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Never too old to stir a pot or offer to help

Story and photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

Parishioners at St. Teresa’s in Marydale talked about social outreach with Carlyle Healthcare Center residents.

It would probably be Bingo with the residents, but another idea surfaced. The cluster parishes of St. Teresa’s, St. Mary’s in Carlyle, St. Boniface in Germantown, and St. Cecilia’s in Bartelso had begun making casseroles for Cosgrove’s Kitchen in East St. Louis.

Last year they made 100, and this year they would make 250. Why not, Pat Hempen, center activities’ director, said, invite residents to help make 25 of the 250 casseroles? April 10, 13 residents assembled in the center’s activities’ room to make the casseroles with volunteers from St. Teresa’s and St. Mary’s.

“They love to help others,” Hempen said. The ladies washed their hands and, with help, donned their gloves to mix the casseroles: sloppy joes, chop suey and salsa macaroni and beef.

Within two hours all of the work was completed. “The best thing to do for them is to involve them in helping someone else,” Hempen said.