West County Democrats Monthly Meeting
United Food & Commercial Workers, Local 655
300 Weidman Road, Ballwin, MO 63011
https://westcountydemocrats.org/
Monday, December 11, 2017
9:00 – Refreshments and socializing / silent charity auction (baked goods)
9:30 – Business meeting / announcements
10:30 – Speaker: Christine Dragonette, Director of Social Ministry,
St. Francis Xavier (College) Church, St. Louis
“St. Francis Xavier’s Outreach Program: Facilitating Access to Identification Documents”
People with low incomes and limited resources face both financial and logistical barriers to obtaining government-issued identification, such as state ID cards and birth certificates. These documents are vital for transitioning out of poverty, as they provide access to services and resources such as housing, employment, school, social services, and more. St. Francis Xavier’s Outreach Program has worked for over 20 years to fulfill the unmet need of facilitating access to IDs and birth certificates for people living in poverty. In this presentation, I will share more about our Outreach Program and why this service is more vital than ever, given the new Missouri law shifting photo identification.
Christine Dragonette grew up in North Carolina and went to college at UNC-Chapel Hill to study Public Policy. After graduating, she moved to St. Louis for a year-long volunteer program, where she worked in homeless services. She then stayed in St. Louis for her Master’s in Social Work at Saint Louis University, while also working part time coordinating St. Francis Xavier’s direct service programs. After graduating in 2015, she moved to full-time at St. Francis Xavier as the Director of Social Ministry, her current role. In this position, she organizes parishioners around service and justice initiatives.
DECEMBER TOY DRIVE FOR LOCAL 655: Anyone who would like to donate toys can bring new unwrapped toys for any age group to the meeting at the union hall and place in a marked bin. The toys will be delivered to the Salvation Army before Christmas.
We also collect and deliver food donations for The Circle of Concern food pantry in Valley Park. Bring donations of canned or boxed food to our meetings for transfer to this worthy program (but NOT in Walmart bags—see below).
Please join us for lunch following the meeting at the Pasta House on Manchester just west of Weidman,14007 Manchester Rd. Ballwin, MO. 63011
West County Democrats was formed by a group of concerned citizens. The purposes of the organization are to educate its members on issues of public, cultural, or political concern, to encourage members to actively support Democratic candidates for political office, and to support social action projects or community support activities as approved by the membership.
Protect Union workers: DO NOT bring Walmart items to West County Democrat meetings.
Contact person: Terry Gates / jtgates@aol.com