WOONSOCKET - St. Agatha parishioners put a face on homelessness recently when 18 youth and ten adults had an overnight experience that combined charity and and compassion.
Gathering at 4 p.m. on a cold February night, the group prepared 200 lunches, then split in groups to deliver the food .
"We delivered food for six families at the New Hope for Families," reported college student Kaitlyn Dalpe. "We served meals of soup, sandwiches, chips, cookies and water to 35 men at
Harvest Community Church and approximately 60 of the same to Crossroads of RI."
The remaining lunches were sent to the Brothers of the Sacred Heart residence to assist their "Back Door Sandwich Ministry," she said.
The event continued when participants gathered back at the parish hall around 8:30 p.m. and shared the same meal.
"We then prepared our 'house' for the evening, had a short prayer service and huddled around the fire until about 11:30 p.m. at which time the youth prepared their bedding and got into their boxes," said Dalpe.
And that's where they slept all night. "They were very prepared, and came with blankets, outdoor sleeping bags and many layers of clothing," Dalpe said, adding that "luxury items" like pillows, music, candy and games were not allowed.
To date, their efforts raised more than $1,200. In addition, they collected supplies such as hand towels, facecloths, soap, diapers, baby blankets, shampoo and the like. Dalpe said the money will be divided: 50 percent to New Hope for Families, 25 percent to St. Vincent DePaul of St. Agatha and 25 percent to the Sayles Street Shelter of Woonsocket.
The St. Agatha and Precious Blood Youth Ministry covered expenses, which totaled $328.
St. Agatha is located at the corner of Logee and Fairfield Streets in Woonsocket. For further information, call 767-2950.
