Kristyn Russell, Author at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church

Knights of Columbus 2024 Awards

The Blessed Sacrament Knights of Columbus council recently held their Anniversary dinner at the parish social hall. Knights from our council, Assumption, and St. Brigid enjoyed a potluck dinner of Italian dishes. During the dinner, presentations were made to honor the “Knight of the Year” and “Family of the Year”.

We are proud to announce that this year’s recipients are:

Knight of the Year: Tom Zajac. Tom is a founding member of our Council. He has been a hard-working and reliable member of the council for many years. Tom has been very involved in the “Wood for Warmth” program benefiting cancer patients and needy people who heat with wood. He’s always there when we are cutting, splitting, and delivering the wood. You can also count on Tom to help make the Knight’s soup suppers a success. Tom also coordinates our council blood drives with Versiti Blood Center. He is there at every drive making sure things run smoothly.

Family of the Year: John and Margie Hollingsworth. John coordinates putting up and taking down Christmas lights around the church. John and Margie provide soup for the Knight’s soup suppers and John is there to help with other projects that the Knights have. John and Margie also serve the parish at mass with Hospitality and being Eucharistic Ministers. For many years, John has been a member of the Men’s Christ Renews Team.

Please join the Knights in congratulating Tom, John, and Margie for their service in 2023!

FINANCE AND ASSET COUNCIL MINUTES – October 18, 2023

Attendees:

Fr. Rob Howe, Pat Regier, Pam Gandy, Dennis Thiel, Andy Pasztor, Judy Gross, Kevin Spencer, Kathy Fothergill

Reported by: Fothergill

Opening Comments:

Fr. Rob updated the Council on the status of the playground. We are in contact with an attorney (provided by the Diocese) who will advise us on the project. We may get some grants (possibly around $30K) to offset the funds we are putting into the project. We plan to add a new member (Cathy Ahearn) to the Finance and Asset Council in the coming months.

Financial Results as of September 30, 2023: Net Assets for the current fiscal year (which began July 1) increased by $20K as total revenue exceeded expenses. Total Revenues, however, were lower than Budget by $21K, due to a decrease in Weekend Collections. October collections have improved, and we expect to close the Budget gap by December. Other Income was slightly higher than Budget due to Interest Income. Our Total YTD Expenses were better (lower) than Budget across most categories, with the exception of Faith Formation programming expenses. Christian Service balance reflects emergency assistance claim payments which were slightly lower than in the prior year, although claims have increased in October. Later this month, a team of parishioners and Fr. Rob will begin the review of grant applications as part of our Christian Service outreach ministry. We received 53 grant applications, including applications from four new groups. We plan to award a total of $125K in grants this fiscal year. Over the past 40 years, we have distributed $3M in grants for Christian Service.

Christ Mission Appeal 2023 kicked off last week. Fr. Rob sent out a special message and video last week. Parishioners should have received a mailing from the Diocese. Our parish target, set by the Diocese, is

$273,030, which is a 9% increase vs. last year.

Facilities Update:

Work Completed – Installed shut-off valves to the former school building. Gym and social hall already have appropriate shut-off valves. The City Council has approved the playground replacement project. Work in Process – Conduct walkthrough of church and parish facilities. Continue to work with the City on playground replacement project including property transfer documents.

With the help of Dick Dolinski, we have applied for grants for the playground replacement project to community foundations and clubs including Charles Strosacker Foundation, Midland Kiwanis and Midland Rotary. Organizations have pledged a total of $40K at this time. Our first meeting with City officials regarding the expected process will be on November 1.

Roundtable:

We are still looking for a High School Youth Minister Coordinator.
Our annual contributions to Christ Mission Appeal for the last two years averaged $208K. The Diocese has given us an assessment for this year of $273K. The participation rate of CMA (cards that have been returned) in the past few years has been around 25 – 29%. While the number of returned cards has dropped, the average gift has increased.
Our next Finance and Asset Council meeting will be held jointly with the Pastoral Council on December 13. Pat Lautner will be making a finance presentation to the Pastoral Council on November 8. Our Council members are invited to join that meeting for Pat’s presentation.

