Barbecue helps raise funds for families' Christmas

Friday, Sep. 04, 2009
Barbecue helps raise funds for families' Christmas + Enlarge
Krystal Damron (left) a Saint Olaf religious education aide, paints a girl's face at the annual Ladies of Charity barbecue. Her artwork also is displayed on the girl in the inset photo. IC photos by Christine Young

BOUNTIFUL — The Ladies of Charity (LOC) of Saint Olaf Parish hosted their annual barbecue to raise funds for the poor July 19 at Saint Olaf Parish. The temperature reached 100 degrees, so they rented a snow cone machine to keep kids of all ages cool.

"The barbecue was a success," said Loretta Horton, LOC secretary and chairwoman of the barbecue. "The people in the parish supported us, and the Saint Olaf Knights of Columbus helped us cook the hamburgers and hotdogs. The Ladies of Charity and some women from the parish brought the salads, fruit, desserts, and drinks. The Ladies of Charity put together more than 25 baskets to raffle off during the barbecue. The kids had fun with face painting, games, a piñata, and interacting on the playground. As always, it was a fun day."

The annual barbecue is the Ladies of Charity main fundraiser. They work together with the Salt Lake Chapter of Ladies of Charity from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish to serve 85 families. The Saint Olaf chapter delivers supplemental boxes of food to 60 families at a school in Salt Lake City, while the Salt Lake Chapter delivers food to 25 families in their homes.

The proceeds from the barbecue will be used to provide Thanksgiving and Christmas food boxes for the 85 families complete with turkeys and a gift card. The children will receive socks, gloves, a scarf, a hat, and an age appropriate toy.

The Ladies of Charity opened their doors at their Center of Hope in North Salt Lake, as a food pantry for the poor in June to serve families in North Salt Lake, Woods Cross, and West Bountiful. They are open the second Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"The Ladies of Charity also held a garage sale this summer to help raise money for these 85 families for Christmas," said Katherine Gourde, LOC president.

The Ladies of Charity also spend their time visiting the sick and home bound as well as those in residential and nursing homes. They collect clothing, household goods and furniture to give to those in need. They give a layette to mothers in poverty for their new born babies. They receive these layettes from St. Martha’s Baby Project under the umbrella of Holy Cross Ministries and the Holy Cross Sisters in Salt Lake City. St. Martha’s motto is "No baby should come into the world unloved."

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