ECUMENICAL OUTREACH

Churches serve needy families

BY PAT PASTERNAK
STAFF WRITER

Earlier this year, at a Called to be Church meeting, Theresa Haldane realized that some families with young children were not attending Mass at St. Bridget's Church in Copake Falls.

"I started to think about how, as a parish, we could be more inclusive of young families in our activities," she said.

She decided that one solution was to help the young mothers involved in the county WIC program that meets monthly at the parish.

Guests

WIC, which stands for Women, Infants and Children, is a government-funded special supplemental food program for low-income pregnant or breastfeeding women and their children.

Catholic Charities of Columbia and Greene Counties sponsors the WIC program in that region. Due to the rural setting of both counties, there are 11 satellite locations, including one at St. Bridget's.

"I thought it might be nice to start a monthly luncheon for these young moms and their children," Mrs. Haldane said. "The meal would offer hospitality from the parish, provide an opportunity for some socialization, and hopefully give the young women a chance to get to know each other and form some friendships."

Each month since January, volunteers have provided home-made soup and sandwiches, dessert, and beverages. "It isn't fancy," Mrs. Haldane said, "but it is nutritious. We give them a good, wholesome meal."

Ecumenical effort

Once the idea was established, she contacted local church leaders to see if they wanted their congregations to participate on a rotating basis.

"We have an organization called Churches Assisting Neighbors (CAN)." she explained. "The congregations that participate include the Hillside Methodist Church, St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church, St. Bridget's, Copake Methodist Church, the West Copake Reformed Church and St. John's Lutheran Church in Ancram. They all agreed to participate."

Each month, one congregation takes its turn in providing a home-cooked meal that volunteers serve. Regardless of the church involved, the luncheon is always at St. Bridget's, because it is centrally located.

"We've always done things here as a community because we are a rural area," she said. "Everyone pitches in to help, no matter what the effort. We want these young women to know that they are part of a community that cares about them and their children."

(The next lunch at St. Bridget's Church is scheduled for July 19. For information, call 329-4711. For information on the WIC program in Columbia and Greene counties, call 828-8660.)

(7/12/07)