Meeting adjourned at 7:40p.m.

Jesus & Java

Sometimes all you need is coffee with God and his people.

Come meet with fellow coffee and tea drinkers who want to talk about topics of faith while fueling our caffeine cravings on May 7th at 9:00 am at Cultivate Coffee and Tea in the Midland Mall. This month we will discuss the pope’s prayer for seminarians. What is your role and society’s role in support of seminarians? How does the world view this calling/ vocation?

Also at Stranded Yarn and Coffee on Wednesday, May 15th at 7 pm.

If you have questions, please contact Christy Granda.

Ladies of Blessed Sacrament (LBS) Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, January 9th 2024

President Eileen Foster opened the meeting at 1:30 pm by welcoming the 23 people in attendance. Prior to the meeting, everyone enjoyed 15 minutes of conversation and snacks. Eileen asked for prayer requests and then led us in an inspirational prayer. We had an abundance of snacks which were provided by Susie Rademacher, Elaine White, Elaine Warakomski, Judy Kawiecki, Tana Zemanek, and Eileen Foster.

Secretary Elaine White provided copies of our last business meeting minutes. Minutes previously posted to our FaceBook page and to FlockNotes.

Elaine then introduced Pastor Lara Freeburg from Midland First Baptist Church which is located at the corner of Washington and Sugnet streets. First Baptist and Blessed Sacrament support many of the same non-profits in our community. Pastor Lara based her presentation on the “The Women at the Well” from John 4 verses 1-42. She provided a deep explanation of this Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus. Pastor Lara’s explanation was impactful and thought provoking. We thank Pastor Lara for sharing her knowledge with us.

Ramona then provided an update of future LBS events. A sheet was passed around to bring snacks to our February meeting. We are happy that so many women are coming at 1:15 for our “chat & chew” prior to our usual 1:30 business meeting. Ramona thanked everyone who brought gift cards to our Christmas potluck for the Midland High Meistersingers and who brought men’s underwear and socks to today’s meeting to be donated to Midland Community Former Offenders Advocacy and Rehab (MCFOAR). We wished a happy January birthday to Gail Schroeder (9th), Indira Oskvarek (14th), Connie Latuszek (27th), and Margie Hollingsworth (28th).

Treasurer Tana Zemanek reported our current balance is $9289.57. She has available a complete report of income and expenditures for anyone to view.

Judy Kawiecki then introduced our second speaker, City of Midland Police Community Relations Officer Brennon Warren. Officer Warren’s topic was “Home Safety and Situational Awareness”. Key points were to be alert and not become complacent. Lock your doors even during the day. Get a fireproof safe for your valuables and hide the safe. Make an emergency exit plan. If possible, use outdoor cameras such as Ring. Make sure you have working smoke alarms. Become familiar with your neighbors. Don’t fall for whatever the latest internet and phone scam is. We thank Officer Warren for sharing his expertise with us.

The speaker at our next meeting will be Donna Clarke from Saginaw Emmaus House. Bring your friends and join us on Tuesday, February 6th..

Respectfully submitted,

Elaine white, Secretary

A Message from Fr. Rob – Christ’s Mission Appeal

Supporting Faith, Building Community

The Christ’s Mission Appeal allows Catholics within the Diocese of Saginaw to express gratitude to God for His insurmountable blessings. Your openness to contribute to this appeal enables the ongoing and broader reach of diverse ministries to the faithful, all while actively participating in the mission of spreading the Gospel.

Both your financial contributions and your prayers for the mission of our esteemed diocese, as well as for the upcoming 2023 Christ’s Mission Appeal, are vital. Through these, we can collectively engage in meaningful “Kingdom Work.”

Donate Now

Mission

At the heart of the Diocese of Saginaw is a commitment to embody the teachings of Christ. The diocese’s mission statement is

Trusting in the Holy Spirit and nourished by the Eucharist, we, the faithful of
the Diocese of Saginaw, are companions on the journey to share the love of Jesus Christ.

