Thank you from the Children, Parents, and Staff of
Julie’s Family Learning Program
For Your Generosity and Support Throughout 2016
Corpus Christi-St Bernard parishioners generously donated 117 bags of Easter basket fillers that included 88 new and used books and a $30 gift card to the 2016 Easter Basket Drive. As in the past, Newtonville Books and New England Mobile gave generously to the Easter Basket Drive. Also, Regina Wing-Joyce’s CCD class worked diligently in sorting the donations.
A most successful 2016 Back-to-School Drive: Parishioners donated 106 bags of back-to-school supplies that included 26 calculators and a record number of backpacks – 50! While parishioners sorted back-to-school donations, teens Erin and Megan counted and organized 90 gently used books— many of them classics like the Hardy Boys—that a parishioner donated.
Parishioners donated a record number of turkeys—111!—110 bags of non-perishables and $480 in supermarket gift cards to the 2016 Thanksgiving Turkey Drive. Teens Megan, James, and Jared worked diligently with Julie’s Committee members on Sunday and Monday to help sort donations and load and deliver turkeys to Julie’s. Once again, the parish provided enough food to feed 100 of Julie's families for the entire Thanksgiving weekend and replenished Julie's emergency food pantry and supply of supermarket gift cards. As in past years, Jeremy Fiset arranged and for a co-worker and use of two Verizon trucks to deliver of nonperishables to Julie’s.
Julie's moms, representing 24 families with 36 children, asked for 176 Christmas gifts. Parishioners left 200+ gifts under the 2016 Advent Giving Tree. Seven of the families had just moved from homeless shelters where they’d lived for at least two years to apartments in South Boston’s projects. Parishioners’ gifts helped Julie’s moms setup their first homes and care for their children. Again, a number of the parish’s teens—Megan, Erin, James, Jared, and Adrianne—pitched-in and helped organize and sort gifts.
Julie’s mothers, children and staff truly appreciate the support and generosity of Corpus Christi-St. Bernard's parishioners not only during the last year but also over the past 45+ years. Your spiritual and material support over the last four+ decades have helped thousands of Boston's neediest families break through the cycle of poverty. A heartfelt thanks to all of you from all at Julie's.
For further information about Julie’s Family Learning Program or to become involved in projects that assist Julie’s families, contact Rose Yesu (617-965-1631/) or Joan McGrath (617-965-0555/).
Julie’s Committee: Jean Acerra, Elycia Bourque, Bonnie Carey, Alicia and Jack Dillon, Elise Fiset, Toni Frederick, Gloria Guzzi, Kevin and Maureen Mac Namara, Joan McGrath, Chris McLaughlin, Claire Palmer, the Reale Family, Ellen Ryan, Monica Sangiolo, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rose Yesu (chair).