Throughout the year, Our Lady of Light offers many opportunities to serve our neighbors through seasonal outreach projects and donation drives. These initiatives allow parishioners to share their time, talents, and resources with those in need throughout our community. Opportunities vary by season, but each one is a meaningful way to live out our faith through service and generosity.
Explore the outreach initiatives below to see how you can participate.
Explore the outreach initiatives below to see how you can participate.
Yearly oportunities
Mother’s Day Flowers & Bottles for Babies
Celebrate life and honor the mothers in your life through two special parish initiatives held each year at the St. Francis of Assisi Campus.
Mother’s Day FlowersPurchase a rose or carnation on Mother’s Day weekend in honor of your mother or a special woman in your life. Proceeds benefit Dayton Right to Life.
Bottles for BabiesSupport the lifesaving work of Elizabeth’s New Life Center by picking up a Bottles for Babies container after Mass on Mother’s Day weekend. Fill it with coins, cash, or checks (made out to ENLC) and return it by Father’s Day.
Every donation helps save lives—approximately $500 funds the care needed to save one baby.
Mother’s Day FlowersPurchase a rose or carnation on Mother’s Day weekend in honor of your mother or a special woman in your life. Proceeds benefit Dayton Right to Life.
Bottles for BabiesSupport the lifesaving work of Elizabeth’s New Life Center by picking up a Bottles for Babies container after Mass on Mother’s Day weekend. Fill it with coins, cash, or checks (made out to ENLC) and return it by Father’s Day.
Every donation helps save lives—approximately $500 funds the care needed to save one baby.
Paper Goods & Personal Care Items Drive – St. Vincent de Paul
Each year around the second weekend of June, the Incarnation St. Vincent de Paul Conference hosts a Paper Goods and Personal Care Items Drive (sometimes referred to as the Handi-Pack Drive).
Donations are collected before and after Masses in the Incarnation Church parking lot to support families in need in our parish area.
These items allow families to use their Kroger gift cards for food while we provide essential everyday items that SNAP benefits do not cover.
Items Needed
• Toilet tissue
• Paper towels
• Kleenex
• Bar soap
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Laundry soap
Cash donations are also welcome and help purchase items that are in short supply.
Donations are collected before and after Masses in the Incarnation Church parking lot to support families in need in our parish area.
These items allow families to use their Kroger gift cards for food while we provide essential everyday items that SNAP benefits do not cover.
Items Needed
• Toilet tissue
• Paper towels
• Kleenex
• Bar soap
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Laundry soap
Cash donations are also welcome and help purchase items that are in short supply.
Christmas in July Giving Tree – Elizabeth’s New Life Center
Celebrate Christmas in July and support Elizabeth’s New Life Center, which provides free ultrasounds, counseling, and parenting education for pregnant women and families in need.
How to Participate?
• Take an ornament from the Giving Tree
• Purchase the item listed (diapers, formula, cribs, clothing, etc.)
• Return the unwrapped item to the designated collection area by the end of July
You can also support families through the ENLC Amazon gift registry.
Your generosity provides essential items and hope to families in need.
How to Participate?
• Take an ornament from the Giving Tree
• Purchase the item listed (diapers, formula, cribs, clothing, etc.)
• Return the unwrapped item to the designated collection area by the end of July
You can also support families through the ENLC Amazon gift registry.
Your generosity provides essential items and hope to families in need.
SVDP Clothing & Household Goods Drive – Incarnation Campus
Each year around the second weekend of September, the Incarnation St. Vincent de Paul Conference hosts a Clothing and Household Goods Drive (also known as Bundle Sunday).
Donations are collected before and after Masses in the Incarnation Church parking lot and support both neighbors in need and the SVDP Community Store.
Items Most Needed:
• Clean, gently used clothing and shoes
• Kitchen and bath linens
• Dishes, pots, pans, bakeware
• Utensils and flatware
• Small appliances in good repair
• Small home décor items
Items We Cannot Accept:
• Large items that cannot fit in a car
• Used toys or baby items
• Books, furniture, exercise equipment
• Building materials or medical equipment
• Tires or electronics older than three years
Donations are collected before and after Masses in the Incarnation Church parking lot and support both neighbors in need and the SVDP Community Store.
Items Most Needed:
• Clean, gently used clothing and shoes
• Kitchen and bath linens
• Dishes, pots, pans, bakeware
• Utensils and flatware
• Small appliances in good repair
• Small home décor items
Items We Cannot Accept:
• Large items that cannot fit in a car
• Used toys or baby items
• Books, furniture, exercise equipment
• Building materials or medical equipment
• Tires or electronics older than three years
Ongoing oportunities
Monthly Breakfast Casseroles for St. Vincent de Paul Shelter
Help feed shelter guests each month by providing baked breakfast casseroles and other breakfast items.
When to Donate:
Items are requested the last Saturday of each month.
Pick-Up:
Stop by the Gathering Space at the St. Francis of Assisi Campus for a casserole pan or a list of needed items.
Drop-Off:
Deliver prepared casseroles and donations to the St. Francis of Assisi kitchen Wednesday–Friday after the request.
