Every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter for nearly 30 years, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish has sponsored and delivered food baskets to families in need in the Billings area. This year is no exception, and may even be special.
With the parish gym unavailable due to facility construction/expansion, parishioners and staff have planned creatively, and parish member families have responded generously. Parish staff approached the community, asking them to adopt families in need directly, so our church could continue to serve as many families as in years past (150 families; some 700+ persons).
Parishioners leapt at the invitation, and 60 families in need have been adopted by our parish member families, who purchase and deliver all the groceries associated with a week’s worth of food including ingredients like a turkey for the festive holiday meal.
Not only does this gesture provide food for the holiday, but it also ensures that there is enough food (even mittens and gloves) during the week, when breaks from school mean more meals to provide and greater financial burdens on parents struggling in low income situations.
Thank you to the dozens upon dozens of volunteers who have donated so generously of their time and treasure for those in need, especially those who have taken on the big responsibility of adopting a family for Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays. This is a hallmark ministry of St. Thomas the Apostle, and a key way that we preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Submitted by Nick Coffman
Please help us continue
