Community Service
Hesburgh Month of Service - May 2010 Father Ted Project – May 2010
Our project on May 21 and 22, 2010 will be two-fold. On May 21: First is volunteers delivering a seven-pack of food in SFC vehicles mature individual’s homes, condos or apartments. We’ll need teams of two or three people for the food delivery project on Friday, May 21. You will ride in the small SFC delivery truck while delivering 5 & 7 packs of meals on a route consisting of eight to 12 stops. Total time three to four hours maximum and this commences at 9:00am, May 21. Second choice is to pair up with someone you lpow and deliver five or seven packs of meals to two recipients, and have lunch with each one. Special extra lunches will be in your delivery package. For this option, please arrive at 10:30am. If you have an SUV, it is preferred, but a an average car should work as well. Estimated time is three to four hours. Your route to the two recipients will be provided. Dress casual and comfortable for either of the above choices. On May 22: Second is the painting project on Saturday morning, May 22 in the interior of Page Park Community Ceners. This is one of 13 SFC neighborhood meal sites maintained by SFC. It needs sprucing up, so we’ll paint the inside (yes, air conditioned). All materials provided, just bring your painting skills, roller and brush. We will provide refreshments and materials. Even if you are not into paining, you can help in other areas. Come and help and stay as long as you can. Dress for painting. Participate on either day, or both days. Community Service, meeting new ND people, richly rewarding activity and honoring Father Ted Hesburgh! Please contact John Counsell, Chairman of the Father Ted Project, May 2010 at (239) 768-0417, or email him at counsfl@comcast.net or Mary Kay Palmer at (239) 482-0947 or mkbpalmer@embarqmail.com. Our Club plans to do some activities with the folks at the Senior Friendship Center again this year. The Senior Friendship Center (SWC) empowers individuals, families and communities through healthy and supportative aging services, activities, education and volunteerism.
Many thanks to all who came, saw and c Thanks again to everyone for your participation. It’s amazing how just a donation of time can provide so much good to people less fortunate. If anyone would like to help at SFC, contact John Counsell at (239) 768-0417 or counsfl@comcast.net.
God, Country, Notre Dame The God Country, Notre Dame (GCND) Initiative was established by the University of Notre Dame Alumni Association (NDAA) and is administered by the Notre Dame Senior Alumni (NDSA). The GCND initiative was established in the Notre Dame Club of Lee County as a community service project in late 2008. It currently supports the Military Support Program of the Lee Memorial Health System. The Program provides Lee County military personal stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan with the "extras", and even basic needs, that may be in short supply in the desert. Packages consist of white socks, toilet paper, toiletries, chap stick, wipes, canned and pouched meats and fruit, snacks and magazines. These needs are met by product and monetary donations. Be sure to check "Game Watch " e-mails for the Product of the Week. Local volunteers meet monthly to pack and prepare the packages for shipping. But more importantly, these packages transmit to the troops the love and gratitude of family and friends at home while bringing maybe a little joy into their day. First of all, the generosity of the Notre Dame Club of Lee County with donations for the troops has been awesome! Some of the items already collecting is worth mentioning again. 126 TP, 116 socks, 210 T'brushes, 72 T'paste, 144 floss, 60 cans/pouches tuna, 140 pudding cups and 120 soups! I believe there are chap sticks out there too but I'm not sure of the total. For the next three weeks I would like to concentrate on Christmas. Each year we ship a bit of Christmas to the troops by including eight inch Christmas trees in their care package. We also include personalized Chirstmas cards and mini stockings filled with candy canes. Of course, every tree needs ornaments and thats what I would like to request for the next 2 gamewatches. We need mini, none glass ornaments that fit on an 8 in. tree! I usually find them in packages of 6-12 and sell for approx $1-3 in Big Lots, Walmart, etc. As you all know, these care packages are prepared