WOONSOCKET – As one of the many diocesan organizations that receives funding from the annual Catholic Charity Fund Appeal, Saint Francis House depends on the generosity of Rhode Islanders to keep its doors open.
The assisted living facility serves mainly low-income seniors who need some help with day-to-day activities like cooking, cleaning and personal grooming, but do not yet need regular nursing care.
Many of the men and women who live in the facility receive a supplement to their social security to help pay for the assisted living, but the stipend is minimal and does not meet the operating costs of running St. Francis House, which is where the money from the CCFA comes in. Last year the facility received about $40,000 from the diocese
St. Francis House residents participate in a prayer partnership with the Eleanor Slater Hospital in Cranston and gather every week to pray for people in the hospital. This is just one of the activities offered at the residence that allows the seniors to continue to lead active, fulfilling lives.
Kathleen McKeon, diocesan supervisor of Community Services and Advocacy, said the facility provides an essential service for low-income seniors in the Woonsocket area. “If this choice was not there for them, finding a place for someone on [Supplemental Security Income] in Woonsocket is very difficult,” she said.
As important to the residents of St. Francis House as the assistance with medication and the meals provided are the social opportunities that living in the home affords them. “It becomes a surrogate family for those people,” gate family for those people,” McKeon said, many of whom would otherwise be confined to their homes or apartments alone.
Catholic Charity Fund Appeal update
With just a month left to go, the 2008 Catholic Charity Fund Appeal total now stands at $7,165,509. Fifty-one parishes have now surpassed their goal for this year, and another 48 parishes have surpassed last year’s totals.
Stewardship & Development Director Anthony T. Gwiazdowski said, “Our final appeal to all previous donors that have not yet made a gift is soon to be in the mail, as well as a final follow-up mailing to all Bishop's Partnership In Charity donors who also have not yet made a gift.”
Gwiazdowski noted the current economic hard times, saying, "Certainly, we are concerned that with rising gas prices and other difficult economic factors that these are tough times for everyone. But I remind everyone that those we serve through our ministries are probably the most deeply affected of all of us. We remain hopeful – just as last June, when we were able to raise over $1.2 million that allowed us to reach our goal. As it stands, we need less than that this year, and I know that everyone will do their best.”
