Our St. Vincent de Paul conference is planning to distribute packages of toiletries and paper products to our grocery gift card recipients.  SNAP benefits (food stamps) only cover food and we have learned that the families we help who are okay with food are struggling to pay for items such as toilet paper, toothpaste, laundry detergent, and other essential non-food items.  Here are three ways to help: 

1.  Donate individual items (laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo, toothpaste, period products,   liquid hand soap, and bars of soap, toilet paper, paper towels).
2.  Donate funds to contribute to bulk purchases of paper products. Either write a check to St.  Vincent de Paul - St. Mary of the Assumption or donate online (please select St. Vincent de   Paul as the earmark and add a comment that you are contributing to the household kits).
3.  Assemble a kit for a family ($40-50) or individual ($25-30).

• Family kit: 50-80 oz. laundry detergent, 20-30 oz. dish soap, shampoo, 2 tubes of toothpaste, 4-6 bars of soap 
• Individual kit: 20-30 oz. laundry detergent, 8-10 oz. dish soap, shampoo, toothpaste, 2-3 bars of soap

Please drop off kits (packaged in a bag or box; we will add the paper products) or items at the back of St. Mary Church from March 28-30 when you come for Mass or Stations of the Cross.  (The church is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. or later on days with evening services.)  You are welcome to add a note or card—sometimes a card from a child means more than all of the material items.
 
If you plan to assemble one or more complete kits, please sign up online here so we can plan accordingly.
 
Thank you very much for your generosity!