emmaberry Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 (edited) HI! I am visiting a PCC community, and all they asked for me to bring with me was some office supplies for them. I would love to bring them more things they need, so I need your help! What are things cloisters are usually in need of (food, etc) Thanks! Edited June 20, 2012 by emmaberry
OnlySunshine Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 [quote name='emmaberry' timestamp='1340154840' post='2446515'] HI! I am visiting a PCC community, and all they asked for me to bring with me was some office supplies for them. I would love to bring them more things they need, so I need your help! What are things cloisters are usually in need of (food, etc) Thanks! [/quote] There was a few threads on things to bring cloistered communities. I'll see if I can dig it up. However, these are just off the top of my head: -Fruit (dried fruit lasts a long time) -Bread -Brandy (for colds or feast days) -Chocolate (also for feast days) -Stationery to write notes to benefactors -Gift cards to Walmart, Target, etc (so their benefactors can get what the nuns need when they need it) -Pet food (if they have dogs or cats)
Lisa Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 I second Mater's idea for fruit. Some friends and I visited communities last labor day, taking them each a big bowl of fruit. All of them loved it. Fresh fruit is relatively expensive, so it's a treat!
Strictlyinkblot Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 (edited) Flowers are always good! Gift voucher for Amazon or similar online book store if they use the internet. Tea and/or coffee and a bottle of wine for feast days. I'm bringing Earl Grey tea on my next vocation retreat. Apparently they haven't had it for a long time so they said they'd greatly appreciate it. And what everyone else said. Edited June 20, 2012 by Strictlyinkblot
mantellata Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 Coffee -- special flavored stuff for feast days! ICE CREAM! Gift cards to a local grocery store!! or the all time best -- a check or cash. Then they can get what they need. Oh!!!!!..... fresh flowers for the altar! Two identical arrangements are best!
TheresaThoma Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 Stamps! I think almost every community I have seen with a wish list is asking for stamps.
OnlySunshine Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 [quote name='TheresaThoma' timestamp='1340207289' post='2446716'] Stamps! I think almost every community I have seen with a wish list is asking for stamps. [/quote] LOL, I didn't think of that. Great idea, TT!
emmaberry Posted June 20, 2012 Author Posted June 20, 2012 Thank you guys! So far I'm bringing stamps and the office supplies they asked for. I LOVE the suggestions of chocolate and fruit, but I have a 3.5 hour drive to the convent, so I don't know if that would be the best conditions for fruit--although I guess the chocolate would be fine in the air conditioned car... Does anyone have any idea what fruit/veggies they might prefer? If anyone has read ARTBM by Mother Mary Francis, then you know that they grow a lot of their own food. I am wondering what kind of food may not grow very well down here in the South, as this might be more of a treat for them than something they grow in their own backyard! Aaaand I am guessing Roswell has a Walmart? LOL! If anyone knows/has visited Roswell, please let me know about the grocery store situation there. I read that its population is ~50,000 so they MUST have a Wally World.
AveMariaPurissima Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 I agree that the fresh fruit is a good idea. In general, though, to share the advice of my Sisters when they're asked if there's anything they need: "Just think about the sort of items you'd need at home; chances are that we could use them too."
Sr Mary Catharine OP Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 FRUIT, any kind of fruit! Fresh veggies, especially at this time of year! coagulated milk, cookies, tea! (I second the Earl Grey!) and believe it or not, fresh donuts are a HUGE treat! When we get them they are usually, well, sad.... Stamps are also a very good idea. Tuna fish, potato chips, Really, the ordinary things bring us great joy and help us a lot! The ice cream is a really great idea, as well! :-) SMC
Lisa Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 [quote name='emmaberry' timestamp='1340222147' post='2446801'] Thank you guys! So far I'm bringing stamps and the office supplies they asked for. I LOVE the suggestions of chocolate and fruit, but I have a 3.5 hour drive to the convent, so I don't know if that would be the best conditions for fruit--although I guess the chocolate would be fine in the air conditioned car... Does anyone have any idea what fruit/veggies they might prefer? If anyone has read ARTBM by Mother Mary Francis, then you know that they grow a lot of their own food. I am wondering what kind of food may not grow very well down here in the South, as this might be more of a treat for them than something they grow in their own backyard! Aaaand I am guessing Roswell has a Walmart? LOL! If anyone knows/has visited Roswell, please let me know about the grocery store situation there. I read that its population is ~50,000 so they MUST have a Wally World. [/quote] My guess is that they probably have a garden, but they might not have raspberry/blueberry bushes or trees (peaches are in season right now!)
emmaberry Posted June 20, 2012 Author Posted June 20, 2012 Thank you Lisa! Do people ever home grow peaches?
