Saint Charles Parish, Imperial Beach, San Diego, CA

Dear Friends of Saint Charles Caritas, Charity on the Border:

May your CHRISTmas be full of blessings and graces, and joy to you and your family and friends!

The Saint Charles Caritas was blessed again. We had a plan that we are only going to have the Caritas Day and Distribution of Food for the 8 charities in November and not in December is because in December is always the lowest Caritas fund raising in the past and we do understand because our donors will be buying gifts for their families and friends. But, a good hearted lady who is also our Caritas volunteer and friend from Kensington, San Diego dropped by last Caritas Day and donated $5,000. She is an angel for all the recipients of this charity. In December 30, we are going to have the Costco buy for all charities. Thank you so much and God bless you our beloved friend of the Caritas!

Dec 15th, Saturday is Project# 11 Costco Buy/Bagging of Food at St. Charles garage#1. We need volunteers in all ages and pick up trucks... please! We will bag 250 bags of food for 250 poor families (1500 people approximately) located at the TJ dumpsite. For the children, we need knitted hats, socks, gloves, candies, snack food & etc.

The people at the dump site live in little shack houses made of pallets, scrapped materials, tires on top and on a dirt floor. With this cold weather the poor people there need all the help that they can get.

Thank you for the children who dropped by and their donations. It is always a delight from the volunteers to see these children learning charity at early age. Thank you, parents!

A million thanks to our Anonymous Donors who wanted to remain anonymous for their monthly support for this charity.

Thank you to: Fr. Peter Ruggere, pastor and Maryknoll Missionary, Fr. Edwin Tutor, Fr. Joseph Lal and Fr. Arlou. We thank you for your announcements and support. We appreciate it very much! Also, thank you to Sister Elizabeth Wekall, always there for the Caritas and Hilda Dennison for her donation and support.

Thank you for the individuals who bought lunches for the nuns and volunteers. We had a left over last Oct lunch money that came from Mr. & Mrs. Park of Texas. The $25 remaining, we bought 5 boxes of pizza. Soft drinks bought by Diane Martin.

Also for the 3 successive months, a lady who has a limited income, manage to save her money every month for combo hot-dogs during our Costco buy for all the nuns and volunteers. I am humbled by this lady, Elsa Gutierrez. God bless you all for your generosity.

Volunteers Corner:

Thank you so much volunteers. This charity is impossible to do by one person. We are grateful for your time and efforts every Caritas Day!

Diane Martin, in charge of masses from 7am to 1pm with Janiley Camarista as our auditor. Aileen & Miguel Barretto in charge for the 5pm Saturday mass, Cecilio & Lolita Salamanca for 5pm Sunday mass.

Our dedicated volunteers monthly: Christine Phillips, Mary Jane Delphenich, Michael & Madison Ross, Elaine Rechs, Quelia Cunningham, Sister Edie, Sister Dulce, Sister Celina, Sister Amelia, Sister Elvira and 6 more Sisters from TJ, Lupe Zamora, Marina Vera, Elsa Gutierrez, Evelyn & Greg Degano, Abe & Tita Bautista and Alex Rullan.

Distribution for the month of November. We bought basic food, cleaning products and basic necessities:

$497.37 Casa de Cuna orphanage

$480.73 Casa Eudes, home for girls

$497.30 Santa Teresita, home for girls

$491.77 Asilo de Ancianos, home for the elderly

$418.48 La Esperanza Clinic, dump site area

$496.22 Adoratrices del Santisimo, ingredients for their pastry fund raising to build a chapel

$500.00 Birthline, Chula Vista

$500.00 Pastoral Charity Fund of St. Charles. Distribution at the discretion of Fr. Peter Ruggere

Special project:

306.81 72 Bibles for Rui, Kenya. To be distributed by Pastor Peter Pfaltzgraff in January 2008.

$4,189.68 Total for November 2007

We thank you all so much for all your generosity and kindness to the poor people!

Best wishes!

Merlyn Baker
Saint Charles Caritas
990 Saturn Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92154
(619)428-0199
mbaker2020@aol.com
www.saintcharles.org