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| Coloring our community and providing warmth to children in need |
In the fall of the year, when bags of autumn leaves are piling up in yards all over the city, a similar phenomenon is happening at St. Joan of Arc - but the bags are filled with brightly colored winter jackets, hats and mittens. The recipients of these warm treasures are children whose family circumstances are such that without the generosity of St. Joan parishioners, they might suffer in the harsh Minnesota weather.
Karen Blomberg-Johnson, Aimee Zweber, Claudia Zweber, and LeAnn Llundberg make up the “Warm Hearts, Warm Hands” team, a project that dates back almost 10 years. At that time, Julie Foxfag wanted to donate a warm jacket to a child who would really need it. She approached “Person to Person”, an organization that works to help low-income people strive to achieve self-sufficiency. The idea fit Person to Person’s goals because by providing necessary outerwear for children, it would free up dollars for the family to pay their rent or buy groceries for the week.
The idea took on a life of it’s own with St. Joan of Arc being the original site for the collection. The first year barely 30 jackets were donated and distributed. Though other churches have adopted the Warm Hearts, Warm Hands idea, St. Joan of Arc is by far the biggest contributor to the project. This year 450 children will receive warm jackets, hats, and mittens through the generosity of our parishioners. Karen pointed out that an important piece of the program is that all of the clothing is new, a precious thing to families who rarely receive anything new.
While the project may seem like a simple one, the details and organization are amazing. Each family requesting a coat or jacket fills out a card indicating the first name of the child, the gender, age, approximate height/weight/build, and a preference for a short or long coat, or snowsuit. The child is also asked what their favorite color is and if they prefer mittens or gloves. Each family is given an identifying number and the card is color-coded. Cards are distributed before and after masses for two Sundays in September. Those wishing to participate are able to choose whatever card they wish. Many have a preference for a gender or age, but others ask what profile is least likely to be chosen - and that is what they look for. When a card is chosen the donor completes a card with basic information so they can be contacted if need be. In addition to the card they receive a large plastic bag with a sticker attached to match it to the child.
The coats and jackets are collected on two Sundays in October in order to be distributed toward the end of the month. When the coats are delivered to the Parish Center there is a group of volunteers ready to receive them. Each bag is checked to be sure the garment is heavy enough for a Minnesota winter, that there is a hood attached or a hat and mittens enclosed. Price tags are removed. Finally the label on the bag is matched to a card, and the coat is put in a pile waiting for distribution. There are six agencies that help deliver the bags to the families; others are delivered directly to the homes.
When I interviewed Karen and Aimee, they were eager to share their enthusiasm for the project, often slipping into stories about their experiences. They talked about parents with children stopping by the table to choose a card. What a wonderful way to teach the lessons of giving to those who have so much less. Often the child is allowed to pick the card, and according to Aimee, they often pick the card of a child their same age and gender. Karen remembered one mother saying she took her son shopping for a new winter jacket for him, and one to donate to Warm Hands, Warm Hearts. According to the mother, her son spent much more time choosing exactly the right jacket to be given to the other child than he did on his own. In another instance, one of the small Christian Communities at St. Joan of Arc chose four cards, then shopped for the jackets and ended on a social note, with lunch. Karen and Aimee laughed as they told about the older gentleman who stopped by their table and said, “I am a terrible shopper! May I give you some money so you can do the shopping?” And, of course, they were grateful for the donation. When they receive gifts of money they use it in case someone forgets to bring back a jacket, or to pay for some of the expenses of the program. A few people in the parish purchase hats and mittens throughout the year, many of them on sale or clearance, and when coats come in without those items, a good match is found to supplement the bag.
Karen talked about how heartwarming it can be to deliver the packages to some of the families. She remembered bringing jackets for four children in one family, and the excitement of the youngest child as she said, “Look, it’s got my name on it!” How special it must be for children who rarely get new clothing to open a package with a warm jacket chosen just for them.
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