For years, our Sock Hop/Sock Wrap has brought our parish family together for food, fun, and generosity.
This year, we’re giving that tradition a new purpose and partnership with a fall toy drive and parish event in support of Safe Haven Ministries.
Last year alone, Safe Haven Ministries provided emergency shelter to 317 women and children seeking safety from domestic violence. Behind that number are mothers and children whose lives have changed suddenly, who may have left behind their homes, their belongings, and everything familiar in order to find safety.
Our St. Robert of Newminster parish community has an opportunity to remind them that they are not alone.
TOY DRIVE DETAILS:
We are seeking a variety of NEW, UNWRAPPED toys and games for infants through high school age young people. The toys and games will be donated to Safe Haven Ministries and given to children and teens currently living with their mothers in a local domestic violence shelter.
- Starting the weekend of Oct. 10/11 through Tuesday, Nov. 10, we invite you to purchase (at a store of your choosing) a new toy or gift for a child/young person (infant through age 17) and then bring it to the church unwrapped, and drop it in the black collection bins in the narthex under the bulletin board near Door D.
- Alternatively, you may also purchase a gift from our Amazon Wish List and have it shipped directly to the church (St. Robert of Newminster Church, 6477 Ada Dr. SE, Ada, MI 49301).
Our toy collection drive will culminate in an all-parish event and dinner. Please join us on:
WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026 | 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Newminster Hall (enter through Door B or E and make your way to the 2nd floor)
ABOUT THE EVENING: Wednesday Community Dinner will be served. Card-making supplies will be provided to give all who attend the opportunity throughout the evening to create cards for the children and teens and their mothers being cared for by Safe Haven: small reminders that someone in our community is thinking about and praying for them.
A toy cannot change what brought a child to a shelter. It cannot undo what they have seen or experienced. But it can give them something every child deserves: a moment to simply be a kid again. Come enjoy dinner and time together as a parish family as we help surround some of our community’s most vulnerable families with a little extra love and hope.
CONTACT:
If you have questions about this event, please contact Katie Mendenhall, KMendenhall@strobertchurch.org or (616) 676-9111, ext. 121.