Christ’s Mission Appeal is an initiative to reinforce this commitment by supporting various outreach programs, educational endeavors, and pastoral services. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and families within our diocese.

How You Can Contribute

Your generosity can make a significant difference. Join us in supporting Christ’s Mission Appeal through your donations. Every contribution, no matter the size, plays a crucial role in sustaining and expanding the mission.

Ways to Donate:

Online: https://saginaw.org/appeal
By Mail: Please complete the pledge card that is included in your Christ’s Mission Appeal mailing and return it in the envelope provided. Please return the pledge card to the Diocese of Saginaw.
In-Person: Checks can be dropped off in the baskets at Mass or at the Parish Center.

Donate Now

Pastoral Council Meeting Minutes | November 8, 2023

Attendees: Corinne Cathcart, Annette Clark, Dick Dolinski, Kathy Fothergill, Judy Gross, Fr. Rob Howe, Pat Lautner, Jim Mahoney, Jim Marinik, Andy Pasztor, Jeff Paulus, Patrick Regier, Cathy Richard, Christine Sellnow, Barb Warczinsky

Minutes

Meeting began at 8:02pm
Annette Clark moved and Jim Mahoney seconded the approval of the minutes of the September 6, 2023 Pastoral Council meeting as corrected. The motion carried.

Updates (Fr. Rob)

A meeting with the city regarding the playground transfer is scheduled for November 15. Up to approximately $40,000 in grants is pending to help offset the cost of replacing the playground in partnership with the City.
The maintenance situation is in transition. An initial arrangement of a person working ~30 hours at Assumption and ~10 hours for Blessed Sacrament was terminated after 3 weeks when the incumbent preferred working solely at Assumption. We now have a person working part time who is expected to transition to full time in December.
Our October parish Mass attendance count has increased from 807 in 2022 to 1,016 this year, a 26% improvement. However, this total still lags the 2019 pre-COVID amount of 1,182 by 14%. Attendance at the Sunday 11:00am Mass has increased sharply. Our family-involved faith formation program helped drive this increase.
Bishop Ken Untener’s weekend homilies are being read by priests in the Diocese (beginning with Fr. Rob) each weekend and are available via podcast. The “Little Books” based on his writings will be available again for the parishioners beginning with the first Sunday of Advent on December 3, 2023.
The video report on the “State of the Parish” is being recorded and edited. The final copy will be available for the parish soon.

High School Faith Formation Update (Corinne Cathcart)

Corinne provided an update of the High School program as outlined in the attachment (“Faith Formation”). Some highlights include the whole family program is being well received, we are still seeking candidate to lead the program, the outreach trip this year is to Knoxville, Tennessee. We exceeded our goal of 800 cereal boxes collected and provided to the food pantry.

Middle School Faith Formation Update (Christine Sellnow)

Christine provided an update of the Middle School program as outlined in the “Middle Schools YM” attachment. Christine explained the joint pilot of the new Confirmation program at Blessed Sacrament and Assumption beginning next year. She is working with Kathy Russell at Assumption on the project. This is a two-year program with 24 sessions plus a service project and a retreat. Five parishes in the Diocese are participating in the approach with the desired outcome to build a Catholic foundation and form life disciples for the church. Other highlights include the “Reach Out Program” that is providing a service project monthly with the first being to assist at Shelterhouse’s retail store, and an additional project to bake 25 pies for the Food Pantry.

Parish Christian Service Ministry Report (Pat Lautner)

Pat provided a very comprehensive report on the various components that make up Christian Services ministry, specifically “Emergency Assistance, Special Assistance, and Christian Service Funding.”

“Emergency Assistance” typically begins with a request through 2-1-1. Basic information such as name, address, income, number of children, etc. is collected and the need is identified. Typical needs are for rent to avoid eviction, paying a utility bill, and the like. Blessed Sacrament is in collaboration with a network of agencies, comprised of approximately 20 churches and several service organizations, who provide emergency assistance. Recipients are limited to one support payment per fiscal year and a maximum payment of $150. Blessed Sacrament provided $27,400 of assistance during our 2022-2023 fiscal year.

