2017 Outreach Report

   It is often said that the true measure of any parish is how well it ministers to the poor and vulnerable in its midst. Our parish, through the generosity of its parishioners, is able to respond to that requirement through four primary outreach programs: St. Vincent de Paul Conference (SVDP), Food Collection for Christian Community Services Center (CCSC), the Gabriel Project, and the Charitable Contributions Committee.

   Over the past twelve months we have logged 630 calls at the parish for those seeking help, and we provided direct service to 1,078 clients/family members providing over $98,000 in assistance for rent, utilities, and food and gas cards through our St. Vincent de Paul Conference.

   We continue with our school and parish food drives throughout the year, and these items are taken over monthly for delivery to CCSC’s two food pantries. We delivered over 250 bags of food to CCSC this year.  Those served from this food source exceeded 3,000. In addition to providing your food and clothing donations to CCSC, we also supported their activities financially in the amount of $18,000.

   The Gabriel Project is another of our primary outreach programs. It assists those women or families who may need help with an unplanned pregnancy or basic infant care necessities. Your parish provides many of the needs a mother might have relating to the daily care and clothing for her newborn. This year 35 new mothers were provided car seats, play pens, clothing and diapers for their newborns.

   Additionally, parish charitable contributions were made to Bridges to Life, Bo’s Place, Child Advocates, Inc., Dan’s House of Hope, Ignatian Spirituality Project Houston, Living Hope Wheelchair Association, Pathways for Little Feet, People Caring for the Community, Inc., and Small Steps Nurturing Center. These gifts totaled $30,650.  Special grants were also rewarded to inner-city Catholic schools, including Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Queen of Peace, and St. Christopher.  These gifts totaled $17,500.

   In August, we held a School Uniform Drive to benefit the children of San Francisco Nativity Academy.  We conducted a toy drive during Advent, benefitting Jingle Bell Express for CCSC, as well as continuing our Adopt-A-Family program by adopting all the students from San Francisco Nativity Academy.

   We can only undertake these activities because of our generous parishioners who dedicate much of their talent, time and treasure to these outreach activities. You allow us to provide this level of direct service so fundamental to our Catholic Social Teaching.  To volunteer with our St. Vincent de Paul Conference, CCSC, the Gabriel Project, or to learn more about our parish outreach programs, please contact Jennifer Gonzalez at jgonzalez@stmichaelchurch.net or 713-403-4197.