SEPTEMBER - In September, our youth group kicked off the beginning of our youth group and our year of outreach by volunteering at the soda booth at the September Fest. It was a huge success despite the number of bees that swarmed around us as they made their home in the booth.
OCTOBER - On Oct. 22, 2009, 16 teens from our youth group gathered together for a pasta dinner hosted by the Bridge House. Following dinner, the teens all pitched in to wash pots and pans, sweep and mop floors, move tables and chairs and put the house back in order. They were an impressive group, complimented by the staff and members at the Bridge House. Some comments we heard on the way home "from the backseat" were:
Their good deeds helped to support the work of the Bridge House, Inc. of Bridgeport, Connecticut, a psychosocial rehabilitation program for adults recovering from the persistent effects of psychiatric illness.
The mission of Bridge House is to provide a positive, encouraging environment of programs and support which give persons with psychiatric disabilities opportunities to live productive and satisfying lives.
For more information on the Bridge House visit - http://www.bridgehousect.org/
NOVEMBER - In November, the parish had a coat drive. The teens sorted hundreds and hundreds of coats into countless bags. One Sunday morning in November, a handful of teens delivered coats, hats and scarves to the homeless at an underpass on John Street in Bridgeport, where over 100 people who are either homeless or living in poverty gather to receive donations from a variety of individuals and organizations. The rest of the coats were delivered to Bridgeport Rescue Mission and Community Closet. We know that the donations made by our parishioners went directly to those desperately in need. Thank you for your support of the parish wide coat drive.
DECEMBER - During Advent, the teens set up a Christmas tree on the Altar. The tree was decorated with over 1300 gift tags for items to be donated to 11 charities. The Youth Group collected and distributed over 1300 gifts. To learn more about the charities your gifts support, click on the links below.
FEBRUARY - Souper Bowl Sunday - Come on Get Happy - Fill the Van with Cans. During Super Bowl Sunday Weekend (Feb. 6 - Feb. 7), the teens gathered together to fill a van decorated like the Partridge Family bus with food donations. The van was generously lent to us by parishoners, Brendan and Teresa Kerrigan. For a news story that appeared in the Connecticut Post, follow this link: http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Partridge-van-fuels-Fairfield-food-drive-344772.php
March - Undie Sundie - collection of undergarments for local charities