A packed house at Coachwood Golf & Country Club in McGregor helped three shelters in Africa.
The Hope of St. Joseph Shelter Inc. - a corporation that assists Father Donato Lwiyando in caring for boys and girls at three shelters in Bukavu, D.R. Congo - presented a fundraising dinner Sunday night with a large crowd coming out to not only enjoy the chicken and pasta meal, but also to donate at the dessert table, bid on a wide selection of silent auction prizes and provide donations in other ways.
“It’s so important to keep the momentum going for Father Donato and the children,” said corporation president Larry Allen. “It’s so necessary we have the support of the charity.”
Allen outlined the background of the corporation, which started when Father Donato was stationed in Amherstburg for three years as a missionary priest.
“In our social justice group, we got to hear what was happening in his hometown of Bukavu,” said Allen.
Young girls were getting raped, abandoned and were working in brothels. Many were homeless and had no place to go. Father Donato would leave Amherstburg and is now back in the D.R. Congo operating the Hope of St. Joseph Shelter and the two others that have been created since his return, with the shelters expanding into accepting boys.
The Hope of St. Joseph corporation in Canada received charitable status and Allen said they are making great strides in helping children and building shelters and schools in the African nation. The board meets monthly and decides where money goes and how to fulfill Father Donato’s wishes.
A giant yard sale had been held for many years at the Middle Side Road home of Marc and Mary Beneteau, but that was discontinued this year due to health concerns. Mary, who is secretary with the Hope of St. Joseph Inc., said “this dinner has been amazing.”
Mary regularly corresponds with Father Donato, with the latter trying to get over a stomach ailment. Videos sent from Father Donato were shown at the dinner, including one of young homeless children being taken to jail.
“Food is not provided in jail,” said Mary, though some family members do take food to children if they can.
While some children do steal, many are simply taken to jail because they are street kids, she added.
“Father Donato says the reason many go to jail is because they are homeless, they don’t have money and the new mayor doesn’t want street people,” she said.
Father Donato wants to take in more children but can’t as the shelters are at capacity. One of the videos showed an addition going up. Current capacity at one of the shelters has gone from 26 to 34 children.
“Father’s heart aches because they are crying to be taken in and there’s no more room,” said Mary.
Videos were shown of children and youth working in fields growing crops and vegetables to feed them. In the video, Father Donato thanked those in attendance for their support.
“I would like to thank you so much for what you are doing for the kids and for us,” he stated. “We pray God will thank you and reward you for everything you are doing for us.”
Mary added support being generated locally gives opportunity to youth in the D.R. Congo. Children can now go to school, bake bread, learn to sew and build a better life.
“He emphasizes they are not at the shelters by choice but are grateful to be there,” said Mary.
The cost to sponsor a child is $25 per month or $300 for a year.
“The money is one pot. For that reason, the kids can have a lot of sponsors,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how many sponsors they have.”
Ending the huge yard sale was “heavy on our hearts,” Mary added, but “Marc and I can’t do it anymore.” The hope is that additional sponsorships will offset the revenue they will lose.
For more information on the charity, visit please visit www.hopeislife.ca.
By Ron Giofu
Large crowd at dinner helps Hope of St. Joseph Shelters in D.R. Congo
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