Children and youth have distributed more than $200,000 in funds to charities

On November 19, 2009, I wrote a short article on the children's offertory envelopes and their charity account, which is funded by the children's offertory envelopes and ten percent of the net proceeds of the parish school's annual dinner and auction. In 2009, approximately 700 children and youth made a weekly average donation of $350.

I thought I should give you a better picture of how the STM children and their weekly contributions which they place in a special jar at the altar are making a difference. As I said earlier, all of the children's collection go to the Children's Carity Account, which they distribute to various agencies that they chose.

Since we started this Charity Account in FY year 2004-2005, the STM children have given away and average of $40,543 for a total of $202,717 through FY 2008-2009. All three branches of the Faith and Academic Formation Commission -- the Office of Catechesis, Parish School and Youth Ministry -- are given a budget for them to distribute during the year.

Most of the gifts distributed go to children-oriented charities locally, nationally and internationally. The children usually research a particular charity which they are interested in making a contribution. Among the charitable agencies they have chosen are: hospitals catering to children, agencies that help poor children as well as those with special needs. They have given poor students in Third World countries tuition assistance funds, even helped build a library.

More importantly, the STM children and youth are learning to give in thanksgving for all the blessings they have received, and in so doing help make the world a better place.

-- Mila Glodava
January 29, 2010