Willson Elementary families pick up holiday hams.As the holiday season begins, historic St. Casimir Church in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood is once again collecting donations to provide Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for families in need at CMSD Willson Elementary School.

The annual “Hams and Yams” effort, led by parish council member John Niedzialek and supported by the St. Casimir Alumni Association, provides holiday hams to families experiencing financial hardship and other challenges.

Volunteers coordinate the effort, with 100% of donated funds going directly toward purchasing the hams, with a volunteer army handling the distributions. The program has grown over the years, helping more families each holiday season.

Donations will be divided between Thanksgiving and Christmas distributions. Contributions received after Thanksgiving will go toward the Christmas effort.

The organizers expect to work with Painesville Giant Eagle to purchase the hams. The store and its management has supported the program in previous years by selling hams to St. Casimir at reduced prices, as well as making monetary donations.

The impact of Hams and Yams is seen in the gratitude expressed by the schools and families who receive the meals.

In a letter from a three-year recipient of the Hams and Yams program last year, the writer said the program brings “significant relief and joy” to families during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons—citing news stories in FreshWater Cleveland and Spectrum News 1.

St. Casimir Church Hams for FamsThe letter also described the effort as embodying the spirit of the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago and their founder, Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik, whose motto was, “You do what you can do.”

The writer went on to state, “I encourage everyone who is able to support this wonderful effort to ensure this tradition of giving continues this holiday season.”

Niedzialek started the holiday ham fundraising campaign in 2021 after seeing there a lot of families in need at Willson and got the idea to pass out hams. The initiative was so successful that in 2022 Niedzialek wanted to add a vegetable to the distribution. Thus, the yams component of Hams and Yams was born.

How to help
Financial contributions can be made by check, payable to either John Niedzialek or the St. Casimir Alumni Association. The Alumni Association is a nonprofit organization, allowing donors to receive an official tax-donation receipt.

Mail checks to:
John Niedzialek
6875 Morley Road
Concord, OH 44077

Niedzialek will forward checks made payable to the St. Casimir Alumni Association to the organization.