Our Lady Queen of the Americas Church

The Samaritans recently received a very generous donation from the Conneaut Lake Area Ministerial.  The note that came with it reads in part as follows: “Our community has an empty seat at our table of faith and service in our Lord, Jesus Christ.  We know Steve is in the loving care of our Savior until we with all the saints join that Holy Community – united in Christ.” Through Father Steve’s tremendous support, the Holy Ground Thrift Shop became a reality and continues to provide funds to help those in our community in need.  Thank you to the Conneaut Lake Ministerial and all the churches involved for continuing Father Steve’s dream of providing for those who need our help.

The Samaritans would like to thank all the parishioners who so generously donated food items for the food pantry when they came to have their pictures taken for our new church directory.  Many people gave more than the required one item in order to receive the discount.  We would also like to thank Tess Bracken and her family for collecting so many breakfast food items for the food pantry as well.  We are grateful to be living in such a giving community.

She [her child] is such a miracle and a joy in our Lives. We struggle and thank the lord there are programs out there like this for us.

Pat you and the Samaritains do so many wonderful things and I just wanted to take a moment to “Thank You” from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you.

Hello Pat, And thank you again for such a wonderful program for children. You gave us a great Christmas last year & we are grateful.

Thanks for making the application process so easy.

And Thank You very much for your help at this time of year for the less fortunate ones.

 thank you so very much for everything you have done for my family.

 Thank you so much for your continued help at Christmas for our children.  Words cant say how much we appreciate you!  Things have been a little tougher this year since I’ve been laid off, but I am going to school and will graduate in June, I know God is going to be able to use me in a great way to help people.

Thanks again and if there is anything I can do for you please let me know.

God Bless You.

 Thank you SOO much and God Bless.

 Thank you so much and we are not ungrateful any thing we get is greatly appreciated

Thank you and have a Blessed Happy Holiday!!!!!!!!!

 PS :thank you so much this year im going to need all the help i can me and my husband is not working so it would be so hard to make a christmas for them i really appreciate what you guys do for the needie once again thank you so much.

 I thank you from the bottom of my heart for any thing that i might get for my children, they are all very great kids and i want more than anything for them to have a few things for chrtistmas God Bless You and Everyone who helps you run this wonderful organization.

 Thank you so much! God Bless.

    Thank you so much for your help this Christmas!

 Thank You all and God Bless you truely are a blessing…..

 Any help would be truly appreciated.
 
Thank you and Merry Christmas.

 I just want to say, that this a wonderful things you and the community do. Thank you very much! MERRY CHRISTMAS

 Thank you so much, I know my kids are going to enjoy the gifts from you. Plus it puts a smile on my face with the anticipation of seeing them open the gifts Christmas morning!!!

 Thank you and God  Bless

 THANK U    THANK U, picked up the children’s Christmas presents.  Please, pass on our deepest gratitude to all your volunteers and donators. 

  ”Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”  Luke 18:8 

 Thank You all

Merry Christmas, Happy New Years and GOD BLESS

 I just want to thank you all for the help and the wounderful gifts for my son. thank you again

 I think you guys did a great job and my children were so happy christmas morning thanks to the help you gave us.

  i want to thank you and so does my grandchildren you helped make their cristmas a little betterwith the gifts…they said thank you santa clause  it really helped and you don`t have to change a thing about the christmas party    god bless all you and the people who also gave presents  thank ,,,you again

 On behalf of the program for kids i must say that u guys have done an excellent job and i dont see there being any room for improvement but i want to say thankyou if it werent for your help my children wouldnt have had a wonderful christmas….So thank you truly..we were truly blessed!!!

 Thank you so much for your help.  It is very appreciated.  

Thank you so much for everything!   

Thank you so much for helping me with gifts for my grandchildren.  I really appreciate it.  Thank you again.   

Hello, I’m just writing to say THANK YOU so much for everything this holiday season! I appreciate the thoughtfulness and generosity from anyone involved. My children really loved what they received for Christmas. It turned out to be a really good Christmas this year for everyone! THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS

 Thank you so very much for helping to make this Christmas a “good” memory for my grandsons, ____ and ____.  The clothes fit and were appreciated; ____ trys to beat everyone with the Trouble game.  If only you could have seen ______’s eyes when he opened the dinosuar!!  What a picture!  But most of all, the boots!  Both boys (and grandma too!) were so happy about the boots.  No more cold wet feet when going outside.  God bless you for the work you do.  Thank you so very much.

HOLY GROUND THRIFT STORE. The Samaritans Holy Ground Thrift Store will be holding its second annual CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND. Deck your halls with beautiful, gently used and fantastically priced Christmas decorations including lights, wreaths, bulbs and ornaments and much more. Visit the Samaritans from November 19th through Monday December 3rd and let us help put some of the MERRY into your Christmas.

Christmas Wonderland Hours:
Mondays – 5:30 until 7:30 pm
Thursdays – 9 am until 6 pm
November 19th until December 3

Sis Lane, one of our parishioners, has been collecting socks for children for many years and donating them to various organizations in the county.  The past few years these socks have gone to the Samaritan Gifts for Kids program.  Many parents in this program specifically ask for socks for their children.  At each door of the church, you will see boxes labeled, “Socks for Kids.”  Donations of any sizes of socks will be greatly appreciated.

