Blessing Bag Ministry of St. Francis Parish
Sponsored by St. Francis Women's Connection



Information on the Food Drive for William F. Mackey III is further below.

Four times a year we provide Blessing Bags filled with food & fun, prayer & care, to bring a lift to local families facing the high cost of feeding children today.  The bags are filled with both practical and FUN items.

We serve families with children-- not just families in need, but ALL families who can use a lift and a smile in these trying economic times.  

The Blessing Bag Committee truly believes every family with children facing the exorbitant cost of groceries today could use a hand and a lift once in a while.

We serve parishioners, but mostly families from the greater community, no questions asked.

The Women's Connection started our Blessing Bags during the pandemic to lift spirits and remind parents/guardians and children that someone cares. The joy and smiles from the families indicated that we had to find a way to continue.

And with a lot of faith, help from our Lord, and prayers from many, we have done so through our uplifting ministry today.

Registered families simply drive up to our trailer and we bring the bags out to them .... with a smile!  It's our own way to shine the Light.

How to RECEIVE Blessing Bags:  If you're a parent/guardian raising children, you qualify.  Email [email protected] and we will add your family to our Blessing Bag Recipient Email List.  You'll receive an email prior to each of our giveaways.  During giveaway times, you simply drive up to our trailer and we'll bring the bag(s) out to you.

Bring the kids along as we make it fun for them!



Parents/guardians are always very grateful. Here's a recent note from a mom that represents the many we receive:

"You are seriously the best! I'm seriously so thankful for you guys. I don't think you understand how much of a help this has been for me and my girls. Thank you so much!"
 

Receiver families are also prayed for daily by our Rosary Group during the week that we have Giveaways.
 

How can I help?  We publish in our bulletin and online newsletters where we need help each quarter. 

During Lent (March) and 9/11 (in memory of John Ogonowski, 9/11 pilot and parishioner of St. Francis), we invite parishioners and friends to fill bags with family-friendly foods and other needed items.

For our Christmas Blessing Bags and Memorial Day Blessing Bags, we use donated funds and fundraisers to fill the bags and also provide gift cards to Farmer Dave's in Dracut.  Farmer Dave's is just minutes from our church in East Dracut; often families go there to shop or for some fun right after picking up the bags.

ONLINE FINANCIAL DONATIONS are welcome as they allow us to buy food & gift cards.  Select ONLINE GIVING from this website; under FUND, select Blessing Bags from the Drop-Down Menu. 

If the donation is in memory or in honor of a loved one, indicate that in the NOTE section.

or CHECKS:  Please make checks payable to St. Francis Parish Blessing Bags, PO Box 609, Dracut MA  01826.  Indicate if it's in memory or in honor of a loved one and to whom the thank you/notification should be directed.

For questions, write to Debbie at the Women's Connection at:
[email protected]

COMING UP

William F. Mackey III Memorial Food Drive

We are grateful to the family & friends of Bill Mackey, who are turning his sad loss in 2023 into a way to help others. On his birthday, they are collecting family-friendly foods from their own family and friends.  There will be a trailer parked at 21 Sheffield Road, Tewksbury, on April 27 from 10am-6pm for their friends and family to stop by, donate and enjoy some snacks.  

The Blessing Bag Ministry will use these kind donations to fill bags for the Memorial Day Blessing Bag Giveaway.

EZ-OPTION -- fill a large sturdy shopping bag (from Market Basket, Marshalls, etc.)  that has handles (not paper) with a variety of the items listed below.  We'll hand your bag to a family exactly as you packed it.  When our parishioners fill bags during Lent and 9/11, they love knowing their bag will go to a family just as is (and it shows!)

Optional: If you'd like to do more, feel free to staple a gift card to the inside back of the bag (so it does not get mistakenly tossed by the family).  Parishioners add gift cards to Market Basket, McDonald's, the local Ice Cream Shop, Target, WalMart, CVS, etc.

Loose food donations are still most welcome during the food drive. We will pack it into Blessing Bags for you.

MOST NEEDED FOODS:  Anything non-perishable a family with children would enjoy -- Pasta, Rice, Canned Pastas, Cereals, Granola Bars, Snack Packs, Cookies, Crackers, Canned Vegetables and Fruits, Mac & Cheese, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Snack Cakes, Taco Kits, Hamburger Helper, Tuna, Pasta Sauce (please avoid glass jars or bottles or expired foods)

Below, Sister Joanne Sullivan (Sisters of Notre Dame) and Sharon Smart of Tewksbury add Blessing Bag tags to the donated bags.



WE ALSO WELCOME:  A big goal of our ministry is simply to bring JOY. Children are often in the vehicle when the parents/guardians come by, so we typically have something FUN to give to them.  Coloring books, simple activities, arts and crafts, stickers, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, yard toys -- anything that will bring a smile in Bill's memory.

Can't make it to the drive?  Donations to the Blessing Bags in Bill's memory are welcome.  See information above for giving online or by check.  Donations will be used to purchase gift cards to Farmer Dave's so the families can buy vegetables, fresh baked goods or just have some fun (the kids love Farmer Dave's!)  100% of your donation will go to the Blessing Bag Ministry.