Three sister organizations continue annual tradition of spreading mercy in Cedar Rapids community

Sister organizations Mount Mercy University, the Catherine McAuley Center and Mercy Medical Center are continuing the tradition of spreading mercy in our community. Circle the City with Mercy is a one-day community service project with volunteers from each organization working toward a common cause.

Now in its seventh year, partners of Circle the City with Mercy join together 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 8 a.m. on Mon., July 22, team members from each of the three organizations will start the day with mass at the Mercy Chapel, followed by a short kickoff program at 8:30 a.m. at Mercy's Hallagan Education Center. The group will then assemble 11,000 meals for the Take Away Hunger organization and 200 hygiene bags from HACAP. The meals and hygiene bags will be distributed locally to the Cedar Rapids School District to help kids in need.

Questions about Circle the City with Mercy may be directed to Catherine Poduska with Mount Mercy University at (319) 363-1323 ext. 1025; Karen Vander Sanden with Mercy Cedar Rapids at (319) 558-8424; or Anne Dugger with the Catherine McAuley Center at (319) 200-5070. Inquiries about Take Away Hunger Cedar Rapids may be directed to Joe O'Leary at 319-491-6660 or [email protected].