Parishioners at Divine Redeemer Parish, which consists of Saint Mary in Glenfield and Saint James in Sewickley, participated in the first Blessings in a Backpack outreach project in July to help less fortunate families in the local communities.
With the generous outpouring of donations that were collected for the families, the parish was able to help supply 12 families (36 children) with brand new back packs filled with everything from water bottles and school supplies to hand sanitizer, wipes and Kleenex.
Saint James School also supplied the children with books that they could choose to take home.
“Watching everyone pitch in and help in varying capacities was heartwarming. Our youth participation assures us that there will be Divine Redeemer Vincentians in the future to carry on the work Frederick Ozanam began in Paris in 1833,” said John Nard, parishioner and president of St. Vincent de Paul Society. “Frederick was a literary scholar, lawyer, journalist and equal rights advocate. I’m sure he would approve of our attempt to supply a few of our area’s young budding scholars with school supplies.”
The Divine Redeemer Conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul is a Christ centered ministry that assists families in the Quaker Valley, Coraopolis and Neville Island areas.
