As the social service arm of our parish, the Human Concerns Commission discussed ways to reach out and embrace our young men and women in the military. We came up with a few ideas and now ask the help of the larger parish family to make these ideas happen. Our plan is to send personalized Thanksgiving care packages.

In addition to collecting gifts specific to each person, we will encourage cards, letters, and class drawings. Our hope is that a personal gift box will provide a way to show our gratitude and thanks...both singly as individuals and collectively as a parish. Please consider joining the REACH OUT efforts. Here’s how you can help.

Call Susan in the SMV office with names of family members who should be added to our list.  Call Rebecca or Bob at 847-726-0716 for more information and to sign up to work on the project. Volunteers are needed for a variety of small jobs.

Perhaps one of the greatest gifts we can give to someone is to let him or her know that we care, that he makes a difference in our lives, that we appreciate the things she does and the sacrifices he makes on our behalf. For a long while now, those St. Mary of Vernon parishioners serving in the military have been listed in our weekly bulletin, prayed for at Mass, and remembered in our hearts.