thru – Madison Catholic Herald Archive (2001-2025)

MADISON — Sometimes, drive-thru service can be a little impersonal, even cheerless.

This year, Madison-area St. Vincent de Paul Society members took a festive annual event curbside to help make Christmas brighter for hundreds of children from local households in need.

Yearly event

Each December, St. Vincent de Paul Society member groups, known as “conferences,” from Dane County parishes work together as the Society’s District Council of Madison to provide gifts for the children of families the conferences served during the year through a “Little Drummer” event.

Two parishes host Drive-Thru Taprooms to provide food and support local businesses

MADISON/WAUNAKEE — Two parishes — St. Maria Goretti in Madison and St. John the Baptist in Waunakee — supported local businesses by hosting Drive-Thru Taprooms providing food and beverages.

Those attending the event also had the option of offering a free will donation to the parish with their order.

Promoting businesses, helping parishioners

“This all came together quickly, and we didn’t have much of a playbook to follow,” said Mark Shapleigh, business manager at St. Maria Goretti parish. “The central event coordinator was Karben4 Brewing company.

Overflowing generosity at drive-thru food drive


	Volunteers at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison take donations for the Catholic Multicultural Center in Madison out of the back of a vehicle. (Contributed photo)

MADISON — Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish (QP) saw an overflow of generosity at its first Drive-Thru Food Drive to benefit the Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) on the morning of Sunday, April 19.

“Many of you are asking for ways to help as COVID-19 continues to affect our community on a daily basis, so QP’s Social Action and Community Enrichment Board teamed up with the St. Vincent de Paul conference to find a creative way to help our neighbors in need!” read the Facebook event page that was posted just six days before the event.

“We need your help to feed the hundreds of families that are continuing to suffer by filling the Catholic Multicultural Center’s food pantry!”

High turnout

Thirty-eight individuals expressed interest on Facebook before the event, but the turnout was “more than we were anticipating,” said Annette Fox, director of the parish’s Social Action and Community Enrichment board. “It was awesome. Filled the van plus some!”