The Catholic Standard & Times - Sharing the warmth of Christmas

Sharing the warmth of Christmas

By Susan Brinkmann
CS&T Correspondent

PHILADELPHIA — Winter has arrived in the city of Philadelphia, and as Advent continues many people are remembering that one of the greatest gifts they can give in the Christmas season is to help someone else stay warm.

The Young Adult Community at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Philadelphia, known as “Jack’s YACS,” is collecting blankets, sleeping mats, toiletries, gloves and socks for the homeless. Members of the group plan to deliver the items personally to the men and women who survive on the streets, at 8 p.m. on Dec. 19.

“We’re going right out into the streets to be with them,” said Samantha Smolin, 24, a teacher at St. Martin de Porres School and a parishioner at St. John the Evangelist. “We’re not just going to do this from a distance, but want to be with the suffering. We’ll give them the blankets and gifts, have a conversation with them, ask them what we can do to help. We’re going to share a little time and get their perspective.”

That is an important part of the project, said Father David Engo, the parochial vicar at St. John, who is moderator of the group. “More important than just giving a blanket is giving them their dignity. It’s one thing to go out and give a blanket and walk away. It’s another thing to give them a blanket, get to know them, then see them the next day and say, ‘How are you doing, Joe?’”

The group is seeking donations of blankets, sleeping bags and mats, socks, gloves, and miscellaneous toiletries such as tooth paste, tooth brushes, deodorant and lotions. Donations must be made by Dec. 15 and can be dropped off in boxes located in the back of church after all weekend Masses, and at the parish office in the parish center (behind the church) during the week during regular business hours.

In another part of the city, 182 students at Ascension of Our Lord Parish received new winter coats for Christmas on Nov. 28, thanks to the generosity of Comcast Cable’s Philadelphia Metro Region and Operation Warm.

“It was wonderful,” said Teresa Richardson, principal of Ascension of Our Lord School. “We called it ‘Comcast Coat Day.’ Comcast had all the coats in the cafeteria. Every class came in, and the children picked out a coat they liked and tried it on, or the adults helped them find one that fit. They even brought some toddler sizes so some of our parents who had little ones at home could also have a coat [for them]. We had a ball.”

Operation Warm, located in Kennett Square, was founded in 1998 by Dick Sanford, a local philanthropist. It has distributed 375,000 winter coats worth $14 million to local children.

The event at Ascension School was initiated by Kathleen Sullivan, a regional vice president for Comcast, who is a school alumna.

“Comcast cares about our communities,” Sullivan said. “As we demonstrate through our local volunteer efforts, grant programs and other initiatives, we remain dedicated to investing in and enriching the communities where we live and work.”

Sullivan told the children that she went to Ascension and now wants to give something back.

“So I told the children that they would also have to give back to other Ascension students one day,” Richardson said. “This is about people giving to other people, and making sure everyone has a good, warm winter.”

Contact Susan Brinkmann at fiat723@aol.com or (215) 965-4615.

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