working adults who barely have enough to keep a roof over their heads, never mind Christmas gifts. November and December are busy months for the big-hearted and generous who want to ease the burdens of their neighbors.
But for the volunteers of St. Charles Caritas, the final 60 days may just be like any other months of the year.
Merlyn Baker says for the last 23 months she and a group of volunteers have been bagging and distributing food to the homeless in South County, specifically at Harborside, Lauderbach, Memorial and Eucalyptus parks.
Next month, when the group celebrates its second year of distributing food, volunteers hope to also distribute coats and warm weather clothing to the homeless in anticipation of a wet winter.
While St. Charles Caritas has been in the “business” of helping underserved and at-risk communities for 14 years, Baker’s work with the homeless started in November 2013 when her husband, who had cancer, asked her to help feed the homeless. She agreed and that first month they passed out about 25 bags.
The next month Merlyn’s husband died. On Dec. 25.
But the work carried on.
These days a group of about 20-30 volunteers — including children — bags food that is to be distributed the following week. When it’s ready to go a different set of volunteers, up to a dozen load their trucks and vehicles and find the people that are typically hidden in ravines, canyons and shadows. Or in our blindspots as we enjoy a day at the park or walk along a busy street.
Baker says they pass out about 100 bags of food. Canned food and items that are easy to open by hand. If there are special requests for tooth brushes, combs and shampoos she’ll relay the information along and hopefully some of those items will find their way from donors’ homes to the church. But the group’s main monthly focus is feeding the homeless.
Baker estimates the supply lasts each person up to seven days. Her monthly expenses run around $6,200. But it seems like its never enough. There are still people who go hungry for the remaining three weeks of the month.
But there are 12 weeks in the year when a group of volunteers do what they can to make sure a basic necessity is provided to men, women and children who don’t have shelter. Twelve weeks when the ignored are not forgotten.
November and December are just as good as any time to spread compassion and generosity. There are 10 other months when St. Charles Caritas fills in the gaps.
