Vol. 24| Iss. 10| October 2020
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Special Section 2
12 New Dolly Song
14 Kids Craft
Columns: Grace Notes: Hooked On Books: Faith & Footprints: Crafts For Kids
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ANNUAL FUNDRAISING TEA EVENT HOSTED BY ST. STEPHEN CATHOLIC MOVES ONLINE By Kelly Wise Valdes
St. Stephen Catholic Church in Riverview is hosting its online fundraiser from Sunday, September 27 to Sunday, October 11. All proceeds help support the food pantry and other financial needs in the community.
For 16 years St. Stephens Catholic Church has been hosting Ladies Tea fundraisers through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The donations collected from the annual event lend assistance to people in need throughout the community. This year alone, the St. Stephen Conference of St. Vincent de Paul has served more than 1,900 families with food and $53,000 in financial assistance. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a nonprofit Catholic organization operated by volunteers. The mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is to serve those in need and promote spiritual growth for the men and women who serve. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the annual Ladies Tea event will not be held in person this year. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, the need for assistance has grown. Bridget Wray, president of the St.
serving our neighbors in need without ever shutting down,” said Wray. “We see many new faces because of COVID-19 circumstances, maybe loss of jobs or children at home full time, and their needs have become a challenge.” The fundraiser begins on St. Vincent de Paul’s Feast Day on Sunday, September 27 and ends on Sunday, October 11. “Donations from our community enable us to continue providing food and assistance with utilities and rent,” said Wray. “Our community has been very supportive and we need donors more now during this difficult time, especially with the holidays coming.” To make an online donation, visit www.svdpriverviewfl.org. Checks can be made out to St. Vincent de Paul and mailed to St. Stephen Church, 10118 Saint Stephen Cir., Riverview, FL 33569. For information on the St. Stephen Conference and food pantry, email svdp@ststephencatholic.org. The church office can be reached at 689-4900.
Stephen Conference of St. Vincent de Paul, is encouraged that the community will still come together remotely and help support this worthy cause during these difficult times. “Throughout this pandemic, the St. Stephen Conference of St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and financial support has been blessed to continue
NEW HOPE UMC HAS BEEN GOING NUTS FOR PECANS FOR 50 YEARS By Kelly Wise Valdes
The United Methodist Women of New Hope United Meth“Our orders probably will be a little less this year because odist Church are celebrating its 50th year of providing the of COVID, but we have safety measures in place for those best, just-picked-and-shelled, fresh-from-the-grower pewho want to purchase this year,” said Brooks. The pecan orchard picks the pecans on Monday of the cans. Over the last 25 years, this event has raised money delivery week, boxes them on Tuesday and Wednesday and to donate more than $400,000 to local and international then delivers to the church on Friday. They are the freshest missions, such as ECHO, Metropolitan Ministries, Brandon pecans you can get without going to the orchard yourself. Life Care (now Choices), United Methodist Children’s Home, Prices are $46 for a 5 lb. box of pecan halves or pieces Family Promise, Cornerstone Ministries, Mary & Martha and $10 for a 1 lb. bag of pecan halves. Specialty items inHouse, Beth-El Mission, Women’s Resource Center (now Hope for Her), Children’s Home Society and more. clude: 1 lb. bag of chocolate amaretto pecans for $12, 1 lb. Barbara Brooks, pecan committee chairwoman for the bag of praline pecans for $12 and the assortment Christlast 15 years, is excited to host this fundraiser again. “The mas tin of chocolate amaretto, pralines and roasted and best part of the pecan sale is the money we get to contribsalted pecan halves for $25. You can place your order from Thursday, October 1 to ute to local missions,” said Brooks. Sunday, November 1 by calling Mary Baker from 9 a.m.-8 This annual pecan sale has grown to more than 650 cusp.m. at 643-4493 or emailing bjbrooks5@gmail.com. Customers from the Southern Hillsborough County area; however, customers order from as far away as Orlando and tomers can also visit www.pecansale.com to pay by credThe United Methodist Women of New Hope UMC are once again selling fresh pecans in time for the holidays. Lakeland to support this worthy cause. it card. Please make checks payable to UMW and mail to “It’s wonderful to see many of the same customers come by every year and P.O. Box 546, Lithia, FL 33547. Only prepaid orders are reserved. Others will be to catch up with them,” said Brooks. “Customers tend to arrive about the same sold on a first-come, first-served basis. time of day, and our volunteers tend to work the same times each year, so some Pickup is on Saturday, November 14 and Monday, November 16 from 8 a.m.-6 of them really do have a bond. After 15 years, I recognize many of them,” p.m. at the New Hope Life Center on 213 N. Knights Ave. in Brandon (just north Last year, the United Methodist Women sold almost 1,000 of the 5 lb. boxes of pe- of SR 60). Please park on the right side of the building and look for the pecan signs. cans, 450 of the 1 lb. bags plus pralines, chocolate amaretto and the assortment tin.