This series has been created and written by Katherine Comunale.

Every week we will be including a suggested area of focus for Lent in this newsletter. These are ideas to connect you with God, with your community, your family, your home, and yourself. It is my hope that something in the coming weeks will resonate with you and transform into action in your lives. In putting this together, I know I have found new and interesting things to try.

Donations

The following is a list of ideas as to how you can support your local community through the donation of items.

The Gift of Food: giving what you have / collect

• Are you giving up any specific food items for Lent? If you have these items in your home, consider donating them to Debra Dynes (if non-perishable), instead of keeping them until Lent is over.

• Some of us have shared that, when gathering with family or friends, we ask everyone to bring non-perishable items that we can then donate to Debra Dynes instead of hostess gifts or food contributions. Please bring to the church so we can track the number of bags of items donated by our congregation. 😊

• Have open food items that you won’t eat in time (or any other open items you wouldn’t donate to our bazaar)? Join your local Buy Nothing Facebook group. (ex: Buy Nothing Parkwood Hills/Carleton Heights). I have been donating open items on this page as I go through my home decluttering, and it is wonderful! Almost everything I post is picked up within a day or two. It is rewarding to know that something I give helps others directly in my community. Open food items work also. Bought something and don’t like it? Don’t throw it away! There are families in need who will pick up the food items even if open.

Letting Go: giving what you have

In looking at ideas for our weekly newsletter, I found the 40 bags in 40 days challenge, which refers to decluttering and donating items from your home by, you guessed it, filling a bag every day throughout Lent or any time of year! https://www.whitehouseblackshutters.com/40-bags-in-40-days/ Perfection isn’t what matters – setting things aside to donate as you go about your home in the coming days and you’ll see how the pile grows.

Where can you bring your donations?

• Look into what Debra Dynes Family House needs. Reach out to them if you’re unsure.
• Find out what our bazaar team is looking to sell. Consider hosting a table with your items at the bazaar!
• If donating to a thrift shop, remember that Value Village is a FOR PROFIT organization. Thrive Select, St. Vincent de Paul, and Salvation Army are alternatives that directly support our local communities.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this first weekly Lenten Journey post. If you have any other suggestions on this topic, please share them and I’ll include in the coming weeks as updates. Take pictures of what you do – it would be wonderful to share them as we go and to spend some time after Lent sharing our journeys and celebrate!