Chapter Update: Sts. Peter & Paul A.R.O.Y. Lenten Service Project

As part of our observance of the A.R.O.Y. Sunday weekend, members and advisors of our chapter volunteered for an afternoon of work at the local Gleaners Community Food Bank on Saturday, March 15.

For over 30 years, Gleaners has collected food from area retailers, restaurants, banquet centers, and other individuals and organizations who wish to share their leftover and "past-prime" foods with those in need.  The food is shared with a network of over 400 partner agencies across 6 Metro-Detroit counties.  In our county alone, they assist 200,000 families including almost 50,000 children.  Of those families, over 75% of them live below the poverty income level.

We spent the afternoon sorting thousands of donated food, hygiene and home products into categorized boxes for distribution.  During our break, the food bank's director of operations spent a few minutes explaining to us what they do, how they do it and what their goals are.  Not only did we help them, but they helped us by giving us a better understanding of their ministry and the needs of our neighbors.  After leaving there, we stopped for pizza (cheese, of course!) and made it back to the church in time to participate in the Saturday evening Great Vespers service.  We are looking forward to more projects like this one in the future!

[CLICK HERE to visit the Sts. Peter & Paul parish website for more photos from the event.]