Ladies of Charity's Center of Hope is blessed

Intermountain Catholic

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Father Reynato Rodillas blesses the Center of Hope in its new location in North Salt Lake City.  IC photo/Christine Young

NORTH SALT LAKE — The Ladies of Charity (LOC) of the Diocese of Salt Lake City held an open house to bless the new location of their Center of Hope Food Pantry and to offer tours May 18.

Father Reynato Rodillas, Saint Olaf Parish pastor, blessed the new facility located in North Salt Lake City up the street from the previous location.

"Organizations like the [Ladies of Charity] are so important for two reasons: It provides a way for people to give, and also there are people in need," said North Salt Lake Mayor Len Arave. "I don’t think the government programs are as effective as when someone can come in here and receive spiritual nourishment, which is what they need often as not, and get the food they need for their physical well being. This is a place people can come for needs in life, for household goods and clothing. We are so pleased to have them here in our community."

The Center of Hope began in 2008 as a food pantry for residents of North Salt Lake, West Bountiful and Woods Cross. The pantry is open one day a month for clients to receive supplemental food boxes and now serves about 25 families each month.

Now on the second Saturday of the month when the pantry is open, clients also can have bicycles and computers repaired. Valerie Myers, a Lady of Charity, and her family are offering these services.

Myers’ father, George Espinoza, has agreed to fix bicycles.

"We’re also trying to get bicycle helmets and chains to secure the bicycles," said Myers. "People who are poor can’t always eat the best nutritional food and we can’t always offer that in our pantry because we can’t offer fruits and vegetables, so we’re offering the children exercise on their bicycles."

Myers’ husband, Vince Myers, has agreed to fix computers or donate computers so children will be able to do their homework.

The Myers’ two sons, Gabriel and Seth Myers, have volunteered to clean the bicycles and also to sell slushies and donate the proceeds to the LOC.

"The LOC has truly enhanced our family life and the boys outlook on serving the poor," said Valerie Myers. "The boy’s have really opened their eyes to the issues of the poor and ways they can help."

The LOC facility offers a larger workspace and more shelving," said Sandy Stark, LOC St. Olaf Chapter president. "We offer our clients household goods, bedding, appliances, and clothing. We are here for the essentials people usually need in an emergency."

The LOC Saint Olaf Chapter first began boxing food in the driveway of the Daughters of Charity convent in Bountiful when Sister Charlotte Marie Clark started the organization in 2003. Two years later they moved to the Center of Hope located on Center Street in North Salt Lake. In 2008, the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish chapter began in Salt Lake City.

Both groups box food out of the Center of Hope. The Salt Lake group delivers about 40 boxes to people’s homes and the Bountiful group delivers to about 60 families living on the west side of Salt Lake. All deliveries are done on a monthly basis.

The Ladies of Charity will host its annual BBQ June 30, at St. Olaf Parish to raise funds for its Christmas program, which serves more than 100 children.