A Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit that served 40,000 local homeless people last year will be a beneficiary of a community service project called Circle the City with Mercy.
Volunteers from sister organizations Mount Mercy University, The Catherine McAuley Center and Mercy Medical Center will be creating at least 500 pairs of protective foot coverings that will be donated to the Olivet Neighborhood Mission.
“We are so grateful to the volunteers who give of their time for this community service project,” said Julie Palmer, director of Olivet Mission. “The protective foot coverings will help individuals who are experiencing homeless keep their feet dry, which is so important to their health, comfort and well-being. Olivet Mission is thrilled to partner with Circle the City to provide these much-needed items to make our community a better place for all.”
Now in its fourth year, the Circle the City with Mercy partners look for a unique community service project each year to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to the community. The project marks the anniversary of the arrival of the Sisters of Mercy in Cedar Rapids in July 1875.
This year, beginning at 9 a.m. on July 22, team members from each of the three organizations will connect through a Zoom call to hear from a representative of each organization. The group will then receive assembly instructions for creating protective foot coverings to keep feet dry from the elements of weather
The foot coverings are made of blue wraps from Mercy’s surgical areas, where they are used to wrap sterile instrument trays. Normally, once used, these blue wraps are discarded.
