Social Action Committee

In late July, tags are distributed requesting the donation of new school supplies.  The Social Action Committee sorts an incredible array of school supplies from backpacks to erasers. Supplies are distributed to students in the CHAP (Columbus Home Assisting Parents) program, Columbus Home Emergency Shelter, Elizabeth Homes program, Whittle Springs Middle School, FISH program, and parish families requesting assistance through the church office.

Each November, parish families and individuals provide Thanksgiving baskets for parish families with need and families referred to Social Action Committee through Catholic Charities. In addition to food for a Thanksgiving meal, KARM gift cards (earned by All Saints through donations made by parish members) are put in baskets to help with clothing and household needs.

The Christmas Giving Tree provides parish members with the opportunity to provide new toys, clothing and household items to individuals and programs that request our help.  This past year, the Giving Tree helped provide Christmas presents to students at Whittle Springs Middle School, residents of Columbus Home Group Home, Columbus Home Emergency Shelter, Samaritan Place, and families being assisted out of homelessness by Elizabeth’s Home.  Gifts were also provided to the Pregnancy Help Center, Parent Place, FISH, Volunteer Ministries and Crazy Quilt to help in their missions to serve the poor.  Finally, gift cards and cash were collected and distributed to families in the parish that request help with providing Christmas to their families.

Stockings made by the Craft Guild are stuffed with small gifts and distributed to members of the parish who are homebound or in nursing facilities.

Non-perishable food is collected throughout Lent.  These donations are delivered each week alternately to the Ladies of Charity Food Pantry and to Catholic Charities for the Crazy Quilt food pantry.  In a typical year, approximately 1,500 lbs of food are delivered to Ladies of Charity and a similar amount to Crazy Quilt

The committee provides a home cooked meal one Sunday every two months for the residents of Samaritan Place.

Easter baskets filled with candy, toiletries, socks, and other miscellaneous items are made for residents of Horizon Houses and Five Rivers, permanent supportive housing for adults with chronic and severe mental illness. Catholic Charities staff provide non-medical case management services to residents.  The Social Action Committee assembles approximately 25 baskets for residents.

 In January of each year, the Social Action Committee distributes baby bottles to parish members.  Parishioners return the bottles with donations in support of the Pregnancy Help Center, a Catholic Charities of East Tennessee program.  The parish typically donates approximately $11,000 each year to the Baby Bottle Drive.

Social Action is allotted funds in the All Saints budget and each year the committee decides how to use that money to help programs in the community that serve those in need.  Some of the organizations that have been recipients of donations made in the name of All Saints Catholic Church are “Meals on Wheels” (we provide meals for an individual for a year), Second Harvest Food Bank, Ladies of Charity Layette program, the Diocesan Jail Ministry and the Adoption Services Program at Catholic Charities.