“Have A Heart Restock Drive” assists local pantries
Drive runs February 7-14, 2022
Sylvania Franciscan Connections and Lourdes University recently kicked off the annual Have a Heart Restock Drive to supply personal care items to area outreach pantries: Bethany House, Helping Hands of St. Louis, Our Lady of Lourdes Outreach Soup Kitchen, Sylvania Area Family Services, and US Together.
Individuals are encouraged to donate unused personal care items in donation boxes at all Sylvania Schools, the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania Motherhouse campus, Lourdes University, and the Franciscan Center. “This is a way we can celebrate the heart in Valentine’s Day by caring about our neighbors in need. Essential items such as toilet paper, paper towels, and all personal care items are in high demand because individuals cannot purchase them with SNAP. All donations of unused personal care items go directly to the agencies and those they serve,” says Jeni Belt, Chief Operating Officer for the Sylvania Franciscans.
The drive runs from February 7 - 14. At the end of the drive, on Tuesday, February 15, the Lourdes University Women’s Softball team is volunteering to sort through the – hopefully – massive amounts of generous donations of personal care items and sort them into boxes to go directly to the agencies.
Sisters of St. Francis
The Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, Ohio are Third Order Regular Franciscans, living in community as vowed religious according to the spirit and example of Francis of Assisi. As women of peace and seekers of justice, they are committed to serving God’s people through diverse ministries in eight Dioceses and six states. Sponsored ministries of the Sisters of St. Francis are Lourdes University and the Sylvania Franciscan Ministries which includes Bethany House, Rosary Care Center, Our Lady of Grace Hall, Sophia Center and Convent Park Apartments. For more information, visit www.sistersosf.org or contact Director of Communications and Marketing Teri Bockstahler at 419-824-3627 or tbockstahler@sistersosf.org.
Lourdes University
Rooted in the Catholic and Franciscan tradition, Lourdes University is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis, and offers baccalaureate degrees in a variety of academic majors as well as graduate degrees in business, education, nursing, and organizational leadership. The University also offers a master’s degree in social work from Saint Louis University. Community outreach programs include the Appold Planetarium and Lifelong Learning. A member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, Lourdes students can also compete in a variety of men’s and women’s sports. Named a “Best in the Midwest” college by the Princeton Review, Lourdes University is a nationally accredited, veteran and transfer-friendly institution offering a variety of student scholarships. Explore the possibilities online at www.lourdes.edu or by phone at 419-885-3211.
Additional Resources:
Visit the Lourdes University official website:
Follow Lourdes University on Facebook: