Stockings are stuffed for the less fortunate

IC photos by Christine Young

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Saint Olaf Parish children and parents fill stockings with toiletries, toys, hats, gloves, and scarves for men who will spend Christmas Day at Catholic Community Service's Saint Vincent de Paul Center in Salt Lake City.

BOUNTIFUL - Santa Claus came early to Saint Olaf Parish to participate in the annual parish Stocking Stuffer Dec. 4, hosted by the Saint Olaf Council of Catholic Women.

"I brought 100 pair of stockings, hats and gloves for little children, boys and girls and men and women," said Santa. "I brought things they will need for the winter in the cold. I worry so much about the children and the adults who are less fortunate. This is the time of year my spirit just soars. So I do what I can by bringing what I can to make people warm on the inside with good cheer and warm on the outside with hats and gloves."

St. Olaf parishioners enjoyed gathering and socializing for a potluck dinner before stuffing stockings. The women's council provided the meat, rolls and beverages, and the parishioners brought the rest of a variety of foods.

The women's council prepared 450 stockings by placing one stocking inside the other before the stockings were filled with toiletry items such as shampoo, conditioner, a toothbrush and toothpaste, lotion, a Christmas card made by St. Olaf School students and a toy for the children. Parishioners provided toiletry items they have been collecting throughout the year as they travel, as well as stockings in addition to what Santa brought for those at the St. Vincent de Paul Center. They also gave donations of hats and gloves.

The women's council officers held a general membership meeting in September, at which time women in the parish tied scarves. Some women took more scarves home to tie. Scarves were also tied by boy scouts and other individuals who wanted to get involved. The women's council officers sorted all of the toiletry items and items for the stockings into those for boys, girls, men and women so the stockings remained organized in categories so parishioners could form assembly lines to fill the stockings.

Throughout the year the women's council sponsors coffee and donuts following the Sunday Masses. Money is donated by parishioners each Sunday for coffee and donuts, and the money collected is used for this project. This year the council collected about $800. The money collected helps buy supplies throughout the year, and what is needed for the Stocking Stuffer project.

Students from Judge Memorial Catholic High School and St. Olaf Middle School helped tie the bags the stockings are placed in before they are delivered to the St. Vincent de Paul Center. The bags will be distributed to the poor on Christmas Day.

In years past it has been said by those who work at St. Vincent that sometimes this bag is the only thing some of these people receive on Christmas Day. "When the parishioners and children at St. Olaf hear this, it gives them a warm feeling that they are helping others, but also a sad feeling that others are less fortunate," said Jennifer Schuh, Women's Council president.

"It makes me feel good to help the poor," said Alexandra Welninski, a sophomore at Judge Memorial Catholic High School.

"It is a wonderful way to help those in need," said Wayne Welninski. "This is the noncommercial side of Christmas, and the part of giving that is spiritual."

"It is wonderful to earn service hours on such a worthwhile project," said Amanda Schuh, an eighth grade student at St. Olaf School. "It is hard to imagine the homeless might only get this bag we give them for Christmas."

"The Stocking Stuffer is a project that brings the St. Olaf community together and one we look forward to year after year," said Jennifer. "This is about the 13th year St. Olaf has donated stockings to the poor who eat a hot meal on Christmas Day at the St. Vincent de Paul Center. It is something we look forward to year after year."