Sacred Heart Catholic Church hopes no one gave up desserts for Lent — church youth are raising money for the Stockton Mission Project with a Pi Day bake sale between 9 a.m.-1 p.m. March 12.
The Stockton Mission Project is a charity selected by Bishop Edward Rice, who annually tours organizations within the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau and chooses one to receive fundraising efforts during Lent. The project is a food pantry, clothing ministry and more for families and veterans living in one of the state’s most impoverished areas.
“There is higher numbers of poverty (there) than any other place in the state of Missouri, and there’s an extremely high proportion of veterans who are also on the poverty scale,” explained Judy Russell, the youth program director at Sacred Heart.
The bake sale will take place in St. Anne’s Dining Hall next to Sacred Heart School at 111 N. Eighth St., Poplar Bluff.
“The youth are going to be serving pies and a cup of coffee for $3.14, which is 3.14, the number for pie — because I’m a little bit of a math geek,” said Russell. Whole pies will also be sold for $10.
The fundraiser does not land exactly on Pi Day, because March 14 is a Tuesday.
“But not a lot of people are going to come out on a Tuesday, so we’re just picking the Sunday closest to it,” Russell noted.
The pies will be made by members of the parish, but bakers of any denomination are invited to participate. Those interested in donating pies should call Betty Woods at 573-714-4277.
All contributions are appreciated, Russell said.
“God bless the people that are coming to participate in any way,” Russell said.