directly to the food pantry while
the rest gets handed out to those in
need—around 100 people. Many of
those who volunteer at st. Peter’s are
also struggling with homelessness
and hunger, but they show up to
help.
After we unloaded most of the
truck, we got lunch ready. While i
was working the line, a little girl told
me how she loved the food in the
box we gave her. i was struck by how
many hungry people there are: some
people who came through the lines
looked no different than me.
Thursday: Bethany House
on this morning the whole group
worked at Bethany House, which is
a Catholic Worker house for women
and children. it serves lunch daily
and is considered a safe house for
women in need. When we arrived we
were greeted with a car full of donated food from FoodLink, the Feeding
America regional food bank. After we
unloaded the food, we organized it
in the pantry and got our individual
work assignments. Mine was helping
paint the laundry room.
Bethany House is located in one
of the highest-crime areas of Rochester, but i never felt unsafe working around the house. The women
are grateful for a place that gives
them not only a home but also love
and support to move forward from
addiction and abuse. Many women
who sought out the House’s services
in the past come back to volunteer
and talk to other women who might
be going through the same things.
According to founder donna Ecker,
Bethany house “gives women hope.”
There’s that word again: hope.
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