March 18, 2024

Pink Flamingos take over to help raise money for mission trips

Driving around Newton you may have noticed some strange animals hanging out in people’s lawns — bright pink birds that usually can only been seen at the zoo.

Flamingos have taken over homes in town courtesy of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church senior high students who are raising money for a mission trip to Detroit at the end of July.

“Clarissa Bloom, the previous Youth Ministry Coordinator for Sacred Heart Catholic Church is the originator of this idea,” Coordinator Emilee Steinbach said. “Business has been good. The flocks move around every one to two nights. We have been flocking for about three weeks and will continue through Saturday.”

“Flocking” began on June 13 with 10 to 15 flamingos showing up in church member’s lawns.

“To start, we placed the flocks in three church family yards. Those who have been flocked have the option to pay $5 to have the flocks removed, or pay $20 to flock another family of their specification. If they do not donate money, the flocks will be removed the following day. The flocks migrate from house to house,” Steinbach said.

To avoid the flamingos altogether, Flamingo Insurance can be purchased for $20 and no birds would show up on the lawn for the remainder of the fundraiser.

“Most people who wake up to a flock enjoy the surprise. This year, there were two families who went back and forth flocking each other several times,” Steinbach said.

The funds will be used to support the church’s youth trips including a week long mission trip July 19-25 to Detroit, Mich. The trip called “Faith Journey” will be working several service projects in the city. Also, a portion of the funds will be used for the National Catholic Youth Conference trip held Nov. 19-21 in Indianapolis, Ind.