Ladies of Charity receive thanks for their service

Intermountain Catholic

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LOC Secretary Marge Ham (left), LOC President Jane Hipley, and Betty Singler unload a pallet of food at the Daughters of Charity/Ladies of Charity Center of Hope in North Salt Lake. The food will be distributed to families in need.IC photo by Chris Young

SALT LAKE CITY — The Ladies of Charity (LOC) of the Diocese of Salt Lake City were thanked by the families they serve at a picnic in the Jordan Park International Peace Gardens June 3.

This was the second annual picnic the families have hosted. The LOC were humbled and appreciative of the gesture. The LOC began in September 2003, and they received their official charter May 2, 2004.

Once a month the LOC bring food and sometimes clothing to these families in the Glendale area. They meet at a school, which is attended by many of the children from these families. Consuelo Saldoña is the liason between the school and the LOC. Saldoña works closely with the families and is aware of their needs.

Saldoña said there is an average of 30 families who receive food and clothing, but they are not always the same families. As a result of the help they receive from the LOC, they are able to get back on their feet and are no longer in need. Receiving the food allows these families to pay their bills with the money that would have otherwise been used to buy food.

Saldoña reports the status of the families to Daughter of Charity Sister Charlotte Marie Clark. Sr. Charlotte is the sister moderator for both chapters of the LOC.

"The ladies and some gentlemen of charity put in thousands of volunteer hours serving the poor," said Sr. Charlotte. "They also serve the poor in Wendover when Father Shouraiah Pudota, pastor of San Felipe Parish, calls and says there is a need. I mainly take referrals from other religious or priests."

There are several committees on which the LOC serve. There are the gathering angels, the boxing angels, the delivery angels, the visiting angels, and the translation angel. Many of the families are Hispanic and do not speak English, and many of the LOC do not speak Spanish. The translation angel translates the written documents from Spanish to English so requests can be granted, and she communicates with families whenever necessary.

The LOC, who work full time, help when they can. Those who are not able to help offer prayers. There are 41 members in Chapter I from St. Olaf Parish, and 18 members in Chapter II from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Salt Lake City.

Supplying families in need with food begins with the LOC who gather the food from the Catholic Community Services (CCS) food bank in Ogden. The food gathering team brings the food back to the Daughter of Charity/Ladies of Charity Center of Hope located in North Salt Lake. The food is sorted and placed on the shelves for distribution.

The boxing angels supply the boxes and fill them with supplemental food items to be delivered to the 30 families at the school and 30 or more families who receive food individually at their homes. The boxes to be delivered contain cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, beans, pasta, soup, and other staples. Sometimes they contain fruit juices, cookies, sugar, rice, flour, salt, and meat.

On Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, the number of families can increase to as many as 72 families. The food boxes are filled with items that make up the holiday meal including a turkey, potatoes, cranberries, vegetables, rolls, and pumpkin pies.

The delivering angels deliver the food on the second Tuesday and second Thursday of each month.

"Many of the deliveries we make are to single mothers who are working," said Sr. Charlotte. "About all these women can do is pay the rent. They have very little money left for food. Sometimes the ladies who deliver food bring to my attention situations in the home that might require professional help."

To show their appreciation for the food the LOC receive from the food bank, the sorting angels go once a month to the Ogden food bank to help sort bins of food. The LOC are needed on a weekly basis following a food drive by the Boy Scouts, the Postal workers, and during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Then when people come to the food bank on Saturdays, the food can be easily distributed.

The LOC also pick up furniture and household items that are gently used, and store them at the Center. When Sr. Charlotte becomes aware of a family need, the LOC deliver the items.

Once a month the LOC also sort bags of clothing into men’s, women’s, boy’s, and girl’s. The LOC only give away clothing that is gently used and discard any clothing that is worn out or stained.

The visiting angels visit the home bound and those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. They become the liaison between the individual and the parish, and keep them informed on what is happening in the parish. The visits are arranged according to the wishes of the individual because some like to have visitors once a week while others prefer once a month. The angels actively listen, pray with the person, and keep all conversations confidential. The angles and the individuals often become good friends.

If you would like to start a Ladies of Charity Chapter in your parish, or donate items, call Sr. Charlotte at (801) 706-3101.