed and some shelter for a homeless person. (A “today” example of giving out of your need!) Our SVDP helps where we can, but funds usually run out before the needs are covered. Any help you could give to this couple who give so much of themselves to help others, would be appreciated.”

Person: “My husband and I were married for 34 years before he died. We had a lot of tough times, but who doesn’t? You learn to be ingenious in your times of need. You learn to feed your family on a little bit of money – but enough for them to eat (i.e., spaghetti – sticks to the bones, but economical) homemade soup, bread from scratch, etc. You also learn to make clothes from scratch – whether it’s taking apart an old dress and making something for my daughter or sewing a dress from material a friend gave to me. We do survive!” Here, Pat’s story is condensed but begins with a house fire, molestation of a child by a neighbor, mugging of the husband involving serious injury, a second robbing at gunpoint involving the wife as a bank teller, and sadly, the death of the husband to cancer in early 1999. (The last four events occurred over a small four year time frame) Sister Dianne comments, “I am sending a note written to me by Pat, a very dedicated parishioner at St. Boniface, who is in need of financial help. She volunteers in our programs, and is an active member of groups such as Bible Study, Mission Circle, and prayer groups. She really does need help – and as I see it, deserves it. Anything you can do to help Pat will be deeply appreciated.”

Sister Dianne concludes her letter by saying, “I want to assure you that I made no promise to any of the people whose stories I am sending. If some help is realized, we will be most grateful. We trust that you do wonderful ministries, and that you make wise decisions after much prayerful considerations. God bless you, and all the parishioners of St. John Neumann.” Sincerely, Sister Dianne Skubby, CPPS

The situations described are only a small sample of the total range of needs that your contributions can help satisfy.

Feed The Poor –  St. Vincent De Paul

When you contribute to Feed The Poor (envelopes included with the weekly envelopes packet), your contributions are directed to St. Vincent De Paul. St. Vincent De Paul acts as a central collection and distribution point serving a large number of parishes. Larry Timony, coordinator of St. Vincent De Paul writes, “Never has the need been so great in our own parish. Corporate downsizing at LTV and American Greetings, and closings at DIY Warehouse and the paging companies have create many families in need of the basic necessities … food, clothing, electric, and gas. They also need direction as to what they must do to help themselves recover, and yet maintain their dignity

The people of St. John Neumann have helped many individuals and families through monthly donations to Feed The Poor, support of blanket Sunday, Bundle Sunday, the School Supply Drive, and food collections sponsored by Social Concerns. Attendance at the Lenten Fish Fries and willingness to work at this event has increased every year.

The following is a brief introduction and sample of some of SVDP’s work:

La Sagrada Familia, San Juan Bautista  – Fr. David Fallon writes, “Thank you, thank you, thank you dear people of  St. John Neumann. We serve 300 families per month. Your funds are used for baby formula, basic food and clothing, utilities, and medicine for those not on a program.”

Martin d’ Porbes Center – They spend $1800 per month to help 330 people ($5.45 per person) by supplying items that other agencies do not provide. Frequent supplies provided are baby items, formula, beds and bedding, much of which comes from donations aiding in the low cost per person served.

St. Augustine – They serve 125 breakfasts a day, 280 delivered meals per day, and over 13,000 meals per month. The average cost per meal is an amazing $1.50. “Thank you, St. John” –Fr. Joe McNulty

St. Catherine – They have two uses for funds obtained from St. John Neumann: The Hot Meal program provides 100 meals on the last Sunday of every month. The Pantry program provides 250 bags of food per month, again, at an amazingly low cost ($1.66). St. Catherine’s food cost is $5,500 per month.

St. George – St. John Neumann funds go to stocking their Pantry. The Pantry program provides bagged meals to those in need. From June of 2000 to May of this year, St. George delivered 4,824 meals. (Cost of $1.33 per meal) Fr. Bacevice states, “Thank you for your support. Without your donations, many would go hungry.”

St. Paul Shrine – They serve 740 hot meals per month. Sr. Mary Reanne Coyne comments that, “most go back for seconds – these people are hungry! The last cost per meal was 50¢ as much food was donated. We thank you for your generosity.”

