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

As part of our observance of Great Lent, members and advisors of our chapter volunteered for an afternoon of work at the local Gleaners Community Food Bank on Saturday, March 14.

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 over 200,000 families including almost 50,000 children.  Of those families, over 75% of them live below the poverty income level.  In today's economic conditions, those numbers just keep getting worse.

We spent the afternoon as a "production line," assembling food packages for needy school children together with another volunteer group.  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 and veggies, of course!) and made it back to the church in time to participate in the Saturday evening Great Vespers service.  We look forward to returning again next year!

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