St. John disburses $11,000 from annual block party
December 8, 2009
by Christina Killion-Valdez
Several local organizations are getting a much needed financial boost with the disbursement of $11,000 from last July's St. John Block Party.
Officials from St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Rochester and the St. John Block Party Committee announced the disbursements Friday, bringing the total amount of charitable contributions generated in six years of block party history to more than $80,000.
This year's beneficiaries include: The Boys and Girls Club of Rochester, Channel One Food Bank & Food Shelf, Child Care Resource and Referral Crisis Nursery, the Salvation Army Good Samaritan Dental Clinic, Rochester Better Chance, Refugee Resettlement Division of Catholic Charities, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Diversity Council Spark! Program, Hispanic Ministry Program of the Diocese of Winona, Mission Moldova, RNeighbors/Slatterly Park, Rochester A Litter Bit Better and SPRED of Rochester.
The mission of the block party is to reach out to the larger community with music, fun and fellowship.
The block party draws more than 5,000 people downtown each summer with performances by nationally known musicians.
Partnerships with area hotels and businesses help to defray the costs of the event. Also, more than 300 volunteers from the church help.
