Dozens of volunteers from Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Grafton spent much of the day on April 5 volunteering for service projects at the parish.
Terri Telepak, director of faith formation, said a crew spent time working on the landscaping in front of the church to spruce it up for spring. They planned to do some clean-up work in the parish cemetery, but wet weather delayed that project.
Other volunteers washed pews in the church to help prepare for Holy Week and Easter. Another group spent time assisting in the parish’s Helping Hands Food Pantry where they loaded boxes of groceries into the cars of those in need. Members of the parish’s Our Lady’s Guild cleaned the kitchen in the parish hall.
(See above for a photo gallery from these service projects.)
Telepak said children of the parish also made cards for parishioners who are making their confirmation this spring.
Meanwhile, 24 students and two adult moderators from St. Edward High School in Lakewood traveled to St. Vitus Parish in Cleveland’s St. Clair Avenue neighborhood to assist with landscaping and grounds clean-up projects.
Stanley Kuhar from St. Vitus said the group helped lay mulch on and around the church grounds as well as at nearby St. Vitus Village. They also assisted at Joseph House, a nonprofit organization that assists refugees and immigrants with clothing, household items and other needs.
“The students from St. Edward were just great: good listeners, respectful and willing to give a few hours of service. We greatly appreciated their talents and time,” Kuhar said.