NEW COVENANT HOUSE OF HOSPITALITY in Stamford seeks a volunteer to assist Spanish speaking individuals in learning important skills for employment. This would include completing job applications, resumes, communicating with prospective employers, and interview skills for securing employment. Volunteers must complete an application and attend an orientation. There is one mandatory training for all new volunteers. For more information, call Brian Jenkins, director: (203) 964-8228.

THOMAS MERTON CENTER in Bridgeport is in need of hot and cold breakfast cereal. For more information and to make a donation, please contact Mark Grasso: 203-367-9036.

MORNING GLORY in Danbury seeks volunteers to assist in preparing and serving breakfast to the disadvantaged, Monday-Friday; 6:30-9 a.m., at the Dorothy Day Hospitality House. For more information, call Michele Conderino: 748-0848, ext. 231.

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Office of Community Outreach's News and Needs

Every good deed we do put’s a proximate face on Christ to those we help. We are ambassadors for Christ and for His Church. May He bless you and your kin with health and prosperity, that in these you will greater be able to help those less fortunate. I beg your prayerful, volunteer and financial support of these projects In the service of Christ and His Church.

I would like to thank all the pastors who have so graciously printed these notices in their parish’s bulletins. The response has been great.

Anyone interested in helping expand our outreach can contact Father Seraphim Ralph Rohlman, Director of Community Outreach & Prison Outreach, at (203) 416-1331 or via e-mail frseraphim@ccfc-ct.org.

• Connecticut Bike Project: The Saint Charles Urban Center & Pantry in Bridgeport has graciously offered to host the Connecticut Bike Project and Catholic Charities Office of Community Outreach has willingly partnered with the Urban Center to promote participation in the bike drives and generate community awareness of the new program.  The Connecticut Bike Project collects and distributes donated bicycles in good shape to the poor of Bridgeport. Through the Urban Center and other participating parishes and synagogues this non-sectarian charity project is trying to help those in need of transportation to work and errands, especially the economically disadvantaged, individuals with physical or mental disabilities that prevent them from driving, ex-offenders and those without licenses to drive.  Please spread the word that bicycles are in need for this project. Consider hosting a Bike-Drive at your parish! Contacted Mr. Brooks Sumberg to schedule. He will be there for the event and take the bikes the same day as the drive. All you will need to do is publicize the event in your bullitins or newsletters. Maybe you can make it a project for your Parish youth group or Confirmation class. All bikes can be dropped off at 96 Hillspoint Road in Westport (please leave them at the house end of the driveway) or you can contact the project founder, Mr. Brooks Sumberg, by e-mail: bsumberg@earthlink.net.
  
  
• Help needed! There is a woman in her 70’s of unfathomable generosity who goes to downtown Bridgeport every other weekend and feeds anyone who is in need. Her name is Ann Marie. She serves over 100 hot meals (usually three courses) almost singled-handed. She freely distributes everything from bay clothes to canned soup. Besides cooking all the food herself at her home, she purchases it with her own funds! I should also mention that her charity occurs no matter what the weather or the temperature; out on the street, in the open air, rain or shine, snow or clear, on the simple folding tables she brings with her. When everything has been given out Ann Marie even canvasses the sidewalks to pick up stray napkins and cups so no trash is left behind. She then loads up her professional sized pots and pans to back home to wash and get ready to do all over again. If you are interested in joining me to help Ann Marie every other Sunday or even occasionally, please give me a call. If you can drop items from the Immediate Need List (below), please contact her at: Ann Marie Tarinelli, 18 Country Lane, Trumbull, CT (203) 268-5553.
  • IMMEDIATE NEED LIST:
    Peanut butter
    Canned soup
    Canned vegetables
    Cereal
    "Take-away" food containers
    Paper cups
    Lemonade
    Iced tea
    Large plastic folding tables
    Large beverage thermoses with spicket
    Large commercial baking pans
    Microwave popcorn
    Toothbrushes
    Toothpaste
    Band-aids
    Bars of soap
    Shampoo
    Men’s socks
    Men’s clothes
    Oatmeal
    Antibacterial ointment (Neosporin)
    Rubber gloves
    
    
• Saint Charles Urban Center: The Urban Center at Saint Charles Borromeo Parish in Bridgeport has been helping people in need for many, many years. Especially in these current economic times they can desperately use donations of food, clothes, furniture in good condition and, well, anything a family who is struggling needs. Please consider them in your prayers and in the grocery line. You can reach the Director, Roberto at 203-993-1027. The Center is located at 1279 East Main St., Bridgeport.
  
  
• Bibles for Prison Outreach: The Prison Outreach ministry is in desperate need of Bibles for the prison. Anyone able to either donate copies of Catholic Bibles or make contributions toward bulk purchase, please deliver them to the Catholic Center at 238 Jewett Ave., Bridgeport, or e-mail the Catholic Charities Community Outreach office at: frseraphim@ccfc-ct.org.
  
  
• Saint Stephen Food Pantry: The Bridgeport Food Pantry gives food to individuals and families in need who reside in 06604 Zip code. Donations of food and funds are always needed. You can call them directly at (203) 394-0881.