Grapevine the St. Francis
March 2020
Originally established as a St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in 1986, St. Francis of Assisi Outreach has grown over the last 34 years to become a stronghold of giving in the Grapevine community. As our parish mission states, we are working to build the Church through reaching the poor, and our Outreach is the primary way we accomplish this end. This past year alone, our Outreach efforts gave nearly $200,000 in financial assistance to those in need from the surrounding areas, regardless of their religious affiliation. “We have hardly any overhead. Our staff is almost all volunteers and the Church budget covers all our expenses,” says Mary Molini, Director of St. Francis Outreach. “This means that all the money donated to our Outreach Assistance Programs actually goes to those in need, unlike most other charitable organizations. We take great pride in the fact that we never turn people away because we are ‘out of money.’” In fact, over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, our Outreach assisted over 250 local families. Joanne Baston, who has served as a case worker for numorous years, describes the good Outreach does, saying, “Each week I am given the opportunity to put into action God’s greatest commandment - love one another. It is so difficult for most of our clients to come in and ask for help and it is a very humbling moment in their lives. On the surface the Outreach is a place to come for assistance, but our clients
THE HEART & HANDS OF OUR PARISH MISSION To connect the hearts, hands, and efforts of our parish community to meet the basic necessities of our brothers and sisters in need.
usually need so much more than money and boxes of cereal. They need kindness and understanding and they need a hand to hold or a shoulder to cry on. Most importantly, they need prayer,” says Joanne. Nancy Habasch, another Outreach volunteer, recounts just the type of ways this ministry helps build up the Church. “I remember interviewing a lady one day who said she used to come to St. Francis but fell away. Now she was taking care of her grandchildren and was thinking of returning...I saw her that Saturday night at Mass with the kids and my heart soared! I felt like maybe I’d made a difference.” Mary continues, “We want parish families to know that we are a tangible way for them to help those in need, either by giving or even just shopping in our thrift store. We so appreciate the donations to the food pantry, and the financial support we receive is imperative to our work. If you meet someone who is in need, please tell them that we are a resource. Pick up a few Outreach business cards at the entrances to the Church and keep them in your wallet. We are here to help!” As Nancy reminds us, “Working in Outreach makes me extremely grateful for what I have and it makes me realize I don’t have to look far to see how many people need help. We would never be able to accomplish all we do without the generosity of our parishioners. So thank you!”
OU TR E AC H
$194,192
1147+ 252 130+
Total amount of financial assistance given in 2019
Individuals assisted at Christmas
(rent, utilities, medical, RX, etc.)
$65,000+
Families adopted at Christmas
Food Baskets prepared for holidays
Amount of financial assistance given over the holiday months (not including gifts donated through Angel Tree)
A NEWSLETTER OF ST FRANCIS CATHOLIC CHURCH • 861 WILDWOOD LN, GRAPEVINE TX • SFATX.ORG