A Memorial Letter to a Friend, Mike Drabik

June 19, 2020

The below letter was written by Claudia Vercellotti, longtime SNAP leader in Toledo, OH and friend to Mike Drabik.

Mike,

I just learned of your unexpected passing. I’m crushed. You were always kind to me as a SNAP leader. I deeply appreciated your unwavering support that kids should not be sexually abused nor the crimes against them covered up within the Catholic Church.

I loved and admired your deeply seated convictions and efforts to hold the Toledo Catholic Diocesan Bishops accountable. I remain grateful for all the risks you took to support accountability, expose child predators and work for justice. You were always a steady supporter, a true ally of SNAP.

Your timely letters calling for reform to the Bishop, withholding contributions to the church and willingness to meet and stand in solidarity out there with me, Barbara Blaine, Marcia Holtz, Marian Blaine, MaryJean & Tom Mcarty, Linda Tremp Waters, Joanne Ward, Jon Schoonnaker, Tony Comes and many, many others in pursuit of justice was amazing!

I remain grateful for all the behind the scenes things you did to protect kids. I always admired how your deep Catholic faith fueled your call to social justice and activism. You never wavered.

I remained in awe of your commitment to fitness, reducing your carbon footprint and was so happy that you got your new, peaceful house in recent years.

On your first heavenly birthday, just days after your death, may you find true peace and unconditional love in the arms of Jesus. Clearly, the world was much more interesting with you in it. Kids were safer. More than words, thank you for your friendship, support over 30+ years. Most of all, thank you for working so diligently to ensure that what happened to us happens to no one else, I miss you already.

In solidarity,

Claudia Vercellotti

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Winter Appeal 2023

To our friends,

2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’

At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.

To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.

Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.

Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.

Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!

Warmly,

Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.

Interim Executive Director

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