Helping others is a call of the Gospel. St. Jude's Community Outreach programs are coordinated through the Mission and Ministry Committee, the parish's Outreach Committee. The purpose is to support the pastoral and caring ministries of the parish and of the community. Activities include, but are not limited to, collecting food for distribution to local food pantries, Salvation Army bell ringing, providing dinners to families or individuals in stressful illnesses, coordinating "Ride-to-Church" and supporting various local, Diocesan, National and World-Wide charities.
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Give Blood - Being Prepared |
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I’d known for many years that I’d have toface reconstructive spine surgery eventually. I waited until I had my life as well arranged as possible. When I wasready to schedule the actual surgery, the surgical assistant told me I shouldbank four to six pints of my own blood, but that four pints is the most thatmost people accomplish. In order to bank your own blood (autologous blooddonation) prior to surgery, you need to be in good physical condition and youneed to have at least a minimum level of iron/hemoglobin in your blood. Also,the donations must be at least seven days apart but preferably two weeks apartwith the last one at least two weeks before surgery. Since fresh blood can onlybe refrigerated for about three weeks, most of my blood was frozen. Onthe morning of my surgery, imagine my surprise when I was told that the bloodbank would only defrost one pint of my blood once the previous pint had beenused. My surgeon expected to need several pints almost immediately, so heordered several pints of donated blood from the blood bank. I was shocked that after all mypreparations, the blood I worked so hard to bank for myself may end up down thedrain and I’d end up with someone else’s blood anyway. They didn’t tell me whether or not I receivedall of my own blood or how many pints of someone else’s blood I ended upneeding during the eleven hours of surgery. I do know that I received two pintsof someone else’s blood during my stay in the intensive care unit. Despite all of my planning, I still needed torely on the kindness of strangers to donate blood throughout the year. Now Iknow that regularly donating blood helps not just the people who need it in anemergency, but also the people who’ve done their best to avoid needing it. Beth Baier |
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I have enjoyedmy trips to the Ali Forney center more than I can tell you. All my life I havebeen involved in a church community, but recently had been feeling, that whileI try to get involved and help out here and there, something was missing. Istarted to think about the words in our Post-Communion Prayer, “And now,Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serveyou as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord…” and thought and prayed aboutserving others. About the sametime, Fr. Christopher started talking about the Ali Forney center,and the kids that live there. I have found that preparing meals forthe kids at Ali Forney, sitting with them and eating dinner with them, havebrought me closer to what those words in the prayer truly mean. I have alsoenjoyed the friendships I have made with my fellow St Judeans as we growtogether in this experience. Ginny Zorn |
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On May 1st, the parish hall wastransformed into a Manhattan Cabaret. Those in attendance enjoyed a delightful evening of song that raised$735 for the Interfaith Nutrition Network and collected bags of non-perishablesfor the Food Pantry. Thanks to all who attended and donated foodand money. Special thanks to Debbie Hecht, Katie Ferretti, Jennie Clifford andAlyson Rogers for sharing their magnificent God-given voices with us. Thesetalented young women are surely Broadway bound. Thanks to Peggy McCalmont for her accompaniment and rehearsal time. Theevening would not have been possible without the help of Rich & MaryJaneGriffin and Alan Hecht. Thanks Rich for that terrific backdrop! Many thanks to all for their time, talent andtreasure. Kathy Hecht |
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The Spirit of Reaching Out |
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The Church of St. Jude is a church with members that have a wonderfulsense of charity for others. Since last August I have been involved inthree events that have been testaments to the joy of giving. At the end of the summer I set up a box for school related items--itemsthat children need to begin their school year. Pencils, pens, paper, binders,scissors and so much more were donated. December is Adopt-a- Family – a parish event that continues to be anamazing Sunday morning that brings us all together with the Christmasspirit. Every item that was posted on the bulletin board was donated andso much more. Driving with all the bags of gifts to Queens Village is oneof my favorite things to do during the holiday season. Our Mother’s Day Baby Shower was a huge success this year. Againeveryone was so generous with every item purchased and handmade. All ofour donations this year were given to Episcopal Community Services and wereshared by the offices in Queens Village and Brooklyn. Many times I am thanked for running these parish events but I only pullthe events together with the help of many fellow parishioners. It is allof you I thank for making these events/collections truly wonderful. KrisStone P.S. Look for theschool supply box in August!! |
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I have fond memories of playing soccer as akid. My coach, Mr. Newfeld, would pass around a zip-lock bag of orange slicesand always have a big jug of cold water available during and after the game (heknew how to replace fluid & electrolytes). Fast forward a few decades andit is unlikely you will find anything that resembles a fruit, or plain waterfor that matter, on the field. Today most children end sporting events withchips, cookies, sport drinks or other sweetened beverages. A snack rotation isdistributed and well-meaning parents then bring “popular” snacks for the end ofthe game, some of which only last an hour or so. It may sound harmless, but when you add upall the extra snacking opportunities that kids have these days, coupled withthe rise in childhood obesity, and this over-snacking phenomenon is not soharmless. Even if you perceive your childas a “string bean”, you may be setting up bad habits to come. Ponder this: you finish a workout or avigorous walk around the neighborhood. Do you then eat a bag of Doritos orchocolate chip cookies? I hope not! So why then are we promoting this toour kids? We’ve got to stop sending mixed messages! Physical activity of all kind is good.Re-fueling & hydrating our bodies correctly is important. Most youngsters are not sweating profuselyon the field so they do not need as much replenishing as pro-athletes do. Makesure your child has energy to play. An apple, some graham crackers, or wholegrain cereal about an hour or so before will do. Bring along enough water to last for theevent. If it’s a high-endurance type sport (ie. basketball or soccer) then lookto replace fluids and electrolytes (Gatorade/sports drink or plain water withpretzels, orange slices or dried fruit). Kids should be having fun participating inactivities they enjoy. If they’re just in it for the snacks, perhaps they’renot ready yet or it might not be the activity for them. Be a good sport & snack wise! Meredith Cummings, RD |
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