Annual Meeting ~ Additional reports

Please enjoy a few additional reports that will be amended into the Annual Meeting report for the year ended 12.31.2022:

Flower Guild 2022

Last year we bought new containers for seasonal arrangements at all entrances. Several people have helped with the arranging our pots throughout the year. The containers add a warm and caring look to the cathedral. The garden around the bell tower was completed and was a beautiful addition to our community. Of course, this is just the beginning. We need to have help from any volunteers who would be willing to spend a little time to help keep the gardens and containers looking sharp. If working with fresh flowers is your talent, there is a spot for you. Please reach out to me at coffee hour, or feel free to call to me.

Respectfully Submitted,
Elaine Ellenson
Flower Guild Chair

Needful Things Personal Care Pantry 2022

Needful Things Personal Care Pantry, an outreach ministry of Christ Church Cathedral began in 2014. Pantry distribution is on the last Saturday of every month from 3-5 pm. Clients drive up or walk up to our pull-through driveway, where volunteers obtain statistics and provide 1 bag per family.

Our Pantry is funded 100% by donations of items and money. We are staffed 100% by volunteers to obtain items, inventory and stock shelves, fill and distribute bags of items such as toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, dish soap, liquid hand soap, shampoo, laundry pods, bar soap, toothpaste – other items may be included as we are able to acquire them (we were able to get body wash, lotion, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, hair conditioner, cleaning wipes free or very low cost from Feed My People). We also have items that people may request in addition to the pre-filled bags: examples include baby diapers and wipes, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene pads and tampons, razors, shaving cream, deodorant).
Feed My People Food Bank (FMP) is a source for some of our items. We had a grant at FMP leftover from previous years, that was spent early in 2022. Some items from FMP are no cost to us, others we pay for each month. FMP does not always have items we need – their focus is food – so we may need to shop for needed basic items. The most patronized places include Sam’s Club (paper products); Menards – especially when they have rebates (toothpaste, deodorant, bar soap); Amazon (laundry pods), and less often Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Big Lots.

Items brought in by parishioners may affect the amounts needed to be spent on supplies, so you will see big variations month to month for expenses on the chart below. The statistics we collect are required by FMP: households, age categories and weight of items provided – which varies with what items are included and size of containers.

Christa has had a few calls for emergency needs for baby diapers or adult incontinence products, outside of pantry hours; we were able to help fill those needs. Eau Claire Dept of Human Services asked us for a few supplies in 2022 (covered by Fr Benjamin discretionary funds).

The first Sunday of each month plate collection is ear marked for NTP. Two major donations to note in 2022 were a collection at Diocesan Convention for $624 and a very large collection of items brought in during the Gumulaukas Ordination. Midwest Dental on Hendrickson Drive has generously provided toothbrush kits for kids and adults.

Respectfully submitted,
Ann Peterson