On Sunday, May 7, 2023, the Holy Trinity Church School students, along with their students, assembled Blessing Bags, filled with items that were donated by those from the Holy Trinity Community, and supporters of our community as well.

The idea behind the Blessings Bags was initiated by Mrs. Andrea Dziadul at the HTOC Annual Parish Assembly in January, 2023. During the month of April, items for the bags were brought to church by parish members and placed in the downstairs hall. Each of the one gallon storage bags included a pair of socks, deodorant, a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, handwipes, shampoo/conditioner, comb, sunscreen, lip balm, granola bars, trail mix, and tissues. Also included was a 3x5 prayer card, an equally as important piece of each blessing bag.

“It was important that we show our church school children the need for sharing kindness, faith, and the love of Jesus Christ with other’ a love that we all experience,” Mrs. Dziadul said. “That we were able to assemble eighty three Blessing Bags to be distributed is far beyond what we had hoped for. Our initial goal was 50 bags, but through the kindness and support of those from the Holy Trinity community, we were able to exceed that number. This entire Blessing Bag Service Project has allowed all those involved to experience the power of Christian joy lived out in community.”

Each Holy Trinity member will receive any where from 3-5 bags to keep in their car. During our travels, when someone is in obvious need, they will be offered a Blessing Bag which will assist them in maintaining even simply hygiene care.

“Hygiene is the most basic essential that people who depend on the kindness of others to help them with,” Holy Trinity Priest Marc Vranes noted. “The Blessing Bags will be a message that those in need, especially the homeless, will not be forgotten. There is an element of human respect and dignity that those who receive a Blessing Bag will hopefully experience.”

“Mrs. Dziadul’s idea, along with the help of our other church school teachers, Mrs. Vera Shelley and Mrs. Alexis Tammaro, and all those who lent a helping and supportive hand, sends a strong message to our children that it is not okay to be dismissive of the needs of others who live in each of our communities. We need only to open our eyes to understand that.”

This is the first year of the revised Holy Trinity Church School Program. It has been quite successful; the teachers and students have been engaged, and perhaps equally as important, it is a sustainable program. We are grateful to the weekly efforts of our church school teachers. Including a service project into the curriculum sends a strong message to our church’s children.

Click link for:  Prayer Card