Service is one of the most rewarding things I have done through Saint Thomas More. I often participate in St. Elizabeth Sandwich Line and I went on a service trip up in Julesburg Colorado last summer.

 Unfortunately, in today’s society the concepts “Buy! Consume! Get!” are projected so strongly that we often forget that God calls us to “Give” and take care of each other. Service really changed my heart, I saw how extremely lucky I am and how much I can give. One important thing to remember is that service is definitely not limited to donating money, or goods. Giving your love and time along with material things can change lives, including yours.

 I would encourage everyone to volunteer in there community. Saint Thomas More Youth Ministry provides many opportunities for middle and high school students to help others, get involved and make a difference in our community. Thank you and God bless!

 
Daniela Battaglioli

Want to Volunteer Your Time & Talent?
 

St. Elizabeth Sandwich Line
 

2nd Saturday of Every Month (9:00am-1:00pm) 

Help prepare and serve lunch to Denver's Homeless at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church on the Auroria Campus in Downtown Denver

From the Heart Nursing Home

8:45am-11:30am

Help put a smile on the faces of the men and women at  Greenwood Village Health and Rehabilitation Center.

We meet at St. Thomas More Youth Center at 8:45am and then carpool for breakfast to discuss what we will do with the nursing home residents.  Then we head over to the Center to spend time playing games, talking and listening, and using our musical instruments to entertain the residents of Greenwood Village Health and Rehabilitation Center. If you can play the piano or any other instrument, please come share your gift with them. 

Broadway Assistance Center

4th Thursday of Every month (4:00pm-8:00pm)

Help Serve Dinner to over 200 poor & homeless families at the Broadway Assistance Center.

Urban Plunge

Dates TBA

7th & 8th Grade Students will team up with Adult leaders to serve Denver and the Homeless Community. Help hand out lunches and pray with the men and women of Denver who are struggling to find work, a home, and meaningful friendships. The best part is being able to pray with the homeless and show them that we are thinking and praying for them always.

 Harvest Farms

Dates TBA 

Harvest Farms is just north of Ft. Collins and is a rehabilitation farm for men who struggle with drug & alcohol addictions. The men who stay there help raise crops for the Denver Rescue Mission. Our jobs in the past have included removing weeds from their pumpkin patch and helping rebuild their pond. It is sooo much fun and well worth the trip. Best of all... It's Free! 

Souperbowl of Caring

Date: NFL Superbowl Sunday (February 7th, 2009)

On the morning of Super Bowl Sunday teams of teenagers and adults stand outside of 17+ local supermarkets to collect non-perishable food and/or cash donations. After a couple of hours collecting, the teams bring all donations back to St. Thomas More where another team of Adults & Students will be waiting to help sort, count, and seperate the donations that will be given to 4 Denver Food Banks and Assistance Centers. Those Centers are North Side Assistance Center, Fr. Woody's Haven of Hope, Broadway Assitance Center, and Growing Homes Ministry. This is a great event for families as well. The best part is that 100% of everything collected (food and money) is evenly divided and given to the 4 Centers. Oh, don't worry about missing the Super Bowl, you will be done with plenty of time to get ready or you can enjoy the game with us in the High School Youth Center.

Lessons From The Sandwich Line

By Kelsey Krebsbach

I’ve always thought of the homeless as people who I should avoid.  They didn’t look or dress the way I did. They were different.  After I went to Sandwich Line, where I helped feed them, I realized that they never really planned on living on the streets.  They were just normal people, but without homes. When I saw all these men and women lined up outside the church, I began to understand the importance of volunteering. Not only are you doing things for others at no cost, but you are also making an impression in somebody’s life.

After this experience, I thought about the word “homeless.”  It was just a label I used on anyone that lived on city sidewalks.  After seeing all these people lined up outside the church, I couldn’t believe what being homeless really was like.  It wasn’t just wearing old clothes and having no money.  It was having no family, being cold, and most of all being alone.  At night,  think of what it must be like to sleep on a bench.  In the day, think of asking every stranger for money, and carrying your possessions in a garbage bag, if you had any.

There are opportunities to help people in need everywhere. Homeless shelters, poor families and kids who need food and clothing, you name it.  So volunteer and start to understand the lives of different people.  We take a lot of things for granted, especially our families.  When you do things like this, you’re sharing a little bit of that with everyone, and it really counts.