“Special Assistance” is for extraordinary help arising from more serious circumstances such as floods, storm damage, emergency shelter, etc. A network of 15 churches and 20 agencies come together to manage this endeavor.

“Christian Service Commission Funding” has provided $3.27 million in funds to area non-profit agencies since its inception in 1981. Applications for funding are submitted by October 1 of each year requesting information about the agency’s mission, service, budget, and related items along with the proposed use of the requested grant. Representatives of any agency that has not applied in the past are interviewed by the Commission members, the applications are reviewed, and the funding decisions are made. Last year, $125,000 of a total of $183,000 requested was dispersed in grants to 56 agencies. The Christian Service Commission reviewed requests from 53 agencies this year and has recommended $125,000 of funding to the agencies. Award letters will be sent to the selected agencies in early December with payments in February. An open house for recipient agencies is held after the Sunday Masses on a designated day in March of each year to allow the agencies to inform about and exhibit” their work as well as to network.

Finance Report and Update (Patrick Regier)

Weekend collections are down $30,700 versus budget through the end of October. However, our total year-to-date expenses were better than budget by $43,000 largely owing to lower employee-related expenses including a less than 100% staffing level with the open High School Youth Ministry position. Net assets increased by $46,000.

Roundtable Updates

Corinne—encouraged all to view the pictures lining the hallway
Barb—expressed her appreciation and gratitude to the staff for their exceptional work
Jim Marinik—asked about the outcomes of the Synod meeting in Rome. Fr. Rob responded that this is a two-year process, only the first phase has been concluded, and more work will be done over the next year.
Cathy Richard—indicated that she was proud to be a part of this group and its work
Annette—updated the group on several initiatives including a planned Thanksgiving turkey drive, Coats for Kids campaign, greeting cards project at Washington Woods, Sharing Tree tags availability, and the Alternate Gifts fair in November

The next meeting will be a Joint Pastoral & Finance Council on December 13, 2023 at 7:00pm.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:16pm

Pastoral Council Meeting Minutes – September 6, 2023

Attendees: Corinne Cathcart, Annette Clark, Dick Dolinski, Fr. Rob Howe, Jim Mahoney, Jim Marinik, Jeff Paulus, Patrick Regier, Cathy Richard, Barb Warczinsky

Minutes

Meeting began at 6:58pm
Barb Warczinsky moved and Jim Mahoney seconded the approval of the minutes of the June 7, 2023 Joint Pastoral and Finance Councils meeting as corrected. The motion carried.

Updates (Fr. Rob)

Justin Rose’s departure was an unexpected surprise but it is a very good move for him and his family. With his leaving, Corinne has agreed to take on the role of faith formation team leader. A search is underway for Justin’s replacement.
The maintenance situation is still in a state of flux. We are sharing a part-time person with Assumption with help on the weekends.
The parish picnic and golf outing went very well and we’ve received positive feedback regarding both events. A total of 23 teams participated in the golf outing. Plans are to move the date to the week of August 25 next year.
The Midland City Council approved the playground transfer agreement. The Diocese also has agreed with the move. The appropriate legal documents are being drawn up to facilitate the transfer. A letter in opposition to the transfer from a concerned parishioner was read to the Council as requested. A discussion ensued to explore additional sources of revenue from local foundations and civic organizations to assist with underwriting the cost of updating the playground.

Faith Formation Update (Corinne Cathcart)

Corinne described the Faith Formation program for this fiscal year. An outline of her presentation is attached which includes the new Confirmation schedule and the format for elementary Faith Formation programs. This year’s program theme is ”Kingdom Builders” — what can we do to build God’s Kingdom on earth? This topic is derived from several Catholic social teachings including the need to build a holy and just society. Jesus called us to care for “the least of these.”

