LINCOLN — In the span of one afternoon, 57 deserving Rhode Island charities collectively received $250,000 from the R.I. Greyhound Owners Association (RIGOA) and Twin River.
The annual BLB Charity Day at the Races, held November 17, raised more than $1.2 million for local charitable organizations.
This year’s grant money has helped to fill the cupboards of two parish ministries. St. Leo the Great food pantry in Pawtucket and the Mary House Ministry of St. Patrick Church in Providence each received a $5,000 donation.
"The greyhound and kennel owners are dedicated to helping Rhode Island's neediest,” said RIGOA Vice President Dan Ryan. "Continuing our commitment to the hungry, homeless, children and at-risk populations, we're proud to improve the lives of others by donating to area shelters, soup kitchens, learning and community centers and other similar organizations."
Ryan continued, "This program is funded by donations from RIGOA's gross revenue from dog racing at Twin River combined with a percentage of the annual purse from the kennel owners as well as monetary and in-kind donations from Twin River. With this year's donations, we will have donated more than $1,250,000.00 to Rhode Island charities in seven years. We look forward to continuing this wonderful tradition of community giving for many years to come."
For St. Leo the Great Church, the grant came just in time to help with Thanksgiving Day preparations. “Of the $5,000, we’re going to use $1,000 to buy Stop & Shop gifts cards to hand out to our clients. That way they can have a real Thanksgiving dinner,” said Linda Prew, the pantry coordinator.
In the days before the holiday clients filed into the pantry to pick up Thanksgiving baskets. The gift cards were distributed along with 50 turkeys donated by the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. The remainder of the money will go to replenishing the pantry’s regular food supply.
“It will help a lot because the shelves are getting thin,” said Katherine Fletcher, one of the pantry’s volunteers.
Fletcher understands what it’s like to be hungry, “I remember when I was a little girl my mom went to ask for food at the rectory.... All she got was a box of cereal” she said. Although it was only a box of cereal, Fletcher remembers being thankful. “It was something to eat.”
St. Leo’s has about 10 volunteers who help stock up the shelves every week, collecting cans donated by parishioners and making sure there is enough food to distribute.
“I call them the St. Leo’s angels,” said Prew of her volunteers.
Connie Johnson, one of the angels and also a retired social worker, thinks the grant is wonderful. “It’s not only going to help the homeless, but the working poor too,” she said. “A lot of these people live week to week, pay check to pay check, with three or four children to feed.”
Two years ago, the St. Leo food pantry relocated to the former library in the basement of the church. Father Kevin R. Fisette, pastor of St. Leo Church, sent the maintenance man in to paint the walls a bright color, and one volunteer made flowery curtains to give the space some cheer.
Since moving, the pantry has seen an increase in clientele. The first month, seven clients sought food. Last month, 87 passed through the pantry doors. “There’s a lot of people out there who need help,” commented Johnson.
“Treat every client as Jesus would.” This is the motto the pantry stands by. The words are written on the front of the pantry’s intake book, so volunteers are reminded to lend an ear and a heart to each person who walks through the door.
The Mary House meal kitchen, on Smith Hill in Providence, shares a similar approach to St. Leo’s ministry. “It’s about believing in them so that they can get back on their feet,” said Janice Luongo, director of Mary House Ministry. “We need to teach people to fish, not give them the fish.”
Luongo, and many of her volunteers, believe that the people they see every Monday night are stuck in a rut. What they need is a nudge from someone who cares.
The meal kitchen serves dinner every Monday, and feeds 150 to 300 each week. Doreen Holmes, volunteer coordinator, has formed a strong bond with many of the regulars who visit the kitchen. Holmes walked into the kitchen for the first time back in 1990, and has not stopped volunteering. “I got to know the people. They trust me. When they trust you, it’s the best blessing in the world,” she said.
The grant money will help to ensure that this ministry can continue, especially heading into the winter months. “It will help in so many ways,” said Holmes. “It’s not only the food.”
Kim Caron contributed reporting to this story.
