ARDEN — Parishioners of St. Barnabas Church conducted a successful diaper drive the weekend of Sept. 10-11, joining nearly a dozen other parishes in western North Carolina that have recently organized similar drives to help local families in need.
Thanks to Father Adrian Porras, pastor, and the staff at St. Barnabas Parish for promoting this drive as part of the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Charlotte. Thanks also to these parishes for organizing similarly successful diaper drives: St. Margaret of Scotland in Maggie Valley, St. John the Evangelist in Waynesville, St. Margaret Mary’s in Swannanoa, St. Mary Mother of God in Sylva, Sacred Heart in Brevard, St. Joan of Arc in Candler, St. Andrew the Apostle in Mars Hill, Sacred Heart in Burnsville, St. Jude in Sapphire, Our Lady of the Mountains in Highlands, and St. Barnabas in Arden, as well as Asheville Catholic School.
As part of the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Charlotte, Catholic Charities Director of Social Concerns and Advocacy, Joe Purello, and Western Region Director, Jesse Boeckermann, worked together to organize a variety of diaper drives at churches throughout the diocese.
The donations of diapers and wipes were quickly distributed through Catholic Charities’ Western Regional Office. Agency staff and volunteers participated in two community fairs – the Health, Hope and Recovery Rally at Riverfront Park in Bryson City, and the Cherokee County Resource Fair in Murphy – to distribute many of the diapers and wipes, as well as feminine hygiene products, pet food, toiletries, toilet paper, and other supplies.
Elsewhere across the diocese, St. Francis of Assisi in Lenoir, Holy Trinity in Taylorsville, St. Charles Borromeo in Morganton, St. Aloysius in Hickory, St. Peter in Charlotte, St. Mark in Huntersville, Queen of the Apostles in Belmont and St. Joseph in Newton have also conducted diaper drives recently. In addition, there will be a special diaper drive and recognition event at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Charlotte in December.
Thanks again to everyone who donated diapers, wipes, and toiletries to help people in need through Catholic Charities and the agency’s Wee Care ministries.
— Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte
