A Dedicated Presence for Children at St. Joe's
Ronnie Freeman, pictured at the right, never made it to her first day of volunteering at Catholic Charities’ St. Joseph’s Home for Children. A March snowstorm canceled her plans. But she showed up the following week and has been back every week since.
Ronnie spends seven hours each visit working with children at St. Joe’s, a treatment and learning center for children in need. Ronnie and the children play, read and do homework together. Her commitment to spending time with children who benefit from a consistent relationship with a caring and supportive adult may be her greatest contribution.
“St. Joe’s has been my favorite monetary charity for years.
I finally decided that if I’m going to put my money there, I should put my life there.”
“The children absolutely adore her,” says Mary Schoelch, volunteer coordinator at St. Joe’s. “She reads them stories, eats dinner with them and listens to them.”
Before Ronnie began volunteering at St. Joe’s, she made financial gifts to Catholic Charities.
“St. Joe’s has been my favorite monetary charity for years,” Ronnie says. “I finally decided that if I’m going to put my money there, I should put my life there.” And put her life there she has. Week after week, Ronnie keeps coming back, she says, because of the children.
“Each visit to St. Joseph’s Home for Children is exciting, challenging and fun. As I leave, naming each child, I say a prayer of thanksgiving for them allowing me to be a part of their life. And during the week, I ask blessings as needed for each child.”
|