by loving and caring hands with all the generous items that come from loving and caring people, like yourselves. However, the cost of mailing each box is $10.85. Unfortunately, the Post Office does not donate that. I would like to ask everyone to consider donating money at our last gamewatch to help with the cost of mailing the Christmas boxes. I am not asking for any partiuclar amount--whatever you can afford and are willing to help with would be greatly appreciated. There will be a note in each box telling the troops about the Notre Dame Club of Lee County and the wonderful support they have provided them. Thank you again for all you do to support the men and women who defend and protect us everyday. For more information on how to participate in this program, please contact God, Country, Notre Dame Coordinator, Kathy Mitchell at (239) 634-5337 or ksm1954@comcast.net. For more information on Notre Dame Senior Alumni Initiatives, go to www.ndsenioralumni.org. Hospital Support Program Established by the Notre Dame Alumni Association, the Club Hospital Support Program is intended to assist members of the Notre Dame Family (alumni, students, siblings, parents and friends of Notre Dame) when hospitalized while away from home, whether planned in advance or as the result of an accident or illness while traveling. This Committee is chaired by Tom Brenner, '59, '78. Committee members include Mary Kay Palmer, SMC '67 and John Counsell '64. Please call Tom during the week at (239) 574-0383, evenings (239) 573-8358 or cell (239) 560-6194 for more information or to join the Committee.
Prostate Awareness Cancer Education (P.A.C.E.) Program This program was established by the Notre Dame Senior Alumni Group as a Community Service Project. Established as a Joint Committee with the United Irish of South West Florida, the focus of this Committee is the dissemination of information in the fight against prostate cancer. To this end, the Committee will host periodic seminars featuring local Urologists and Radiation Therapists. The Committee is Co-chaired by Jimmy Rodgers, United Irish of SW Florida (239-481-0586) and Dick Schweers, Notre Dame Club of Lee County ( 239-495-6263). Committee members are Chuck Bennett, '55 and Gene Paris. All are Prostate Cancer Survivors. Please call Jimmy or Dick for more information or to join the Committee.
Thanks to all the members and their friends who prepared and helped serve dinners at the Ronald McDonald House last year. We are looking to continue this tradition and would welcome any volunteers who wish to participate in this very worthwhile community service opportunity. We are always in need of volunteers to help with this project. We are on the calendar for the second Thursday of each month. Sev This is really a fun and easy way to give a little back to our community. The staff wants us to meet there and prepare the meal in their kitchen. The volunteers have said the food smells so good they wished they could stay too! You may choose the menu and bring the ingredients as a group for that month. If you wish, the Club will reimburse you for the meat (i.e., ham, turkey, etc.) and you provide and cook the rest of the meal. We usually do the entire cooking and set up in about 1 1/2 hours. We do not stay to serve or clean up. It is a wonderful chance to help families in distress and actually see the good we are doing. After being by the bedside of a critical child, they can come 'home' to the smells of a real dinner in the oven and relax for a while. There is also a changing "Wish List" of needed items. See the web site at www.ronaldmchouse.com.
The Notre Dame Club of Lee County is continuing the project of "people helping people" through support of the Senior Friendship Centers. Senior Friendship Centers, Inc. was founded by Brother William Geenen, CSC, Holy Cross Brothers, who recently finished six years as Provincial of Holy Cross Brothers of Notre Dame. For further information on Senior Friendship Centers access the website at www.seniorfriendship.com
African Caribbean American Center (AFCAAM) AFCAAM provides a variety of services to the African/Caribbean community. The Club supports their Youth Mentoring program, provides professional speakers for the Life Skills and Public Safety programs and supports the Center's library. For more information on the program and current activities, call the Club Hotline (239) 768-0417 or Tiny Conaton, '59 (239) 540-6620.
