Social Action Committee

Mission

We are committed to embrace, illuminate, and inspire the fulfillment of the second greatest commandment, love your neighbor as yourself, to nurture our own spiritual growth and that of our parish family.

Officers and Directors

In 2009-2010 the leadership of the Social Action Committee includes: Chair, Connie Oligino This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Treasurer, Joan Murphy and Recording Secretary, Anne McDonnell

Objectives

To further a vibrant, engaging, and relevant social ministry program through which members of the Social Action Committee and the rest of the parish family can reach out to serve the inherent needs of individuals and families within the parish and surrounding communities.

Fundraisers

• The Theme Basket Raffle is an important and welcomed part of the annual fund raising events. Parishioners donate gift baskets for the raffle. Each basket carries through on a particular idea expressing the creativity and the imagination of its donor.

• The Parish Family Breakfasts usually take place in the fall and spring after the 9:30 A.M. Sunday mass. Here adults, children, family and friends all get to enjoy a complete down home breakfast served buffet style.

Parishioners donate non-perishable goods for the parish pantry which are distributed to needy families in the area throughout the year. The names of the families are kept confidential. The food drive is intensified at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas when a considerable number of families are assisted. For information, contact Jill or Bob Ellis 393-0787 raellis@optonline.netThis

St. Martin de Porres Academy is a tuition-free middle school that provides a quality education for urban disadvantaged middle school children in New Haven. It is the first Nativity School in CT, opening in the fall of 2005. When Sacred Heart/St. Peter School closed last summer St. Martin was offered the building by the archdiocese.

Parishioners at Our Lady of the Assumption Church had volunteered for many years at the Sacred Heart/St. Peter School. The St. Martin School has many opportunities for parishioners to assist their children by helping the students with their homework, assist with sports teams, help them find books in the library or share a special talent in their after school program.

Members of this committee bring information to the Social Action Committee about legislative bills in Hartford and Washington, DC which are of interest to the Catholic community. If certain bills are very important, information may by published in the parish bulletin and on its website for general parishioner knowledge. Click here for the website.

The program provides food baskets for needy families during the holiday seasons. Jill and Bob Ellis purchase products year-round to obtain the best food buys to make the baskets as meaningful as possible. Parishioners donate non-perishable goods and make financial contributions to enable the committee to purchase additional food and meat products. Each year the committee prepares 200+ baskets during Easter and 300+ baskets during Thanksgiving which are distributed to families in the Greater New Haven area. Families with children also receive toys, etc with their food baskets during the Christmas season. Volunteers are needed to sort, count, assemble the food baskets and assist in the distribution process. For information, contact Jill and Bob Ellis 393-0787 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . If you would like to suggest a needy family to receive a basket, please call Nanci (393-9209). All family names will be kept strictly confidential.

The Christmas "Angel Tree" program collects toys and gifts for children in Bethany, Woodbridge, the Greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas and Sacred Heart/St. Peter School. Parishioners generously donate toys and gifts, however, organizing and distributing these hundreds of toys requires a team of dedicated people. Your assistance is greatly needed on the designated weekend in December. If you would like to help on this project, please call Joan Murphy (314-6352) This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or Nancy Slugaski (387-7900),

"The Giving Tree" - The idea for "The Giving Tree" was originated by Barbara Bessinger a few years ago to try to draw children into the feeling of giving during Lent. Parents encourage their children to do good deeds for others during Lent. As a reward they may take a piece of candy from the Giving Tree, which is set up in the church vestibule. The Giving Tree not only teaches children about the importance of kindness to others, but also teaches them the virtue of patience. For information, contact Connie Oligino 393-0526 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Each year on Mother's Day weekend, parishioners donate new and used baby furniture and clothing for infants and children. The items are collected and distributed to the Polly McCabe Center in New Haven for teen mothers. While the focus of the collection is Mother's Day weekend, baby items can also be donated and delivered throughout the year. For information or to donate large furniture items, contact Adair and Sonny Luciani 397-0867 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it