The LaBelle Community Woman’s Club is partnering with two other Woman’s Clubs in District 12 of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in Florida to collect canceled stamps for the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry until January 2018. The other Woman’s Clubs collecting stamps are the General Federation of Women’s Clubs Woman’s Club of Port Charlotte, Inc and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs Rotonda West Woman’s Club, Inc. The GFWC Rotonda West Woman’s Club sent off about two pounds of stamps.

“One of our programs is International Outreach,” said Lilly Hart of LaBelle Community Woman’s Club, “It’s very difficult for our club to reach out and do something that would impact a person’s life, but I did some research and found this program. The women in our club are older and most are on a very limited budget. This is something everyone can do physically and financially and meets the program requirements for General Federation of Women’s Clubs.”

The Sisters of the Holy Cross website states, “By saving canceled stamps from your incoming mail, you can contribute to the Sister of the Holy Cross Ministry with the Poor. Our sisters remove the stamps from the envelope paper, sort them, and sell them to brokers and collectors. The proceeds benefit our ministries, helping those in need around the world. Invite you friends, family, and coworkers to save stamps too.”

“We receive 230-260 individual stamp donations every month,” said Stamp Ministry Manager Sister Jane Chantal, “we send a monthly thank you letter to those who donate stamps. I believe gratitude is important and people need to know they are appreciated.”

To support the LaBelle Woman’s Club on their mission, The Sisters of the Holy Cross website states, “Save stamps with perforations intact, are not too heavily canceled, and are not torn, cut or stained. The most valuable stamps are stamps in mint condition, foreign stamps, United States Commemoratives, stamps with values of $1 or more, and albums.”

“By donating stamps to the stamp ministry people can donate to the poor worldwide,” said Sister Jane Chantal, “the proceeds from the sale of the stamps collected goes directly to fund the Ministry with the Poor.”

“I think it is important for people to know the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry helps out in Florida,” said Lilly Hart.

The Sisters of the Holy Cross website states, “In Florida, in 2016-2017, the Ministry with the Poor granted tuition assistance to families who would not be able to attend Holy Cross Catholic Preschool Center.”

The Holy Cross Catholic Preschool and Center website states, “Our mission is to witness God’s love to ALL people, especially migrants, immigrants, and refuges within the Diocese of Palm Beach. Through early childhood education, quality child care, and the teaching of adult basic skills in an environment that fosters the gospel values of justice, mercy, and love, the family unit will be empowered, encouraged, and guided to integrate fully into their new culture while retaining and cherishing the culture to which they belong.”

“Most of our children and mothers are legal immigrants from Guatemala,” said former co-director of Women’s Circle Sister Joan Carusillo, “We received a grant to have public school teachers teach the mothers English, computer skills, cooking skills, and sewing skills. We offer a sliding scale for those who are able to pay tuition and scholarships for those who are not able to pay tuition. Part of the scholarships are funded by the Ministry with the poor.”

The Holy Cross Catholic Preschool in West Palm Beach, Florida was funded by a donation given in 1994 to duplicate Hope Rural School in Indiantown, Florida. In March 2000, a group of sisters from Sisters of the Holy Cross met to discuss starting a family support ministry. In March 2004, Sr. Yvonne Arcand with the CSC opened the Holy Cross Catholic Preschool. Children ages three months to four years old attend the preschool.

The Sister of the Holy Cross website states, “Sister Joan Carusillo received funds to partially pay the salary of the job development coordinator for Creole-speaking women at a center that works with immigrant women.”

The Women’s Circle website states, “Women’s Circle is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that empowers women to be “all they can be,” while promoting an acceptance and appreciation of cultural diversity. We offer a comprehensive, three-part program to address concerns among ethnically and culturally diverse lower-income women of Palm Beach County. Our Free programs include Job Development, Education, and Personal Development in our Monthly Discussion Groups.”

“We help women feel a sense of dignity and worth in the community,” said Sister Jane Carusillo, “we want the women to be leaders and self-sufficient.”

The Sister of the Holy Cross website states, “Our core values are compassion, faith, prayer, and community. Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry are engaged in ministries that focus on building communities of justice and love, eradicating material poverty, and ending gender discrimination against women The Sisters of the Holy Cross are part of an international organization who minister to people in eight countries, four continents, around the world.”

Stamps can be dropped off at the LaBelle Community Woman’s Club clubhouse located at 382 W Hickpochee Ave, LaBelle, FL 33935. Donators can push the stamps through the mail slot in the front door. To schedule a time to drop off stamps, contact Lilly Hart at (239) 220-0102.

For more information on the LaBelle Community Woman’s Club visit https://www.facebook.com/labellewomansclub/.

For more information on Holy Cross Catholic Preschool and Center visit https://holycrosscpc.org/missionvision/.

For more information on Women’s Circle visit http://www.womenscircle.org/.

For more information on the Sisters of the Holy Cross visit http://www.cscsisters.org/Pages/Default.aspx.