Operation Rice Bowl: sponsored by Catholic Relief Services, challenges us to put our faith into action and walk in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in need around the world. The cardboard Rice Bowls are distributed during Lent and represents the hunger and hardship faced by others in the developing world. Parishioners are asked to fill the Bowls with contributions for those in need throughout the world.
Advent Giving Tree: The parish works with Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) to provide for approximately thirty-five families at Christmas through the Advent Giving Tree project. Parishioners provide specific gifts along with food parcels which are delivered to families in need.
Christmas in July: Christmas in July is our summer parish food drive which provides food for approximately thirty-five families in the metro area. Parishioners donate non-perishable food items and we purchase boxes of groceries containing fresh fruits, vegetables, and personal hygiene items and cleaning products. The items are delivered to the families by the parishioners.
Panera Bread Delivery: The local Panera Bread restaurant donates bread, bagels, and pastries left over for the day's business to area organizations assisting populations in need. Two days a week St. Elizabeth parishioners pick up the bags of bread in them evening and distribute the to selected organizations the following morning.
Food Pantry: In the coat room opposite the parish offices, there are cabinets where donations may be left to serve those in need of basic food items. Most of these items are taken to Metro Catholic Outreach to help support their ongoing Food Pantry. Below is a list of the groceries which are stocked on the pantry's shelves:
Soups, Canned Vegetables, Canned Fruit, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Jam, Pancake Mix/Syrup, Spaghetti, Spaghetti Sauce, Pasta Mixes, Instant Potatoes, Canned Meats (tuna, chicken), Stew/Chili, Macaroni and Cheese, Ramen Noodles, Cereal, Crackers, Jello or Pudding Mixes, Cake Mixes.
School Supply Drive "Fill-the-Backpack": Each summer there is an opportunity to donate school supplies. These donations are taken to area oragnizations to help local children start the school year with the supplies they need. Organizations served by this ministry include Henry Davison Youth Center, Tanager Place, and Waypoint.