There is a change in the Confirmation program. It will be a two-year program beginning at age 12 or later. We and Assumption are piloting the “Purpose” by Life Teens curriculum that’s been approved by the Diocese for use in all parishes. Elementary Faith

Formation has been designed to include kids and their parents to experience the program together. Parents are the first and most influential catechists for their children. The program will empower them to raise faithful, faith-filled, life-long Catholics. There will also be a good deal of family fun components including the Trunk or Treat evening, Euchre, a chili cook-off, game nights, and the like. This year’s outreach will be a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Corinne closed her presentation with a list of important Faith Formation program dates as indicated in the attachment.

Finance Update (Patrick)

The parish fund balance increased by just under $28,000 year-to-date through August 31, 2023 to a total of $2.9 million.
Despite lower weekend collections, our revenues slightly exceeded expenses due to memorial donations, higher interest income, and lower expenses across most categories except utilities.
Our 2022-23 Christ Mission Appeal effort ended at 83% of our $250,000 target, about $42,000 short of our goal. Our 2023-24 goal has been increased 9.2% to $273,000. A contributing factor to this large increase is that the Diocese uses US census population and income data in their calculations rather than parish-specific information.

Roundtable Updates

Jim Mahoney—discuss greeters to welcome and orient newcomers to the parish
Jeff—we should make sure that we select the right candidate for Justin’s replacement even if it takes more time to find that person
Annette—the “One Week-One Street” program is in the works
Cathy—the women’s Christ Renews group is discerning their next steps—22 people are involved
Fr. Rob—we need help recruiting Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, choir members, etc. Please invite people who may have an interest.
The next meeting of the Pastoral Council is November 8, 2023

The meeting was adjourned at 8:03pm

Ladies of Blessed Sacrament Minutes – Tuesday, November 7th, 2023

In the absence of President Eileen Foster, Anne Boyd opened the meeting at 1:30 pm by welcoming the 31 ladies in attendance. Before the meeting, everyone enjoyed fifteen minutes of conversation and snacks.

Ramona Lalka explained the voting for the 10 charities to which we’ll gift $1,000 each. Everyone in attendance was given 10 tickets. There were 18 charities on the ballot. The top ten vote-getters would each receive $1,000. Ladies voted, results were announced at the close of the meeting.

Anne Boyd asked any First Timers to stand and introduce themselves. Newcomers were Ruthann Fuentes, Jeanne DeMartinis, and Sue Gibson. We’re grateful for the new faces and everyone’s help. An opening prayer was said and the ladies offered prayer requests. New members were presented with the LBS brochure that Kristyn Russell from the parish office made.

Special thanks to Connie Latuszek and Dorothy Kociba for coordinating the snack table and to Isabel Viges, Laurie Babinski, Joyce Cushman, and Elaine Warakomski for bringing treats.

Also thanks to all who brought winter wear for the students of Pine River Elementary in Bullock Creek.

We wished a happy November birthday to Agnes Brewer (11/06), Betty Kubisiak (11/12), and Lucille McDonald (11/15.

The minutes of the October 3rd meeting weren’t read but copies of the minutes were placed at all the tables.

Elaine White introduced Amy Hovey, MyMichigan Behavioral Health Telehub Supervisor. Amy’s topic was “Suicide Prevention and Awareness”. Key points from Amy’s presentation: Suicide prevention is a public health issue and My Michigan Health is dedicated to the safety of everyone in our community. Over 49,000 people in the US died by suicide in 2022. That number includes 1471 deaths by suicide in Michigan. We were encouraged to listen to people and to pay attention to our loved one’s moods and behavior. It’s okay to ask someone who is struggling if they are planning to harm themselves. We were encouraged to help people feel connected and less isolated. People contemplating suicide usually feel horrendous emotional pain and a loss of hope. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of mental health counselors so it’s not easy for people to immediately get the help they need. We should call 911 if a suicide attempt has been made, a weapon is present during a suicide crisis, or if the person is out of control. Also, use the national suicide prevention lifeline which is simply 988. Thanks to Amy Hovey for her wonderful presentation.

