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Communications
HNP Today newsletter
November 23, 2005 |
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by Kelly Lynch
LANCASTER, Pa. - Members from Mychal's Message were on West 31st Street in Manhattan with over 200 new winter coats, hats and gloves which they gave away to the homeless men and women visiting the breadline at St. Francis of Assisi Church Nov. 23.
Recalling the story of a little girl who gave her coat to St. Anthony on a cold winter day in 1940, Mychal's Message sent out an urgent plea to its 550 supporters urging them to follow in her footsteps by purchasing coats for New York City's homeless. In a project flier entitled "St. Anthony's Coat," they shared the true story of a little girl named Gertrude who was on her way to school one cold winter morning in 1940 when she noticed a statue near a grotto at St. Joseph's Church in East Rutherford, N.J. He looks cold, she thought. Minutes later, in the little girl's classroom, a nun scolded her for having no coat. "Where is your coat, Gertrude?" The little girl looked up and simply responded, "Sister, I gave it to St. Anthony."
After discussing various Christmas project ideas with Cassian Miles, members from Mychal's Message agreed that this project would meet the greatest need for the homeless this winter - warmth.
"Each visit to the mailbox was a spiritual experience, one that often brought me to tears," said Sharon Hickey of Mychal's Message, who picked up the mail each day. "To think that so many people with such kind hearts have responded to our plea is just overwhelming."
Donors from 23 states and as far away as Alaska sent checks and letters offering to purchase a coat for a homeless man or woman. A family from Carlisle, Pa., sent a donation to purchase 10 coats. Pam from Corona, Calif., wrote, "This is a good idea. It's practical. Dorothy Day, our social justice saint, would be proud of you. Blessings upon you." From Jeanne in Baltimore, Md., came a letter that read, "We do not go to heaven because of what we do; we go because we want to do."
