Hello all,
Thank you so much for your continued generosity, prayers, and kindness to each other and our community at this time. St. Catherine's has wonderful parishioners, who always step up to help those in greater need. However, it has come to our attention that there is a portion of our community in need--Meals on Wheels is in need of donations. Below is a note from the Knights of Columbus (who have organized this) about what Meals on Wheels usually provides and changes that have recently had to made.
Meals on Wheels is looking for donations of frozen food and/or money at this time in order to continue to feed seniors. Food donations can be dropped off at Wake Forest Senior Center 235 E Holding Ave, Wake Forest, NC. Below is a link to the sign up for food and the link for monetary donations. Donations are done through a drive through and do not require contact with another person. I encourage any of you who are able to donate, as often as possible, as long you may be able.
Dear Parishioners,
It came to our attention this past Tuesday evening that 65 Seniors supported by Northern Wake County Meals On Wheels (MOW) were without reliable food delivery from this past Wed through next Mon as MOW was directed to stop serving hot lunch meals daily and go to a weekly supply of frozen meals across the USA.
The Knights of Columbus worked with both MOW and Resource For Seniors, who manages the Wake Forest Senior Center, to understand the need and then requested support from our St Catherine of Siena Parish Family. Through the combined effort of generous Parishoner's and Harris Teeter, the response was amazing and you far exceeded the needs for these at-risk Seniors! The request from MOW was for 260 meals to cover 4 days of food insecurity and through your generosity, over 500 meals were delivered! This enabled MOW to not only serve their Wake Forest Seniors but also communities in the Eastern part of Wake County that had urgent needs.The staff from both MOW and Resources For Seniors were overwhelmed with your support and could not be more thankful for the love and care you showed for those most vulnerable. God bless you all.
It has just come to our attention that there is another urgent need for providing groceries to our Seniors as a result of the recent Stay-At-Home directive across Wake County and the State of North Carolina due to COVID-19. Resources for Seniors http://www.resourcesforseniors.com) (RFS) serves older adults and adults with disabilities in Wake County, NC, by providing home and community-based services and information so that they can maximize their choices for independence, comfort, safety, security and well-being. Many of the seniors being served are also clients of Catholic Parish Outreach (CPO), where they are provisioned with food and some personal items monthly. With CPO and other food pantries in the area being suspended and with the Stay-At-Home directive in place, RFS is seeing a rise in anxiety and stress among the seniors they serve, concerning their survival and how they might cope with the virus floating around.
The Knights of Columbus, Council 11234, at St. Catherine of Siena, Wake Forest, are stepping in to help alleviate some of the concerns by providing non-perishable groceries and items these seniors need on a weekly basis, while the Stay-At-Home directive is in effect. We invite you, sisters and brothers in Christ, to join us and participate.
As always, please continue to pray for each other, for first responders, and for those affected and their families. Please continue to practice effective physical distancing. Thank you and God bless.
Deeply grateful,
Fr. Bill John