The Samaritans need your help.   The Holy Ground Thrift Shop has become very successful in the two years that it has been opened.  We have been blessed with many donations of clothing, household goods, small appliances, and other useful items. We have also assisted those in need of large appliances and furniture through our email lists.  Right now, the only lists of emails available are those of the Altar Rosary Society and the parents of the children in our Gifts for Kids program.  If anyone else would be interested in being on the email list to be contacted in case of a request, please email Pat Kaider at tpatthelake@zoominternet.net

HOLY GROUND THRIFT STORE. Fall into a bargain at the Samaritans Holy
Ground Thrift Store located behind Our Lady Queen of Americas Church
in Conneaut Lake. Like the variety of colors in the leaves we offer a
variety of items from gently used clothing, shoes, coats, costumes to
a variety of house hold products including dishes, pots, linens, and
decor. You will fall into savings with our already low prices and our
daily specials. Come visit our friendly volunteers and see what
treasure we can find for you. On the corner of 285W and 6W in
Conneaut Lake we are open Mondays 5:30 until 7:30 pm and Thursdays
from 9 am until 6 pm. We encourage to help your neighbors out by
dropping off clean gently used items on Mondays 9 – noon and 5:30
until 7:30 and on Thursdays Noon until 5 pm.

We are in need of volunteers!! What a great and easy way to help out
your neighbor. We still have (6) 3-hour shifts: Mondays from 9 am
until noon and 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm; and Thursdays from 9 am until
noon, noon until 3:00 pm and 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm. Please contact
Pat Kaider at 382-1213 if you are interested.

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY SAM! . . A timeline of the Samaritans of the Conneaut Lake area.
The year is 1982, a child dies of malnutrition in Conneaut Lake Area. Seem hard to imagine? A group of Our Lady Queen of Americas women’s bible study group thought so. Thirty years ago they fore-fronted an effort to provide the residence of Conneaut Lake with the basic human rights food, clothing and shelter.
Supported by the ministerium of CL, in conjunction with the Erie County Food Bank, Second Harvest and the Center for Family Services, qualified families could receive food on a monthly basis. In the early years, 80-90 families received food from the kitchen of OLQA and clothing seasonally from The Trinity United Methodist Church. A Clothing and Furniture Warehouse in East Fallowfield Township Building thrived for 15 years starting in 1986 with the proceeds used for assistance in rent and utilities to those in need. Greenwood Elementary later become home to the thrift store until 2008.
With only the spirit of the Samaritans surviving, it took 2 years, 1 priest, a monetary donation and a thriving community of support to open THE HOLY GROUND THRIFT on Sept 23, 2010. A permanent home to the Samaritan’s vision of the women 30 years ago and the men and women who volunteer to keep it thriving today is located behind Our Lady Queen of America’s church in Conneaut Lake. Within a year, the current officers and a newly appointed Board of Direct (represented by four area churches), created bylaws, incorporated the organization, became sales and real estate tax exempt and the name “Holy Ground Thrift Shop” was registered with the commonwealth allowing Samaritans to be legally compliant with all governmental agencies.
Currently in operation, the Holy Ground Thrift store generated $15,710.00 in annual revenue with the assistance of its dedicated crew of 50 volunteers alternating twice a week to maintain weekly hours of operations. 133 sources donate regularly helping 106 households in the local area with a large percent of revenue being paid for delinquent utility bills. This need continues to grow annually. NINTY families benefit from the food pantry on a bi-weekly scheduled thanks to the eight loyal volunteers working 50 hours a month.
Paralleling the Samaritans, The Gift for Kids branch of the Samaritan organization began around the same time, 1986. A program depends on a community of good Samaritans to bring the Christmas spirit to kids 13 years and under in the Conneaut School district -still in operation and still growing. This year gift sponsors and 30 volunteers made it possible for 260 children to receive the spirit of Christmas under their tree.
The Samaritans of Conneaut Lake Inc. served more clients this past year with more money, incurred over $10,000.00 in operating expenses and ended the fiscal year with almost exactly the same amount started with. God does provide.
A reason to celebrate? WE think so! Happy 30th Sam! Come help us celebrate the organization and the dedicated community of volunteers of the last 30 years on JUNE 9th. Bring your food, clothing and household donations, enjoy a cupcake & beverage and shop our specially priced Holy Ground Thrift Store items. Your bargain purchase continues to help your neighbor. Help your neighbor . . . Shop Samaritans.
• JUNE 9th, 2012
• 9:30 to Noon
• Holy Ground Thrift Store located behind Our Lady Queen of America’s Church on Rt 285 & 6.

     The Samaritan Holy Ground Thrift Shop  is located behind Our Lady Queen of the Americas Church, on the corner of routes 285W and 6 in Conneaut Lake.  This thrift shop is for EVERYONE who enjoys shopping for a bargain.  For more information, please call 382-4487.

 General Hours of operation:

        Thrift Shop hours:

              Mondays – 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm

              Thursdays – 9:00 am until 6:00 pm

              Saturdays  – 10:00 am until 1:00 pm (June, July & August)

Drop off hours:

              Mondays -  9:00 am until noon

                     And 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm

        Thursdays from noon until 5:00 pm

        Saturdays from 10:00 am until 1:00pm- June, July and August

     If you are interested in volunteering in the thrift shop, please contact either Margaret Staahl (382-8870) or Pat Kaider (382-1213)

   We are now collecting good, clean articles of winter clothing (especially children’s), household items, small appliances, bedding & linens.

If you have large appliances and furniture in good condition that you would like to give to a person in need, please contact Pat Kaider at 382-1213.  We have a good system in place to see that the exchange happens.