Human Concerns Commission
The Human Concerns Commission is entrusted with the responsibility of working with the pastoral staff in planning, fostering and promoting the social, ecumenical -religious and service mission of the parish.2010/2011 Contact: Mary Ann Duderstadt

Our Lady of the Brook  Parish Pastoral Council

Human Concerns Ministry Activities Report January 2012

Giving Tree: Provides Christmas gifts and food certificates to families at St. Martin de Porres. Volunteer opportunities include being a coordinator for a group of families (preparing the “Angels”, ensuring everyone brings their gifts, packing gifts for pick-up by St. Martin’s.) Contact: Ron Hartzer or Marnee Kenny

We had another very successful year, and are looking forward to our Lenten-Easter Feed My Lambs

Bread Brigade: Meets on various mornings to package donated bread in preparation for distribution to local shelters. Contact: Susan Eimerman

In progress…the “brigade” meets on Tuesday mornings in the parish kitchen.

Hilda’s Place: Soup kitchen service in Evanston. Contact: Mary Vollkommer

In progress in conjunction with our joint Youth Ministry program with St. Norbert’s.

Food drives: occurs seasonally to replenish supply at St. Martin’s Pantry. Contact: Dcn Dennis McAllister

Our November-December food drives were very successful. Our goal is to continue with a monthly gathering of food to support pantries as well as St. Martin’s

On a separate but related note:

• Domestic Violence: Because the Cardinal has specifically asked that the deacons make this topic a matter of their ministerial focus, we have continued to keep the basket in the women’s restroom stocked with the multi-fold brochure with the self-assessment points and the national domestic violence hotline number.

Service Opportunities:

Meet the Bread Brigade!
(Every Monday Night)

On Monday nights Karen (Susala) and Bill Hayworth deliver the bread from Panera on Waukegan Road in Deerfield. If they are unavailable, one of the packers makes arrangements to be there before closing to get the daily leftovers. Richard Werner, Susan Vaickauski, Mariette Fine, Brigitte Fine, James Fine, Henk Lamberts, Christal Lamberts, Debbie Gordon along with her brother and Susan Eimerman meet at OLB to spend a half hour packing the bread into single family servings.

They leave some for St. Martin's on their designated weeks. Karen delivers some bread to "Wings," Judi and Mark Ronan deliver some to Hilda's Place for their intake program participants, they leave some for Little Mexico which Rudy delivers on his way home, Mark Spina sometimes takes some to Catholic Charities and Susan takes a load to the New Life Shelter. (Although after mid October, Judi Ronan may add that delivery to her Hilda's Place treck.) Occasionally, Joanne and Jim Futrell run the delivery to New Life Shelter as well.

Jean Borin and the knitters of OLB sometimes leave us supplies for New Life. In the past they have provided new pillows and food, along with their home stitched products.

Interested in joining the Bread Brigade? Call the rectory and we will put you in touch with the group.