On-Going Service Projects in the DHC Trinity Chapter, Tallahassee, FL

At the February 4, 2025 meeting of the Trinity Chapter at St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral in Tallahassee, FL, Daughter Julie Dombroski made two suggestions for this year’s service projects: 1) Putting together an evening prayer service for residents of Azalea Gardens Memory Care Center, located just north of St. Peter’s Cathedral, where several parishioners reside. 2) Contributing to the CCYS (Capital City Youth Services) Bucket Brigade, which provides buckets filled with essential items for the center's homeless clients. Julie presented a list of possibilities. Those Daughters present at the meeting voted enthusiastically to support both projects.

The evening prayer service at Azalea Gardens began with a special service on Ash Wednesday, and services have continued on Friday afternoons at 4 p.m. Deacon Preston Colangelo led both the Ash Wednesday and Good Friday services; however, the remaining services are conducted by the Daughters from Trinity. Barb Mattick created a five-page service folder, with each page featuring a different color, making it easier for residents to follow the service. Residents are also given a booklet with the words of 15 favorite hymns. One Daughter leads each service, another plays the hymns, and one or more circulate among the residents to help them follow along. More than thirty residents attend each service. They enjoy singing and participating in the prayers. One gentleman always requests a prayer for world peace. It is a sweet time of worship for both the residents and the participating Daughters.

At each of our meetings, a nice selection of items is brought for the buckets for CCYS based on an updated list of needs emailed prior to the meeting. Julie explained that CCYS mostly helps young people ages 18-22 who have aged out of foster care, many of whom are living on the streets. They provide a structured program that helps meet basic needs while also offering housing, education, and job opportunities. Young people in the program must meet certain requirements, such as remaining drug-free, to be eligible. One member of the Trinity Chapter is in a position to help those working towards a GED. Thanks to all the Daughters who are supporting these very worthwhile projects.

From left to right: Linda Stokes, Lucile Palmer, Merry Beth Taintor, Barbara Mattick, and Julie Dombroski