Winter Warmers
Winter Warmers 2022
"Never stop doing little things for others. Sometimes, those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts.”
Indian writer, Ritu Ghatourney
What a great response we have had on our recent Winter Warmers campaign for this year. On behalf of Fr. Robert and the Community Outreach Ministry, we would like to thank you very much for your amazing generosity.
THE RESULTS
132 Bags - a record!
This year we managed to collect just over 130 bags of clothing and bedding – this is a record in the history of the campaign which is now in its 7th year.
On Sunday the 29th of May, the SVdP ministries from Hout Bay and Steenberg collected over 80 bags of the donated clothing and bedding, and on Tuesday the 31st of May Delft collected their share as well.
The sheer joy of the volunteers who collected the bags said it all - see images below. You can rest assured that your donations will be properly distributed to the very needy in their parishes. These donations are so appreciated by the poor and destitute on our doorstep here in the Cape, and thanks to you all, their winter will be a little warmer this year.
575 Blankets
In addition we received enough cash donations to buy 575 excellent quality blankets. For distribution of the blankets, we are working with the Western Cape St Vincent de Paul Society.
The SVdP Society and their volunteers really are a remarkable worldwide charity organisation and operate in the Western Cape from Lamberts Bay in the north to Hermanus in the south and as far inland as Durbanville. They will be distributing the blankets across their region to 27 parishes covering 46 communities.
Thank You!
Overall, the campaign has been a resounding success and thanks to the amazing generosity of you, our parishioners, and other donors, Constantia Parish has been able to reach out to many of those less fortunate than ourselves across the Cape. Through this big hearted campaign, we have brought some comfort to those families who struggle literally, to keep body and soul together.
But winter is not over yet, so if anybody still has unwanted clothing and bedding in good repair, please drop it off at the Parish Office and we will ensure that it is delivered to those in need.
May God Bless you in abundance
The Campaign
3 Weeks from 7/8 May until 28/29 May
Key dates
- Started: 7/8 May
- Ended: 28/29 May
- Distributed to beneficiaries: 30 May - 6 June
Who We Helped
Beneficiaries
- St. Vincent de Paul Society in Hout Bay, Steenberg & Delft
- Catholic Parishes
- Missionaries of Charity Khayelitsha
- NOAH
What
- Clothing – jackets, shirts, pants, jerseys, socks, slacks, dresses, blouses, etc. – any clothing items.
- Bedding – sheets, blankets, duvets, pillowslips, pillows (you can also donate towels)
- Cash – used exclusively for the purchase of blankets.
For those who felt they didn't have any items to donate, but wanted to support the campaign, we encouraged making a cash donation towards the purchase of blankets. The blankets were obtained at a very reasonable price of R110.00 each.
CONTACT US
For more information contact:
Rod Norman
Winter Warmers Co-ordinator
Community Outreach Committee
Contact Rod via the Parish Office on
021 794 5185 or materecl@constantiacatholic.co.za
ABOUT ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
Run almost entirely by volunteers, the St Vincent de Paul Society, founded in 1833, is a worldwide organisation of lay Catholics who want to express their faith through service to the poor by alleviating the lives of the poor and destitute.
It has been operating in South Africa since 1856 and is a registered non-profit and public benefit organisation (NPO 003/193).
Every day, its 2500 members and volunteers (from over 200 parish committees known as ‘conferences’) reach out to vulnerable and marginalized people in their local community, aiming to provide a hand up, not just a hand out to help people escape the trap of poverty. These are groups of members from all walks of life who join together to relieve suffering and promote human dignity amongst the poor.
The Mission of the St Vincent de Paul Society in South Africa is to deepen the faith of its members – to go out into our nation to heighten the awareness of Jesus Christ.
They do this by sharing themselves (who they are and what they have) with the poor on a person-to-person basis. They seek to co-operate in shaping a more just and compassionate South African community.
Their preferred option in this mission of service is to work with the poor in development, by respecting their dignity, sharing their hope, and encouraging them to take control of their destiny.
St. Vincent de Paul said; “There is no better way to ensure our eternal happiness than to live and die in the service of the poor.”
QUOTES
“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”
― John Bunyan
“Non nobis solum nati sumus.
(Not for ourselves alone are we born.)”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero
“Love is not patronizing and charity isn't about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same -- with charity you give love, so don't just give money but reach out your hand instead.”
― St. Mother Teresa of Kolkata
“Give, but give until it hurts.”
― St. Mother Teresa of Kolkata
“One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone.”
― Shannon L. Alder
“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others
cannot keep it from themselves.”
― James Matthew Barrie
“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions,
and the roots spring up and make new trees.”
― Amelia Earhart
“An effort made for the happiness of others lifts us above ourselves.”
― Lydia M. Child
“To me, there are saints every day.
They stand up and help others
and live for others
and do things for others.”
― Theodore Melfi
A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
― Proverbs 11:25
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
― Luke 6:38
THANK YOU LETTER 2022
"On behalf of the Society of St Vincent de Paul we wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude to your Parish Priest , Fr Robert Bissell, and the Constantia Parish for the wonderful donation of 575 blankets to the needy.
A total of 28 conferences benefited from this kind gesture which will bring relief to so many during this bitterly cold and wet Winter.
Our Mission to serve the Poor is so much strengthened through the support and kindness of our donors."
With grateful thanks,
Achmat Satardien
President – Cape Town Central Council.
Grant Julius, President
