Supplements

archived ISSUE

catholic social services names christian service award recipients

Catholic Social Services (CSS) has chosen Glenn Schott, retired Althoff High School athletic director; Jeanne Edgar, a member of Queen of Peace Parish and a life-long community volunteer; and Jerry Messick, a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ and director of the Community Interfaith Food Pantry to receive its 2008 Christian Service Awards.

Each of the winners was nominated for this honor by multiple individuals and each was recognized for their individual accomplishments.

The award recipients will be formally recognized at a benefit dinner May 2 at Albert’s Banquet Center in Belleville.

Anyone interested in attending this gala event should call (618) 394-5900. Dinner Reservations: $45 per person (open seating), or $400 for a table of ten.
Each of the recipients qualified for this award through their service which reflects the mission and spirit of Catholic Social Services.

They have contributed to their communities in one or more of the following areas: faith-related service; community service; youth mentoring; advocacy; direct service to those in need; activity in community organizations, volunteerism, and/or fundraising.

Following is some information about each of the recipients:
• Jeanne Edgar has worked for many years at Queen of Peace as a member of the Mother’s Club, Ladies Sodality, fish fries and Cosgrove’s Kitchen to name just a few of the volunteer hours she has given to people in the Diocese of Belleville. She has also worked with Pastor Drew Kramer on the “House Build” and with the Community Interfaith Food Pantry at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ. “When a newly completed home for ‘Neighbors for Renewal’ needs landscaping, Jeanne comes to the rescue, many times transferring plants and bulbs from her own yard to the refurbished house,” one person said of her.

• In 2005 Jerry Messick began work to bring various churches together in a combined food pantry effort to serve Belleville’s hungry families. His efforts resulted in the Community Interfaith Food Pantry which began operation in August 2007.

One person described Jerry’s volunteerism this way: “He works so that others may eat. He told the story of a mother coming into the church looking for food. Her small child was hungry, really hungry. Jerry immediately fixed the small child a peanut butter sandwich and when one didn’t fill the hole, he fixed another.
“Some time later the mother was in a better financial situation and was able to give a small monetary gift to the pantry.”

• Glenn Schott has spent his entire life working with boys and girls helping them to become responsible Christian men and women, according to information from CSS.

He has coached football teams to three championships, plus many other playoff appearances.
One person described Glenn this way: “His dedication to the Catholic educational system has showed what a wonderful example he is to the young people of our community.”

To find out more about these award recipients, please consider attending the CSS Christian Service Awards benefit dinner.

Proceeds from the dinner will assist CSS in fulfilling its mission to assist those in need.