The Ladies of Blessed Sacrament made 63 fleece-tied blankets in October. The two blanket-making sessions were a great way for everyone to work together and socialize at the same time. The blankets will be donated to West Midland Family Community Center and Midland Community Former Offenders Advocacy and Rehab (MCFOAR).

Treasurer Tana Zemanek reported that the fleece for the blankets cost $877.80. A total of $833.04 was the net profit from our cider and donut sales on two Sundays in October. We are especially grateful for a generous donation from Midland Ace Hardware “Cops and Donuts”. Our current treasury balance is $18,891.85. However, that will soon be reduced to $8,891.85 due to our $10,000 donation to 10 charities.

These are the 10 charities that will be receiving a check for $1,000:

Toni & Trish House
Phoenix Community Farms
Shelterhouse for Women and Children
Blessed Sacrament Emergency Funds
Gateway Family Urgent Care
Guatemalan Stove Project
Saginaw Eastside Soup Kitchen
Wings of Mercy
The Bridge Food Center
Sleep in Heavenly Peace

In closing, Judy Kawiecki led us in a quick “I am thankful for…” and an inspirational verse.

No business meeting in December but come to our Christmas potluck on Tuesday, December 5th at 6 pm. Please bring a guest, your own table service, and a dish to pass. Our entertainment will be the Midland High Meistersingers. And only if you wish, please bring a $10 food or gas gift certificate to be given to each of the singers.

Respectfully submitted,

Elaine White

Ladies of Blessed Sacrament Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Prior to our business meeting, the 31 ladies present enjoyed a meet and greet over delicious snacks presented by Connie Latuszek, Dorothy Kociba, Rita Wernette, Karen Adamcik, Janelle White, and Julie Silvis. President Eileen Foster opened the meeting at 1:30 with a prayer and asked for prayer intentions from the women present. We welcomed to our group Laurie Babinski, Jeane De Martines, and Jo Ellen Strieter.

Many ladies brought personal care items to the meeting which will be donated to The Bridge Food Center located at 1539 Washington St in Midland.

Happy October birthday to Kathie Grzesiak (10/03), Mary Ann Tessin (10/10), Aimee Kopiwoda (10/18), and Janelle White (10/22).

Secretary Elaine White shared the minutes of our September meeting. Minutes have been posted on our LBS FaceBook page.

Anne Boyd passed around worker sign-up sheets for our two fleece blanket-making days in October. The first one will be on Wednesday, October 11th from 9 am to 2 pm and the second one is Wednesday, October 18th from 6 to 9 pm. Fleece for this year’s blankets was purchased from Joanne’s in January. The completed blankets will be donated to local charities in December.

Anne explained the mission of Gateway Family Urgent Care, a medical non-profit, located at 1549 Washington St in Midland.

Rita Wernette asked for additional volunteers for altar care. Please call the parish office if you can help.

Linda Graf led the “new aprons” project and modeled the finished project. Linda, Vickie Briggs, Isabel Viges, and & Kathy Wilds sewed all the aprons. Job well done!

Ramona Lalka passed around worker sign-up sheets for our two Cider and Donut Sundays. Dates are October 15th and October 29th after both Masses. The money raised will be used to buy the fleece for next year’s blankets.

Ramona then introduced our speaker, Jo Ellen Streiter from the Toni and Trish House. The paid staff and volunteers from this facility care for the terminally ill. Care is provided at no charge. This home opened in 2008 with 12 guests (patients). In 2023 they will likely care for 150 people in their six-bedroom home. It takes 40 volunteers & hired staff per week to provide round-the-clock care for the terminally ill. There are also 17 different hospice agencies that provide care for their guests. After Jo Ellen’s presentation, Ramona presented her with a check from the Ladies of Blessed Sacrament to the Toni and Trish House.

