09/01/2026
More info on Second Sunday Sack Lunches:
Today, we give thanks for the ministry of Second Sunday Sack Lunches and for 15 years of faithful feeding
Over 20,000 lunches packed and delivered over that time period to
10 plus agencies and sites
Bread, lunch meat, eggs and supplies generously purchased and donated by parishioners
Joyful fellowship each month as we worked together around the table
Warm, clean socks carefully organized and included in the deliveries.
Our Sack Lunch ministry began in 2011, in connection with Uncle Pete's lunch ministry in Park Ridge. Parishioner Dawn Steffen first introduced the lunch program to St. Mary's and coordinated donations and assembly.
Parishioner Jay Needleman coordinated the initial deliveries.
Over the years, as the ministry grew and evolved, we packed and delivered roughly 200 lunches per month.
Over the years, our Sack Lunch ministry adapted to observed needs by including other necessities like socks. We never allowed obstacles to get in the way of getting food to our hungry neighbors.
During COVID, the ministry grew to involve others in the community, as we made lunches at home, met out in front of the Church, loaded cars, and delivered lunches to Franciscan Ministries. For the time being, it became Second Saturday Sack
Lunches.
Countless parishioners have contributed over 15 years in ways large and small but all significant. Today, we give special thanks to our core leaders and families who have put the ministry on their shoulders and carried it so that all of us could participate.
We thank God for:
Jay Needleman, who organized the initial deliveries and led delivery for many years.
Dawn Steffen, who introduced the ministry to us and coordinated it for nearly 15 years. We thank the entire Steffen family for their contributions.
Stacie and Kurt and the entire Dinse family for being part of the core packing and delivery team every month for many years. Stacie could often be seen at the end of the line receiving and counting the lunches, and Kurt was often hauling them to the cars for
loading.
John, Sandra and the Kreger family who assisted from the very beginning with bringing supplies and making lunches. In 2019, they became part of the delivery team
Mike Zimney and his team who purchased, ordered, and organized socks to be delivered with the lunches.
Dave Mazza and team who provided and boiled 400 eggs each month.
As we now conclude this faithful ministry, we say to Jay, the Steffens, the Dinses, the Kregers, and to each parishioner who gave and donated through the years, "Well done, good and faithful servants!"
