Posted on Sep 30, 2018 in
HOMETOWN HEROES
Christine Mitchell
By Joan Frances –
When Christine Mitchell talks about volunteering, she refers to her works as, we, and us and family, as they have been a part of her life. She has been a public servant throughout her career and continues to bring joy and contentment to the senior residents of Fort Bend County.
Mitchell and her husband, Tim, a project manager at Chevron, moved from New Orleans 27 years ago and live in Sugar Land. They have two daughters, Hannah and Maddie. Mitchell became a registered nurse in 1989 and worked in Pediatrics at Memorial Hermann Children’s Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital and Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital Pediatrics. She retired 14 years ago.
Mitchell has volunteered for Meals On Wheels (MOW) for the last 13 years. In Fort Bend County, the average MOW participant is 78 years-old. “I joined Meals On Wheels when it was a ministry at St. Laurence Catholic Church where I have been a parishioner for 18 years. I have continued to deliver MOW for the joy it brings to my life. The clients become like family members. I learn about their lives, and I pray for them and worry about them. I was even invited to a client’s 90th birthday party because I was her friend. Unfortunately, she passed away about a year ago, and I attended her funeral. As Catholic Christians, we are called to serve others, to give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty and visit the lonely and the infirmed.”
Mitchell delivers MOW every Tuesday for about three hours to 25 to 40 clients. “I also have a partner, Leanne Bremner, who I met through this ministry. We solve the world’s problems on Tuesdays,” Mitchell laughed. “These meals are prepared to meet all the daily nutritional requirements, and our clients depend on us to deliver them. The volunteers who pack the meals are wonderful as well. No one feels like it is work; they are committed to make life a little easier for our senior citizens. We also had a client for many years who was a widower. I used to bring him left-over meals I made at home. He always cleaned my Tupperware so I could bring him more food. He loved my cooking. Our clients trust us completely when they give their bills for us to mail. They also tell us the issues that need addressing, such as a broken air conditioner, when they won’t be home, and when they don’t care for certain meals. I’m not sure they realize we are volunteers. They miss us when we are absent, and they always tell us.”
In addition to her commitment to MOW, Mitchell also participates in Bridges to Life, a restorative justice program. This non-profit organization brings healing to victims of crime, reduces recidivism among offender graduates of the program and helps make our community a better place to live. She works with incarcerated women on Monday for two hours, and she has been involved with this ministry for about 7 years.
Mitchell is also a funeral ministry committee member at St. Laurence. She assists parishioners by creating receptions for family and friends of the deceased. She volunteers as well as a substitute adorer at our Divine Mercy Chapel. This Chapel is a quiet place of refuge and prayer with perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament exposed in a monstrance. Mitchell is one of many devoted to never leaving it alone.
Thank you Christine Mitchell for your tireless commitment to your many extended family members. Because of your generous heart, and when love is involved, life is so much better for the people you touch.
Classic Chevy Sugar Land
13115 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77478
(281) 491-9000
www.classicchevysugarland.com