Treasurer Tana Zemanek then gave the treasurer’s report and reported a balance of $17,220.67. Next month we will donate $1,000 each to 10 different charities. The nominated charities are the 10 non-profits to which we donated last year, the five that were on the ballot but not selected, and three additional charities suggested at last month’s meeting. Tana asked for any additional recommendations. The 18 charities are:

1. Blessed Sacrament Emergency Fund
2. Global Compassion
3. Shelterhouse
4. Toni & Trish House
5. Sleep in Heavenly Peace
6. Saginaw Emmaus House
7. Midland Community Former Offenders Advocacy and Rehab
8. Home to Stay
9. Wings of Mercy
10. Guatemalan Stove Project
11. Camp Fish Tales
12. Caregiving Network
13. Saginaw East Side Soup Kitchen
14. Midland County Emergency Food Pantry
15. Tall in the Saddle
16. The Bridge Food Center
17. Gateway Family Urgent Care
18. Phoenix Community Farms

Judy Kawiecki then led a team-building game called “Me Too” and read an inspirational message.

Please come to our next meeting on Tuesday, November 7th. Our speaker will be Amy Hovey from MyMichigan Health. Her topic will be “Suicide Prevention and Awareness”.

Respectfully submitted,

Elaine White

Secretary

Ladies of Blessed Sacrament Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, September 12th 2023

President Eileen Foster opened the meeting at 1:30 with a warm welcome to all. Prior to the business meeting, the 30 ladies present enjoyed a “chat & chew” (meet and greet) , a time to connect with each other over delicious snacks provided by Tana Zemanek, Ramona Lalka, Elaine White, and Anne Boyd. Our snack table was set up by Connie Latuszek and Dorothy Kociba.

The ladies brought a huge assortment of school supplies to the meeting which will be donated to Floyd Elementary in Bullock Creek.

We welcomed new members Janelle White, Julie Silvis, Linda Wilson, Joyce Cushman, Carol Osier, Gail Schroeder, and Joanne Dana. We wished a happy September birthday to Mary Derr (2nd) Susie Rademacher (12th), Helen Singer (12th) , Wendy Shields (16th), Naomi Granum (22nd) and Angela Buske (26th). Secretary Elaine White didn’t read the minutes of our last business meeting which was in April. Instead, a few printed copies of the minutes were on all the tables. Minutes previously posted online.

Tana Zemanek, Treasurer, reported our current balance is $16,311.17. The ladies will vote at our November meeting as to what 10 charities will receive $1,000 each. We work together throughout the year to make money, and then we donate money to better our community. In 2022 we donated $1,000 to these 10 charities: Blessed Sacrament Emergency Fund, Global Compassion, Shelterhouse, Toni & Trish House, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Saginaw Emmaus House, Midland Community Former Offenders Advocacy and Rehabilitation, Home to Stay, Wings of Mercy, and the Guatemalan Stove Project. Charities on the ballot last year but didn’t receive funding were Camp Fish Tales, Caregiving Network, Saginaw East Side Soup Kitchen, Emergency Food Pantry, and Tall in the Saddle. Tana asked the members what additional charities should be considered to receive money in 2023. Members suggested the Bridge Food Center, Gateway Family Urgent Care, and Phoenix Community Farms.

Signup sheets were passed around for Cider and Donuts workers on October 15th and 29th, Blanket Making Days on October 11th and 18th, and for bringing snacks to our next meeting.

Ramona L introduced our speaker Deb Plaver from The Bridge Food Center, a 501©3 nonprofit grocery store which is run entirely by volunteers. This grocery store provides opportunities for lower income families to choose and purchase high quality groceries at low costs by providing goods at wholesale prices marked up by 5 cents. This store is located at 1539 Washington St in Midland. The Bridge welcomes individual volunteers or teams for three hour shifts with an experienced supervisor. Please contact Deb Plaver to volunteer. The Bridge has purchased the former Save-A-Lot at 1826 S Saginaw Rd so that they can expand their offerings and offer extended hours. They hope to open at the new location in early 2024. Ramona presented Deb a small personal gift and a check for the Bridge Food Center.

The ladies then played a fun game with a partner and then introduced their partner to the members. Many new interesting things were learned about each of us. Elaine White closed the meeting with an inspirational reading called “Smile”. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, October 3rd at 1:30. Please come.

Respectfully submitted, Elaine White, Secretary