Because of your tremendous generosity, we could get carried away and ask for more than we need. Pray that we grow in the spirit of poverty we have espoused for the sake of the Gospel.

Our kitchen needs measuring cups, serving spoons, and eating utensils (especially teaspoons and table knives).

Your donations of over-the-counter medicines have certainly been a big help to our nurses who look after us. Can you send some regular aspirin (325 mg), chewable baby aspirin (81 mg), Ibuprofen, and Epsom salts?

During these winter months, the food processors have been working in other work departments, but they want to be ready to spring into action when their time comes.

They are asking for a dozen or so pairs of spring compression-type needle-nose pliers. (A 3 to 3 ½ inch handle length works best for women’s hands.) This type of pliers is needed for fine-plucking chickens at our chicken slaughter bees.

Our laundresses manage to get our clothing clean without much more than detergent and water. But liquid stain removers, such as Shout or Spray ‘n Wash, are a big help for removing stains. The laundresses also need ironing board covers and fine point laundry markers.

Thank you for the office supplies you continue to send us on a regular basis. This time, the office workers need only a few items: Scotch tape (both in individual dispensers and as refills for desk dispensers), White-out, pamphlet-size calendar planners or date logs, and printer paper.

Would any of you have a refrigerator, electric stove, or chest freezer in working condition that you no longer need? Ours are wearing out and keep breaking down.

The cleaning team needs vacuum cleaners, especially uprights, as well as rubber gloves (mostly the kind for everyday use but also a couple of pairs of chemical strength ones for special use).

Our local landfill requires that household garbage be put in clear garbage bags. But we don’t have any at the moment. So we are begging for large (approximately 60″ by 36″) industrial strength clear garbage bags.

Many thanks for the religious Christmas cards you donated. The fronts of the used ones will be used to make new cards for next Christmas.

Our prayers are with you in a special way during this holy Lenten season. May we all experience in a deeper way this Lent, God’s merciful love for us in Christ so that we may rejoice in the Lord always.

In Our Lady of Combermere,
Susanne Stubbs and Mark Schlingerman (March 2012)