Faith Community News

“One Warm Coat” Success Story

     The Girl Scouts of St. Edward Catholic School witnessed the overwhelming generosity of its sister parish, St. James the Apostle Catholic Church in Spring in its second annual “Operation: One Warm Coat” appeal. An article outlining the service project was placed in the church bulletin several weeks in advance. Brownies Trinity and Katherine addressed the congregation at each mass the Sunday preceding the collection day and a flyer was placed in the church bulletin. Boy Scout Pack 355 of St. James and the youth of St. James were invited to help on “One Warm Coat Weekend,” January 15-16 at all masses. As good Girl Scouts, Troops #11542, #13005, #11226, #13033, and #13128 felt prepared for the two days of service.
     Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts arrived in uniform to greet parishioners and accept donations. Then the floodgates of giving were opened! “Wow, our box is already full!” was the phrase heard most by volunteers manning the collection boxes. “Last year we felt we had a good turnout of donations with 625 coats, jackets and sweaters contributed during a week at school and at masses on the following Sunday. Since we were collecting only on a weekend this year, I had in my mind a goal of 500 coats. Was I surprised and so grateful when we nearly met that goal after only one mass!” said leader Donna Ellison. At each of the five services at St. James, 200 or more coats were given. Scouts, teens, and adult volunteers scrambled between masses to sort, count, label and bag the numerous donations before the next load was collected. Five separate trips were made to bring vans full of items to storage. By Sunday afternoon, the donation total had risen to a staggering 1,484 coats, jackets and sweaters, plus 715 other items!
     This second-annual coat drive benefited men, women, teens, children, and infants in and around Houston, at Casa Juan Diego, Star of Hope Mission, Star of Hope Women and Families Emergency Shelter, Catholic Charities, Our Lady of Guadalupe Social Services Women’s Shelter, Boys and Girls County, Sheltering Harbor, Covenant House, and Casa de Esperanza. Enthusiastic leaders and parent volunteers delivered the coats the week following the event. Leader Cindy Bihm reported that after transporting a load to Casa Juan Diego, the donations were taken away for distribution even before she left the facility! The scouts and volunteers are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this program which allows some immediate needs of hundreds of ill, homeless, and otherwise disadvantaged Houstonians to be met.
Many thanks to GSSJC volunteer Diana Artale of Smile S’more service unit for suggesting this project. For more information, go to www.onewarmcoat.org.

Congratulations to Girl Scouts who earned religious awards

Kathy in Troop #2340 at St. Vincent de Paul has earned the Family of God religious award. She has also earned all 62 Brownie try-its including the new Smart Cookie Try-it and her troop try-it.	Chantalle in Troop #21012 has earned the Lehavah award.