Through the generosity of many paishioners, our Spring Showers that concluded recently produced many gifts for mothers and babies. Terri Benedict, who coordinated the Spring Shower gift drive at St Pius X Church, noted that the church narthex was filled to overflowing and some gifts had to be moved into the choir area. Last week Ray Totten delivered those gifts--about 185 in all--to CareNet Prenancy Center of NEPA in Montrose. Director Laura Squier said she was "extremely grateful" for the donations.

Every week during our Spring Shower, Rosanne Stracham picked up gifts taken to the Corpus Christi Church narthex so that they didn't block the doors or elevator. At Corpus Christi Church parishioners donated about 450 gift items, plus 16 gift cards with a total value of $380.  Rosanne delivered those gifts to the Catherine McAuley Center in Scranton. The McCauley Center's Development Coordinator, Jenny Blanchard, wrote a Thank You note to all Saint John Vianney Parishioners:

We would like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to you and to the members of the community of Saint John Vianney Parish for your generous support of the Catherine McAuley Center through your Spring Shower donation drive. The diapers and baby care products, cleaning supplies, bed linens, towels, and the many different household items you purchased and donated may seem like basis necessities to many of us, but they are luxuries for the homeless families we see and work with every day. Your additional generous donation of gift cards totaling $380.00 will help us to meet the unexpected yet essential needs of our clients.

Since 1984 the Catherine McAuley Center has provided housing and supportive services for homeless women and children in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties. We create homes that are warm, safe, and caring, where people can rebuild their lives and regain a sense of dignity. It is your generosity the generosity of people like you that helps to make this transformation possible.

Helping to make a house a home is truly an immeasurable gift. Your hard work and generous donations will help to ease the burden of homelessness and poverty for the women and children we serve. Please know that your gifts will be present in the lives of the homeless women and children who find warmth and comfort through the Catherine McAuley Center.

Pictured in the photograph at the Catherine McAuley Center with a few of the gifts taken there are, left to right: Rosanne Stracham, Spring Shower coordinator; Sr Therese Marques, RSM, Catherine McAuley Center Executive Director;  Jenny Blanchard, Development Coordinator for the McAuley Center.