Another semester comes to a close, and it’s time to update you and what we have done together to support those working towards social justice around the world!
Our first Social Justice Event was a back-to-school clothing drive. Students were able to drop off gently used clothing in the bagel-lounge for the first month of school. Many bags were then packaged up to be sent to Benedict Labore House, a day centre for the homeless, here in Montreal.
Shortly thereafter we organized a Thanksgiving food drive for the St. Willibrord Parish Soup Kitchen (in Verdun) and needy parishioners. We filled a giant box of nonperishable items to donate which was taken to St. Willibrord’s.
In late September, we organized a bake-sale for Jesuit Volunteer Corps, which sends recent university graduates (including our very own NSS Alumna Emily) to work in impoverished communities around the United States. For example, Emily works at the Open Door Mission, a rehabilitation clinic and convalescent care center for homeless men in Houston, Texas. We were able to support their mission through a donation of $50.
We have continued our partnership with St. Padre Pio Parish in the Philippines this year. This is a rural parish in Camarines Sur. We are truly brothers and sisters in Christ, so we continue to pray for them (and them for us!). We also are able to support their children’s feeding program, through donations. This semester we had three fundraisers for them – a special soup and bagel, a bake sale and, of course, our semesterly coffee house. We were able to donate $504 this Christmas from these three events.
In November, we re-launched our popular Sandwiches for the Homeless program, in which students make and distribute sandwiches to the needy of Montreal. We hope to make it a monthly occurrence come the winter!
In light of the recent storm in the Philippines, we also leaped into action to raise funds for those affected by the storm. We were able to raise money through a second collection after mass (which will be sent to the Red Cross) and our Christ is Coming Dinner, in which we donated $100 from ticket sales to Caritas International.
Finally, our Advent second collections will be going to the Sisters of Life, a community of religious sisters who uphold the dignity of life, through retreats, support for pregnant women and other programs in the United States and Canada. Here’s one opportunity you haven’t missed out on yet – we will be collecting funds throughout Advent.
What should we support next year? You can always contact your VP Social Justice Anita if you have ideas!
Holly, Webmaster Chairperson
