The month of October began with temperatures in the nineties and ended with snow. AID volunteers were extremely busy getting out warm winter gear. We received donations of coats, hats, mittens, and blankets from St Joan of Arc, ICOM affiliates, and dormant AID clients that wanted to help. Our volunteers organized and cataloged the items.
A volunteer’s family member organized a drive in her neighborhood. Ten families were recipients of these items, and four more received vouchers for St Vincent de Paul. We have received a referral and we are working with him to help find legal representation and warm clothing.
In October, ICOM held its monthly general meeting at Iglesia Luterana San Pablo/St Paul’s Lutheran Church in South Minneapolis, and several AID volunteers were able to attend. We shared a meal with the leadership at San Pablo and shared information on ICOM and AID. San Pablo participants were interested in working more with us, and in our services. We also learned that San Pablo has a free clinic on site, and is open several days per week.
In conjunction with the Church of the Holy Name, we have begun collecting names for their Angel Tree Project. Holy Name places the names of each of our participating individuals on a paper angel, and congregants choose an angel and purchase a gift. Everyone is guaranteed a gift and individuals need not celebrate Christmas to participate. Gifts are delivered unwrapped although families are supplied with neutral wrapping paper and they can choose to present the gifts in any way they like. To date, over sixty individuals are signed up.
We are very pleased that we are getting the money and the resources into the community.