St Rose Rallies To Aid Relief Efforts

Parishioners of St Rose of Lima Church responded to an emergency food drive by donating more than 200 bags of food for shelters and food pantries in Bridgeport, Danbury, and Derby.

“The response was overwhelming,” said Joan Dwyer, chairman of St Rose’s Social Concerns Committee, which sponsored the recent drive. The Rev Bob Weiss, pastor of St Rose, agreed.

“Parishioners stopped by day and night to drop off food,” he said.

After the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, many area shelters and pantries reported an increased need for food donations.

“Not only did the terrorist attack affect families by the deaths of their loved ones, it [also] displaced many homeless and those working at minimum wage in the World Trade Center,” Father Weiss said. “These people had to seek refuge in other areas with extended family, and so they found their way to our cities.

“Our parish rallied to collect food to assist the shelters and food pantries,” he said, “and to assure those affected that they were not alone in this tragedy.”

St Rose is continuing its efforts to aid area shelters this weekend by sponsoring its annual fall clothing sale. The Social Concerns Committee will be collecting warm winter clothing for men, women, and children, in the rectory garage after all weekend masses. A complete list of requested items is available near the exits of the church.

Collection hours will be from 4 to 7 pm on Saturday, October 20, and 7:30 am to 1:30 pm the following day. A committee member will be in the garage (to the left of the church) to help.