Almost 200 pasta dinners were sold Sunday night but, more importantly, a group of children and youth in D.R. Congo were helped through those meals.
The Hope of St. Joseph Inc. presented a pasta dinner fundraiser at the Columbus Community Hall. It was a sold out event, with charity president Larry Allen stating it meant 172 people filled the Richmond St. hall while roughly another 20 brought home take-out meals.
A final total of how much money was raised was not available as of press time.
“It’s great to see the big turnout,” said Allen.
Father Donato Lwiyando, a missionary priest, founded a girls shelter in his hometown, Bukavu, D.R. Congo in 2006. His work as a priest led him to Amherstburg where he spent three years as the associate pastor at St. John the Baptist Church, but he went home to work directly with the shelters and the children and youth that reside there.
Allen said the plight of the children and youth in the D.R. Congo was shared with St. John the Baptist Church social justice committee and that led to the founding of the charity in Amherstburg.
“We got to know what is going on in his country,” said Allen.
Girls have been facing rape, homelessness and violence in the African nation, and the Hope of St. Joseph Shelter Inc. has been raising money for the shelters, which now includes two additional shelters.
“We need to raise money to keep it going,” said Allen. “We sent everything in U.S. dollars to Father Donato.”
Allen said the charity plans another dinner fundraiser in the fall at Coachwood Golf and Country Club. The huge charity yard sale will no longer be held, but Allen said the charity plans to have smaller yard sales at different locations.
Sponsors and supporters were thanked as Allen said that helps them stay running, keep the charity promoted and “keeps the energy going.”
Mary Beneteau, the non-profit organization’s secretary, keeps in regular communication with Father Donato and reported the children and youth are being fed for now, but supplies are running low. She said Father Donato has been ill with abdominal pain, but reported he is getting better.
War in the D.R. Congo, centred around precious minerals in the country, has caused the children and youth to be moved and the closure of schools and banks in Bukavu. She was thankful when Rwandan soldiers and a rebel paramilitary group known as M23 didn’t kill anyone or cause any fighting when in Bukavu. Beneteau said Father Donato reported Rwanda and M23 are “aggressors” in the war as they go after the mines where the minerals come from.
Children and youth are not yet safe to go back into the streets to go to school, she added, with Father Donato also worried about the “street kids.” The “street kids” are young people who are forced to live on the streets and get regular meals from the shelter.
“Father has been unable to get food to the street kids and is very concerned about them,” said Beneteau.
The fact so many people turned out to Sunday night’s dinner in Amherstburg is “a sign of hope and love,” she believed. She expressed her thanks to all who supported it, adding Father Donato blessed them as well.
To make a donation or to sponsor a child in the D.R. Congo, visit www.hopeislife.ca.
Sold out crowd at fundraiser helps Hope of St. Joseph Shelter Inc.
By Ron Giofu
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