St. Ignatius – Floyd and Jean Olson provided the following snapshot. “We have a Hunger Center with fresh food only for the needy that must register with us – we give an I.D.! We limit what we give to one large box of food to feed a family of four for a month. Families served – 150 to 175 per month. The value of a box with frozen meat, eggs, and staples is $125 to $200. Most of the food is given to us – some at low prices. We have 40 freezers in the church basement! St. John Neumann funds are use to buy low-cost food that the government does not offer and to assist in utility payments for the poor.

St. Philip Neri – St John Neumann funds are used to purchase food to support the Hot Meals program serving meals on Wednesdays and second, third, and last Sunday of the month. On average, 120 people partake at each hot meal. There is also a Pantry program that distributes roughly 500 bags of food every month to those that prove their need.

In addition to funds being distributed to various parish communities, SVDP works with Needy Conferences. The following three examples provide insight into the work being done by these groups.

St. Agnes – Our Lady of Fatima – Monies donated go towards two hunger programs: (1) 180 people receive a hot meal each Tuesday, and (2) the Pantry program serves roughly 200 elderly and needy families each month. The money is also currently being used to sponsor 40 refugees from Sudan coming to Cleveland

Bishop Cosgrove Center – Monies are used to purchase food to support the program to feed 200 to 300 people twice a day. They also purchase hygiene products for 11,000 to 15,000 people per year as well as basic items like sox and underwear.

St. Timothy – Monies are used for rent payments, utilities and food for 15 to 20 needy families each month.

Make-A-Wish Foundation: A Celebration of Hope 

What does Make-A-Wish Foundation do? The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the very special wishes of children, between the ages of 2 ½ and 18, who have been diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses.  Financial need or status of the family is not considered when qualifying a child. 

How does the foundation learn about children who are sick? Volunteers form wish teams that coordinate the wish. During the initial telephone contact with a family, a Make-A-Wish representative explains the purpose of the organization and medical eligibility requirements. After his or her attending physician determines a child’s medical eligibility, a volunteer wish team is assigned to the child. The team visits with the child and family to determine the child’s wish. The wish team presents the request to the chapter board of directors for approval. When the request receives approval, the wish team goes to work creating the Make-A-Wish magic.

Are there restrictions on the wish? Usually, the wish is limited only by the child’s imagination. However, Make-A-Wish follows both national and local policies and guidelines in granting a wish. They also work with the child’s physician to determine if the wish can be fulfilled.

Are you a United Way agency? No. However, contributions can be made to Make-A-Wish through the United Way Donor Designation program. Contributions can also be made through Combined Campaign Programs.

How many wishes do you grant each year? The local chapter fulfilled the wishes of 307 children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses in fiscal year 1999-2000. These children come from all around the state, and since this chapter’s inception, more than 1,300 wishes have been granted. They are projecting over 400 wishes will be fulfilled this coming year.

What’s the history of Make-A-Wish foundation in Ohio? Their chapter, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast, Central, and  Southern Ohio, has three regional offices. The Columbus office was opened in 1997 to better serve the wish children, families, and communities in Central Ohio . And in 1998, the office in Cincinnati was opened to ensure every qualified child in Ohio could benefit from a wish come true. There is another chapter in Northwest Ohio that serves children in Toledo 

Cleveland Diocesan Mission – El Salvador
A generous font of Faith, Courage, and Hope!

In the vineyard of El Salvador , our mission team carries the light and the love of Christ to the faithful of Chirilagua,  Zaragoza, and La Libertad. The work of our missioners brings:

• Good news for the poor
• Celebrations of the Word and Liturgy
• Sacramental programs
• Education
• Development of Lay Leadership
• Health programs
• Human development
• Cultural expression
• Consolation of the suffering

Aside from the support our contributions provide to missionaries, consider what a few dollars can mean to a family as reflected in the following:

A contribution of:

• $5 can provide a sack of rice for a family to eat for two months
• $10 can give a sack of beans or corn to families to eat for one month
• $25 can provide tuition for a child in elementary school for a YEAR, or a pair of shoes for 3 children in a family in order to attend school
• $50 can buy a plastic roof for a home
• $75 can give medicine for 6 months
• $100 can provide clothing for an entire family
• $200 can purchase chickens or pigs for farmers to raise
• $500 can purchase bags of cement for the floor of a home
• $1,000 can purchase cement blocks to build a single room home

"Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me" MT.25:40