Instructions:
See casserole preparation instructions here.
Thank you for helping our parish serve those in need.
When to Donate:
Items are requested the last Saturday of each month.
Pick-Up:
Stop by the Gathering Space at the St. Francis of Assisi Campus for a casserole pan or a list of needed items.
Drop-Off:
Deliver prepared casseroles and donations to the St. Francis of Assisi kitchen Wednesday–Friday after the request.
Instructions:
See casserole preparation instructions here.
Thank you for helping our parish serve those in need.
Third Sunday Food Collection – Support Local Families
Every Third Sunday of the month, the St. Francis of Assisi Campus collects donations for Catholic Social Services Miami Valley (CSSMV) to help local families in need.
Items Needed
1. Nonperishable food:
• Rice
• Cereal
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Canned meat or fish
• Spaghetti sauce
2. Personal care products:
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Toothpaste
• Sanitary items
3. Household items:
• Cleaning supplies
Many families rely on CSSMV for food and household essentials, especially during times of economic stress. Personal care and cleaning items are especially valuable because they are not covered by government assistance programs.
Drop-Off Location:
St. Francis of Assisi Campus on the Third Sunday of each month.
Thank you for helping our neighbors thrive.
Items Needed
1. Nonperishable food:
• Rice
• Cereal
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Canned meat or fish
• Spaghetti sauce
2. Personal care products:
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Toothpaste
• Sanitary items
3. Household items:
• Cleaning supplies
Many families rely on CSSMV for food and household essentials, especially during times of economic stress. Personal care and cleaning items are especially valuable because they are not covered by government assistance programs.
Drop-Off Location:
St. Francis of Assisi Campus on the Third Sunday of each month.
Thank you for helping our neighbors thrive.
Ongoing Food Collection – St. Vincent de Paul
Help support neighbors in need by donating non-perishable food to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Barrels at the St. Francis of Assisi Campus.
What to Donate:
Non-perishable items such as rice, pasta, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meat or fish, soups, and cereal.
Where to Drop Off:
Food barrels located in the Gathering Space entrances at St. Francis of Assisi Campus.
Ongoing Collection:
Donations are accepted year-round.
Your generosity helps ensure that families in our community have access to nutritious food.
What to Donate:
Non-perishable items such as rice, pasta, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meat or fish, soups, and cereal.
Where to Drop Off:
Food barrels located in the Gathering Space entrances at St. Francis of Assisi Campus.
Ongoing Collection:
Donations are accepted year-round.
Your generosity helps ensure that families in our community have access to nutritious food.
Holiday season
Incarnation Christmas Kindness
Each October, Incarnation Parish hosts Christmas Kindness, a parish-wide effort to provide Christmas gifts for families and individuals in need.
Ways to Participate:
1. Monetary Donations
Donations help purchase gifts or gift cards for families.
2. Adopt a Family
Receive a list of gift requests based on family size.
Contact Candy Huttinger: 937-430-1174 | [email protected]
3. Pick Up a Gift Tag
Gift tags are distributed at Incarnation Masses in late November.
4. Volunteer
Help package gifts or distribute tags.
Contact Lynn Brumfield (937-287-7081) or Barb Perkins (937-671-6546).
Ways to Participate:
1. Monetary Donations
Donations help purchase gifts or gift cards for families.
2. Adopt a Family
Receive a list of gift requests based on family size.
Contact Candy Huttinger: 937-430-1174 | [email protected]
3. Pick Up a Gift Tag
Gift tags are distributed at Incarnation Masses in late November.
4. Volunteer
Help package gifts or distribute tags.
Contact Lynn Brumfield (937-287-7081) or Barb Perkins (937-671-6546).
Thanksgiving Basket Collection – St. Francis of Assisi
Each November, St. Francis of Assisi collects food and monetary donations to provide Thanksgiving baskets for families in need.
How to Participate?
• Choose an item slip from the turkey display in the Gathering Space
• Return food donations to the labeled boxes by late November
• Donate cash or checks (memo: Thanksgiving) to help purchase gift cards
• Volunteer to deliver baskets to families
Pre-packaged baskets are distributed after the 11:30 AM Mass on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
How to Participate?
• Choose an item slip from the turkey display in the Gathering Space
• Return food donations to the labeled boxes by late November
• Donate cash or checks (memo: Thanksgiving) to help purchase gift cards
• Volunteer to deliver baskets to families
Pre-packaged baskets are distributed after the 11:30 AM Mass on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
St. Francis Giving Tree
The St. Francis Giving Tree provides Christmas gifts for local families each year
How to Participate?
• Take a gift tag from the tree
• Purchase the requested item
• Return the unwrapped gift by mid-December
Monetary donations for grocery gift cards are also welcome.
Contact Annie Pryor
[email protected] | 937-902-3988
Note: This program is separate from Incarnation’s Christmas Kindness initiative.
How to Participate?
• Take a gift tag from the tree
• Purchase the requested item
• Return the unwrapped gift by mid-December
Monetary donations for grocery gift cards are also welcome.
Contact Annie Pryor
[email protected] | 937-902-3988
Note: This program is separate from Incarnation’s Christmas Kindness initiative.