The Hope of St. Joseph Shelter Inc. is planning its annual two-weekend massive yard sale and is also hoping for assistance through sponsorships.
Those who sponsor children and youth in the D.R. Congo gathered at the home of Marc and Mary Beneteau last Saturday afternoon for a barbecue to thank them for their donations. The sponsorship program supports African children and young people who have been orphaned due to a war over valuable minerals that are being removed from the country.
The Hope of St. Joseph Shelter Inc. charity raises funds for three shelters in the D.R. Congo that look after the orphaned children. Father Donato Lwiyando, who was the associate pastor at St. John the Baptist Church in Amherstburg from 2015-18, is back in his home country running the shelters.
Father Donato also helps feed street kids beans and rice three times per week. Mary Beneteau, secretary for the charity, said he feeds about 230-250 children that live on the street.
Larry Allen, the charity’s president, stated there are 42 girls and 27 boys in the shelters themselves and while they appreciate the sponsors they have, they could always use more.
“The Hope of St. Joseph Shelter is seeking more sponsors and supporters to keep helping these children who have no other support by providing shelter, food and an education,” said Allen. “Presently, we are reconstructing a house as a residence and a school.”
Father Donato and the children he helps try to help their own cause by growing food and raising pigs and chickens.
“That’s helped a little bit,” said Allen.
Donations to the charity give a new life to children in the D.R. Congo, Allen added. The children come from areas where there are uprisings and their parents have been murdered. Women and girls being raped is another ugly reality of what can happen in the African nation.
Beneteau said the refurbished building they are constructing has the basement put in. That shelter, the St. Mary’s boys shelter, has happy children in it because they get a mattress and a place to sleep. The school would go on a different floor of the building.
“The cost of building there is not cheap,” she said.
Sponsors heard about how companies and governments not just in Africa but different parts of the world remove the precious metals and show indifference to the people there.
“These kids did not say, after a full breakfast, ‘I’m going to live on the street’,” said Beneteau. “These kids live on the street because they have nothing.”
Beneteau added the government in the D.R. Congo doesn’t like the image of homeless children so they have been known to round up the kids and imprison them.
“They just don’t want them there,” she said. “What’s going on there is beyond our belief.”
The huge charity yard sale is July 25-27 and Aug. 1-3 at the Beneteau’s home at 3560 Middle Side Road (County Road 10). It will run 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each of the six days. Items will be for sale in the driveway, barn, three tents and front yard with all proceeds going to the Hope of St. Joseph Shelter Inc. and the three shelters they support.
For more information or those who wish to assist the Hope of St. Joseph Shelter Inc., call Beneteau at 519-996-4800 or Allen at 519-736-6731. People can also visit their website at www.hopeislife.ca or their Facebook page.
Hope of St. Joseph Shelter planning annual yard sale, seeking new sponsors
By Ron Giofu
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