Earthquake relief for Haiti . A message from Father John Jenkins, C.S.C.January 15, 2010 The earthquake that struck Haiti this week has had a devastating impact on countless people. Our prayers and thoughts are with all those who were affected by the earthquake and their loved ones. As the scope of the damage and recovery becomes more apparent in the days and weeks ahead, we must continue our support. This disaster has also directly impacted the Notre Dame community. Alumni, students, faculty and staff with family and friends in Haiti are seeking information about colleagues and loved ones. There has been an outpouring of concern and interest because these individual relationships and other institutional initiatives have enhanced the University’s connection with Haiti over the years. Now is the time for all of us here to support these relationships with our own effort to provide relief for the Haitian people and the members of the Notre Dame family residing or working there. One of those individuals is Fr. Tom Streit, C.S.C., whose Notre Dame Haiti Program seeks to eliminate lymphatic filariasis, often called elephantiasis. We have already announced that Fr. Streit, three staff and an alumnus working with the program are safe. Another undergraduate student working with a University of Miami program is also safe. I am writing today to inform the Notre Dame family that we are actively involved in managing the situation as well as we can in an environment where reliable information is scarce. We are deeply concerned for all the victims in Haiti, but we take very seriously our responsibility for the health and safety of those affiliated with our program there. We have been carefully monitoring the tragedy and considering how we should respond. Many people have asked how to donate either to the general relief effort or to Notre Dame’s Haiti Program. Accompanying information outlines how people can donate to the general relief effort or help rebuild the University’s Haiti Program. As part of our response to the disaster, Notre Dame is organizing a Mass and a relief fund for those affected by the earthquake. I ask that you participate as you are able with your attendance at these and other events, your donations, and throughout the days ahead, with your prayers. In Notre Dame,
As many of you are aware, the University has experienced an outpouring of interest about assisting the earthquake victims of Haiti, and Notre Dame’s Haiti Program. The Office of the President and Office of Public Affairs and Communication are currently working on efforts to communicate via nd.edu. Information will be made available shortly, but below is additional information regarding communication on those interested in supporting the efforts.
Moreover, donations collected at Basilica Masses over the next two weeks will be dedicated to the relief effort. Should you receive calls from individuals wanting to support the Notre Dame Haiti Program, directed by Father Tom Streit, C.S.C., please provide the following information
Should you wish to help the Haiti Program rebuild, you may make a gift by:
As we learn more about the challenges of rebuilding the program, we will keep all donors updated on the program’s future.
Notre Dame task force on life makes preliminary recommendations The University of Notre Dame’s Task Force on Supporting the Choice for Life has submitted an interim progress report to University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., with preliminary recommendations that are designed to “broaden and deepen the pro-life culture in and among various constituencies in order to strengthen the Notre Dame community’s witness to Catholic teaching on life.” Please see the remainder of the report on our Spirituality page.
Notre Dame Alumni Association Presentation Medals The Club has obtained a limited number of Presentation Medals. These unique and collectible medallions are made with gold from the Dome and have been blessed by Fr. Edward A. Malloy, CSC, former President of the University of Notre Dame. They are available on a first-come basis for a donation of $11.00 (includes shipping). Proceeds will be credited to the Club's Scholarship Fund. Checks should be made payable to the Notre Dame Club of Lee County Florida and sent to: Notre Dame Club of Lee County, care of John Conaton, 131 Southwest 42nd Terrace, Cape Coral, FL 33914. You will receive your medallion by return mail.
Center for Social Concerns |
Your Notre Dame Club of Lee County will again participate in the 4th Annual Hesburgh Month of Service in May 2010 to honor Father Ted in his birth month. In the past our Cub has participated by performing community service through the Senior Friendship Centers organization, an organization founded by Father Ted’s very good friend Holy Cross Brother William Geenen. SRC, created by Bro. Geenen, C.S.C. in 1973 on a beginning budget of $79, and a donated garage, is now a multi-county, 200 employee, 1,200 volunteer nonprofit organization that provided over 130,000 meals in 2009, and further provides aging services for thousands of mature adults.
