At our meeting on June 21, our speaker was Chuck Anastasia (below). Chuck is a volunteer leader of the M25:35 Ministry at St. Mary of the Bay Church in Warren. M25:35 refers to Matthew chapter 25, verse 35, "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." Chuck talked about his experience working with the Diocese of Providence and DORCAS International assisting refugees and immigrants settling in Rhode Island. Over the past year, the M25:35 Ministry furnished apartments with donated furniture, housewares, linens, and clothes for six families arriving from Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Sudan, Syria, and Venezuela. M25:35 also provided assistance for Ukrainian refugee families and arranged volunteer drivers for refugee's medical appointments. M25:35 seeks to ease the burdens of those who—often having suffered from war, oppression, poverty and political turmoil—come to the United States in search of the opportunity to live in peace, safety and freedom. Bristol Rotary was pleased to donate to M25:35 and to support their magnanimous work.
