Maureen Bagley at Kona airport pickup.
We have a new, very busy, ministry in the parish. Have you ever been at the airport and witnessed an unsuspecting traveler trying to go through security with jars of jam, honey, oil, unopened cans of soda or fresh bottles of water in their carry-on baggage? People easily forget that these liquids will be confiscated, but where does it go? The trash is the answer.
Since we are serving so many poor and/or needy people in the community, St. Michael’s Parish has agreed with the airport that we will pick up the bags of trash, sort it, sanitize it and distribute it to those in need. This article says “we,” but in reality this is a one woman operation right now. Maureen Bagley (who just moved here in November) picks up these huge bags at the airport twice a week. She spends her day preparing the products for redistribution, and the following day she delivers them.
At Immaculate Conception sanitizing products for distribution. Volunteers Angie & Fran.
Everything is cleaned, packed in bins and redistributed to the following locations: The Friendly Place, our St. Michael’s Food Pantry, Child and Family Services (who shares with Bridge House and BISAC), Alana, and the Recycling Center. One package a week goes to the Women’s Prison in Hilo, also.
In her ministry, Maureen is providing St. Michael’s an opportunity to touch the hearts of so many people in the community. She has been doing this for three months by herself and needs some help. Next month look for the table she will have outside the tent. If each family will sign up to help for one hour a month, it will provide time and manpower for the ministry to expand further. With the multitude of needs in the community, one person cannot do more than what Maureen is doing presently. If you want to talk further or see what she is doing, call Maureen Bagley at (732) 433-2350.
