Cinnamon Roll Queen
Congratulations to Rosie Eck (center in picture at right), who was crowned the Cinnamon Roll Queen of Coffman County at the fifth annual Old Fashion Christmas at St. Catherine Church in Coffman. Eck edged out the competition by receiving 997 votes for her homemade cinnamon rolls. The secret to her recipe, said pastor Father Rickey Valleroy, is adding a mashed potato to the mix. Lisa Cartee (right) was named first runner up, and Allyssa Trautman (left) was second runner up. Best of all, the $4,570.70 total raised from voting will go toward new wood flooring in the church, which has 28 registered households. By the way, Coffman is actually located in Ste. Genevieve County. The title of Cinnamon Roll Queen of Coffman County is a good-humored poke at the fun of the competition, said Father Valleroy.
Leadership transition
The executive co-directors of Feed My People are retiring, and Robert L. Wessels will take over as the new executive director. Nearly 35 years ago, Feed My People began its ministry under the direction of Carol and John DeGuire with a single bag of groceries and a desire to help God's children in need. Today, Feed My People serves approximately 44,000 clients in two locations, 171 Kingston Drive, South St. Louis County, and 3295 Ottomeyer Road, High Ridge. Carol DeGuire said, "God has truly been by our side and guided us each and every step of the way." As Feed My People Ambassadors, they will continue to take part in special events. Wessels, a member of Immaculate Conception Parish in Dardenne, has worked in the nonprofit community for more than 30 years, serving most recently as the executive director of the Veterans Research and Education Foundation and as president and CEO of the ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter, executive director of the St. Louis Society for the Physically Disabled and executive director of the Center for Women in Transition in St. Louis.
Matt Carpenter on deck
St. Louis Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter will take over as chairman of Homers for Health, outgoing chairman Matt Holliday announced at the annual Holliday's Heroes dinner Jan. 16. Two other Cardinals players, Trevor Rosenthal and Adam Wainwright, will return, representing the pitchers with K's for Kids. Since Matt and Leslee Holliday began Homers for Health in 2012, more than $3.7 million has been raised for the patients and families of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. At the dinner, 16-year-old cancer survivor Maggie Bohannan surprised the Hollidays with an announcement that their efforts will be recognized through a wing named in their honor in the fourth-floor inpatient cancer unit. Bohannan was one of the first patients Holliday connected with on a visit in 2011, just before they launched Homers for Health. For more information about Homers for Health and K's for Kids visit www.glennon.org/h4h.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Living Rosary
Our Lady of Guadalupe for Life is hosting a Living Rosary at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 22, at Assumption Parish, 4725 Mattis Road in south St. Louis County. The group will pray in solidarity with those participating in the March for Life Jan. 27 in Washington, D.C., and to observe the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision. A reception with light refreshments will be held afterward. For more information, call Anna Maria Usselmann at (314) 487-2066.
Prayers for life
A Pro Life Holy Hour will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, at St. Joseph Church, 1355 Motherhead Road in Cottleville. The focus is on prayers for an end to abortion, for mercy, for healing and for life. For more information, call Bob at (314) 973-1427 or Mimi at (636) 926-9311.
Welcoming the Stranger
"Welcoming the Stranger," a three-part series of stories of some of the nation's newest arrivals, will be offered at the Sisters St. Joseph of Carondelet's motherhouse, 6400 Minnesota Ave. in south St. Louis. The program opens at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, with "At the Border." Five Sisters of St. Joseph of the St. Louis province will share their stories of welcoming immigrants in El Paso, Texas.
The program continues in February with "Here at Home." RSVP at [email protected] or call (314) 481-8800. Or visit www.csjsl.org.
Dance time
Artists for a Cause, a nonprofit that supports artists who serve community needs, is bringing the Dance for Food program to St. Louis after eight years of success in Florida. Artistically directed by Linda Green, the Dance for Food program has hired many of Missouri's finest dancers to showcase their talents to an audience whose only admission fee is a bag of unexpired, nonperishable goods. Operation Food Search and Food Outreach will be the recipients of the food collected. In a one-hour performance, each "food raiser" will include a range of choreography from five participating companies. The "Rising Star Series" takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at A4AC St. Louis Office, The Zack Arts Incubator, 3224 Locust Ave. in St Louis. The "Star Series" will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at the Sun Theater, 3625 Grandel Square in Midtown St Louis. Each show will offer preshow entertainment a half hour before the event from gifted young artists in the A4AC network.