This is the time of the year when the members of St. Paul Ladies Aid in Bonduel enjoy having the first-grade children from St. Paul Lutheran School join them in the Fellowship Hall for a Christmas program.
“It’s nice to have the schoolchildren there,” said Carla Parsons, Ladies Aid president.
The Ladies Aid also gives gifts to Pastors Tim Shoup and Mark Palmer and retired Pastor Harley Kopitzke, and the church and school music director, Lorraine Doell.
Parsons has been a longtime Ladies Aid member, ever since her mother, the late Doreen Busch, and her late mother-in-law, Muriel Parsons, were members. She has been president this time for the last four years.
To earn funds, the women have a table at the annual youth craft sale. Previously they had craft sales.
“Now we do a bake sale,” Parsons said.
They also have a chili dinner fundraiser on Ash Wednesday, with proceeds going to the Wolf River Lutheran High School.
The women also make the funeral dinners for those from St. Paul Lutheran church who have died. Vice President Elaine Wnuk gets the kitchen ready and purchases the food for the number of people expected. Other women bring salads and desserts.
“We usually have most members come,” Parsons said. “Some others help out.”
Recently they started making birthday bags with items such as candles and streamers for the Bonduel Food Pantry.
“When they come to the food pantry, they don’t get stuff like that,” Parsons said.
Parsons is a member of the board for East Shawano County Thrivent, which gives them the money for the birthday bags.
The group makes the meals for the shut-in service that is held the third Wednesday of the month and the annual Young at Heart meal.
Several members also tape the services and deliver them to the shut-ins.
“I think that’s a neat program that we have,” Parsons said.
Other officers are Sandy Staszak, treasurer, and Ruby Christensen, secretary. The group meets at 1:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month in the Fellowship Hall.
Parsons would like to see more women join the club that started in the 1970s.
“It’s hard to get new members,” she said.
They had more members in the past, but now have around 10 who are active, with several others who help as they can. They would welcome any new members.
“I would love it,” Parsons said. “All organizations are having a hard time getting younger members.”
For information, call Parsons at 715-758-8823.
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