More than 2000 volunteers signed up for this year’s Parish Service Day, held on October 8-9, 2021.
A variety of Blessings Bags for area nursing homes, hygiene bags for the Westside Catholic Center, St. Aloysius preschool, Cornerstone of Hope, layette bags for MetroHealth Friends of Mothers and Infants, and more were put together by over 1,200 volunteers.
Several dozen other projects were completed. Some included preparing 310 fleece comfort blankets for the Christ Child Society “my stuff” bags for children in homeless shelters. More than 40 seniors registered to enjoy a morning of Bingo, with sweet treat refreshments. Nearly 100 volunteers trimmed the gravesites at All Saints and Holy Cross. Many volunteers spruced up various parks, parishioners’ yards, North Royalton Community Garden, and St. Albert the Great grounds, to name a few. Dozens of meals were delivered to our elderly neighbors and parishioners.
Fr. Edward Estok, Pastor at St. Albert the Great, said, “I am delighted by the ‘extravagant generosity of heart’ by the parishioners of Saint Albert again this year. This is one day when we highlight God’s call to holiness through faithful service of our neighbor. I know this community, and this generosity is something they share everyday. I am especially grateful to those who have taken a leadership role in helping to make this year’s Parish Service Day an undeniable success for our Lord.”
“As a family, we were thrilled to be a part of Parish Service Day. It’s important for us to teach our boys at a young age the value of giving back to the community,” said Colleen Gorey of North Royalton.
“It’s been a blessing having St. Albert’s as a part of our community at Royalton Woods. The volunteers always go above and beyond, whether it be bringing communion, doing the rosary with our residents, and especially donating blessing bags. Our residents love receiving blessing bags as well as cards and notes from the volunteers. It truly brightens their day! We have received seasonally themed blessing bags for nearly every holiday, all filled with tasty treats and goodies. We are so appreciative of the generosity and kindness of St. Albert’s Parish,” said Hanna Wenck of Royalton Woods.