MarysKnights

Mission: It's mission is one of community outreach, and while it has never officially embraced the plight of children as its focus, it is to this group that we have gravitated over the years. Children and youth have become the main beneficiaries of our fundraising efforts.

Members: Mary's Knights is a small group of women with diverse talents and interests. They bring to the group expertise in art, teaching, retailing, public relations, fundraising, cooking, sewing, and mentoring. And very much like the beautiful quilts that some members make.. each woman's unique talents complement and reinforce the efforts of all.

First Way: Is an organization that provides education and assistance to any woman or teen that is pregnant or thinks she may be. This is accomplished through free, loving, and non-judgmental provision of information, counseling and practical services.
Kitchen on the Streets: An all-volunteer non-profit group that provides food for children to take home each Friday; without this assistance many of the children might have nothing to eat all weekend.
Phoenix Children’s Project: This program is dedicated to improving the lives of children living in poverty in Phoenix, Arizona, and its surrounding areas. They assist them with food and clothing, and then teach them how to help themselves so they can “break the chain” and create better lives for themselves as adults.
One at a Time: This program, run by St. Vincent de Paul Society, provides college scholarships to highly-motivated youth who would otherwise remain locked in the cycle of poverty.
Quilts: Some of the members make crib-sized quilts which are donated to local hospitals for distribution to infants and toddlers in neonatal and critical-care units. For an abused or neglected child, this becomes a true "security blanket." For a single or indigent mother, it is often the only gift she will receive to mark the birth of her child.
Respite Shelter for Homeless Men: This organization assists men who have been released from hospitals and have nowhere else to turn. They also receive job skill training so that they can become self-supporting.
St. Joseph's Camp: Two annual scholarships are donated for underprivileged children to this summer camp run by the Knights of Columbus.
Scottsdale Unified School District Program for Homeless Children: Yes... Scottsdale has children living in shelters, parks and cars, as well as, children who are abandoned, neglected and abused. Mary's Knights donates shoes, clothing and school supplies to allow these children to pursue an education with dignity.
Vista Del Camino: When a family is in crisis, children suffer the most. This "back to school" program provides school supplies and clothing so each child can enter a classroom with confidence.

Interested? For more information call Barbara or Trish at the parish office (480-948-8370) to leave a message; they will call you back as soon as practical.