This month we've been springing into service! We've trained several new Eucharistic ministers to the homebound, advocated for international humanitarian aid, and prepared our parish garden for planting. Thank you to everyone who dedicates their time - in every season - to serving in our various outreach ministries. We are also grateful for the financial support of our community.

We were able to mend our parish garden beds and purchase potting soil thanks to a Rice Bowl Grant. As you may know, 75% of Rice Bowl donations go towards international hunger programs and 25% are used in our Archdiocese for local programs. Thanks for your support of CRS!

Food Bank

Guests Served - 320

Households - 123

Backpack Program

Students Served - 1,652

Chicken and Egg Fund

Consider donating to our food bank. We have recently seen an increase in the cost of well, everything, but especially in the cost of high protein items such as chicken and eggs. You can donate online (select Community Services - Food Bank from the drop down menu) or place donations in the blue envelopes in the collection basket. Thank you for helping us to provide nutritious food to our food bank families.

Food Donations

If you prefer to donate items from the grocery store, we can always use the following:

peanut butter, cereal, pancake mix, and canned soup. Food may be left in the food bank box in the vestibule or dropped off at the parish office during business hours.

Rent assistance - 13 families

Utilities assistance - 9 families

As we learned in a recent presentation offered by Associated Ministries, the biggest factor contributing to homelessness is the lack of affordable housing in our area. Representatives from Associated Ministries will be at the next Knights of Columbus breakfast on May 19. Stop by their table and learn more about how you can be a part of the solution!

"If a poor man needed some clothing, Fidelis would often give the man the clothes right off his back. Complete generosity to others characterized this saint’s life."

Homebound Eucharistic Minister

Our ministry to area nursing home and assisted living facilities continues to grow! We'd love to train more people in how to lead a communion service. If you can't commit to every week, we always need people who can fill in while the regular minister is on vacation.

Food Bank Driver

Many of our volunteers will be taking days off during the summer months. We'd love to train more drivers to take a regular weekly shift or serve as a sub as needed. Our shifts are Monday-Thursday from 1-3 pm or 5-7 pm.

A background check and safe environment training is required for both positions. Contact Morningstar at the parish office for more information.

Join Fr. Val and our young adults on their next work day at L'Arche. Upcoming dates are May 4 and June 8. You can also support L'Arche by participating in their CSA produce or flower sharing programs. Find out more here.

Thanks to all those who came out to help on our Spring Service Day! We tidied up the ELC playground, prepped the garden for planting, and packed diapers for PREPARES.

Thanks to a diaper grant from PREPARES, we distributed 600 diapers and 20 packages of wipes to families through our food bank in February and March. We also have one parishioner training to become a PREPARES companion. More on that soon! For more information on how to become involved, contact Morningstar at the parish office.

photo courtesy of https://www.preparesforlife.org/services

In April, members of our CRS Chapter at All Saints and students/staff from St. Martin's University met with Rep. Marilyn Strickland's office. We urged her to oppose the American Farmers Feed the World Act and increase international humanitarian aid in FY 2025. Read more about these issues in the attachment.

Email: morningstars@allsaintsparish.com
Website: https://allsaintsparish.com/outreach
Location: 204 6th Ave SW, Puyallup, WA, USA
Phone: 253-848-2000