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MARQUETTE --The four pillars of Lent are Prayer, Fast and Almsgiving. A local group of teens aka the St. Michael Church Teen Group took almsgiving to a special level this Lent by coordinating a service project for their peers in need of extra support while they enter into treatment for mental health challenges that include, addiction and other issues. Beginning in February, they used in person presentations, letters posted on Facebook and posters that asked for donations to make Welcome Kits for those teens age 13-17 who enter the Great Lakes Recovery Adolescent Resident Treatment home in Negaunee.
They recently completed the project and thirty eight kits were assembled. Each kit included a reusable tote bag, a pillow, blanket, socks, and a toothbrush. Other items collected for the Center's use that were also donated were pillows, washcloths, towels, pillowcases, toothpaste, and water bottles. The Teen Group's goal for this project was that upon entering treatment, these items will be given to the teens to help them transition into the treatment center. Their hope is that these kits will give those in need a sense of home and something to call their own.
See the letter that the teen group wrote to St. Michael's Parishioners below.
Dear Parishioners,
The Great Lakes Recovery Adolescent Resident Treatment home in Negaunee is a place where kids our age go to get help with addiction treatment and other mental health issues. The teens that they treat are between the ages of 13-17.
When they enter treatment, they have no personal or comfort items with them. In the act of almsgiving, during Lent, we are hoping to collect items to make what we call "Welcome Kits." These will be given to them, so they have something of their own.
We are seeking donations to create 70 kits. Please help us, help our peers in recovery. Items can be dropped off in The Gathering Space.
Items needed are:
New pillows and pillowcases,
Small-size fleece blankets
New water bottles,
Fuzzy socks,
Towels
and Body wash
With Love,
Maija, Caydence, Lucas, Emery, Bella, Sierra, Stella, Luke, Dominic, Anthony, and Julia,
In the photo at left, a van packed with Welcome Kits for teens in recovery.
In the photo at right, teen group members Dominic Camelli, left, Weston Maves Children's Services Director Great Lakes Recovery Centers Adolescent Service Center Derrick DePetro, teen group members Maija Parkkonen, Julia Applekamp, and Caydence Ranta pose for a photo in front of the packed van. (Photos courtesy of St. Michael's Parish)The teen group is pictured in the photo at top. Pictured from left are Marcia Parkkonen, St. Michael's Youth and Family Outreach coordinator, Dominic Camelli, Weston Maves, Julia Applekamp, Maija Parkkonen, Caydence Ranta, and Derrick DePetro, Children's Services director, Great Lakes Recovery Centers Adolescent Service Center. In the above photo, Weston Maves, left helps Caydence Ranta pack a box with items for Welcome Kits for teens in recovery. (Photos courtesy of St. Michael's Parish)