Blessed&Grateful Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 If I ever get a chance for a late vocation - I shall bring fruit and stamps!
Lisa Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 [quote name='emmaberry' timestamp='1340223829' post='2446814'] Thank you Lisa! Do people ever home grow peaches? [/quote] Some people do, but they are kind of a picky tree, so it's less common.
emmaberry Posted June 20, 2012 Author Posted June 20, 2012 Thank you! Sorry-my questions continue. I think there are 23 sisters in the community-how much food should I bring for that many? I am guessing each does not need their own box of chocolates! I just don't know how much nuns eat, so I am unsure how many peaches would be enough for 20+ sisters.
OnlySunshine Posted June 20, 2012 Posted June 20, 2012 [quote name='emmaberry' timestamp='1340223829' post='2446814'] Thank you Lisa! Do people ever home grow peaches? [/quote] I have a peach tree in my backyard. I bought it at Lowe's 2 years ago and it produced it's first fruit last year. The peaches were VERY ripe and juicy. I already see baby peaches on it and I can't wait for harvest time.
emmaberry Posted June 21, 2012 Author Posted June 21, 2012 [quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1340235419' post='2446867'] I have a peach tree in my backyard. I bought it at Lowe's 2 years ago and it produced it's first fruit last year. The peaches were VERY ripe and juicy. I already see baby peaches on it and I can't wait for harvest time. [/quote] How neat! You know what they say...."It tastes the best when you grow it yourself!" [quote name='Sr. Mary Catharine' timestamp='1340222568' post='2446806'] FRUIT, any kind of fruit! Fresh veggies, especially at this time of year! coagulated milk, cookies, tea! (I second the Earl Grey!) and believe it or not, fresh donuts are a HUGE treat! When we get them they are usually, well, sad.... Stamps are also a very good idea. Tuna fish, potato chips, Really, the ordinary things bring us great joy and help us a lot! The ice cream is a really great idea, as well! :-) SMC [/quote] Thanks-it's wonderful to have a Sister's input on what a 'treat' is, convent style. This might be a dumb question, but will they be annoyed if what I bring doesn't work out? I am guessing they will be grateful for anything, but I have this fear that I'll bring them something and Mother will be like, "Oh-we can't eat [i]that[/i]." I don't know why I think this, because she is so sweet over correspondence! Could just be my nerves...
OnlySunshine Posted June 21, 2012 Posted June 21, 2012 (edited) [quote name='emmaberry' timestamp='1340254040' post='2446998'] How neat! You know what they say...."It tastes the best when you grow it yourself!" [/quote] It's especially neat when the tree you have is a hybrid so you don't have to have two in order for cross pollination. Mine has flourished so well on it's own. I'm going to miss it if I go into religious life (God-willing) but my mom enjoys observing it, so I know she'll take care of it. Edited June 21, 2012 by MaterMisericordiae
maximillion Posted June 21, 2012 Posted June 21, 2012 I doubt any nun/sister would tell you to your face. Things to watch out for is if they are meat eaters or not - but then I guess you won't be toting 23 steaks! Most communities accept whatever they are given with gratitude, and if someone gave the exact same thing yesterday you will probably never know, because they will accept that as His will. Be careful over the chocolate. Lots of communities get showered with chocs because lots of people (wrongly) think its something they will miss and that its not something they ever get. We ALWAYS had chocolate in storage and used to have to give some of it away. Wine - if they are allowed. If not then good quality juice in interesting varieties. (Mango, Pomegranate etc).
Strictlyinkblot Posted June 21, 2012 Posted June 21, 2012 How about bananas? Also, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries. Nice bread is also appreciated. Don't worry, they'll be delighted to see you. Anything you bring will be acceptable.
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