More than 1,900 parishioners of Saint Albert the Great Church completed nearly 200 volunteer projects as part of the Catholic church’s annual Day of Service event.
Now in its fifth year, the two-day Day of Service event, held this year on October 13 and 14, invited parishioners, school children and their families to sign-up and participate in a service project. Projects ranged from visits to nursing homes to assist in meal serving and activities, to church cleaning at inner-city parishes, shifts at hunger centers and animal shelters, meal delivery to homebound-residents, grocery loading at Discount Drug Mart, clean-up of area parks and cemeteries, and dozens more. A newer project, that unfortunately was cancelled, included a softball game at Grafton Correctional Institution. Service projects occur in and around Greater Cleveland, and a Parish Service Day Planning Committee assists in identifying projects, publicizing the event, generating donations and forming liturgy celebrations.
There were several volunteer projects held inside the Parish Hall and adjoining Saint Albert the Great School as well. More than 300 families gathered to assemble packages for Project Night Night, a charity that distributes fleece blankets, books and stuffed animals to children checking into homeless shelters. In another area, volunteers gathered to pen letters of encouragement to students completing their GED as part of the Seeds of Literacy program. And in the cafeteria of Saint Albert the Great School, volunteers assisted Ears to You, a nonprofit organization that distributes earrings, hats and head scarves to those undergoing chemotherapy. Its founder, Ruth Crane, is in remission from breast cancer.
“My dad died from brain cancer and we know how painful it can be,” said Day of Service volunteer Lisa Lint, as she assembled earrings onto individual cards. “It can be hard to feel pretty when you are so sick, so if I can do something to help make somebody feel a little special during such a hard time, then I gladly will.”
Gerry Stephen, a parishioner and resident of North Royalton, assisted in a service project that ironed St. Gerard decals onto handkerchiefs. The decaled handkerchiefs are distributed on his Feast Day of October 16. As the story goes, St. Gerard, the patron saint of expectant mothers, unborn children, childbirth and motherhood, dropped his handkerchief and a girl stooped down to retrieve it and return it to him. St. Gerard Majella told her to keep it. Years later, the same girl was in labor and at risk of dying during childbirth. She had St. Gerard’s handkerchief brought to her and her pain simultaneously ceased and she birthed a healthy child. During that time, just one in three births were successful, with either the mother, the baby, or both, dying during birth.
“I’m named after St. Gerard so I knew this was the project for me,” Stephen said.
Jen Dumm and her children Owen and Wade, crafted fleece blankets for Project Night Night.
“Helping a child and being a mom is really important to me,” Dumm said, when asked why her family specifically chose this service project.
Day of Service volunteers ranged in age from kindergarteners to older adults. In its first year, 2013, more than 750 volunteers participated in more than 100 projects and service sites throughout Greater Cleveland, and since then, numbers have only climbed. It was created by the Saint Albert the Great Pastoral Council, who saw the need for parishioners to reach outside their suburban boundaries and act as Catholics are called to do, said Denise Bobulsky, service and volunteer coordinator for Saint Albert the Great Church.
“There is no better way of acting out our faith than putting it into action by serving our friends and neighbors in need,” Bobulsky said. “To see the smiles on our volunteers’ faces and the smiles on those we serve, is a special observation. And think about what a great example parents of our children are exhibiting.”
In the Parish Hall, volunteers including students from Saint Albert the Great School, assisted in meal preparation and Bingo calling for a special luncheon especially for older adults living in the community.
“Volunteering makes me feel good and it’s a nice thing to do for people,” said 13-year-old Carmella Grieder, as she shredded turkey for senior meal serving.
Volunteers Sharon and Al Petrich, Helen Kovach, and Linda and Rich Dienes assisted in preparing a meal for The St. Herman House in Ohio City.
“The wonderful thing about volunteering is that you can do as much or as little as you want. Any amount of time you can donate is always appreciated,” said Sharon Petrich. “It’s about giving back.”

By SARA MACHO HILL
Contributing Writer