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| Media Contacts Mary Jo Wich Lois Kendall 314-525-4005 |
Release Date: 2/18/2009
Volunteers brighten weather-beaten home of elderly woman
Some 30 volunteers showed up for major house cleaning at an elderly woman’s home in south St. Louis on Jan. 31.
Some 30 volunteers tackled a major clean-up project Jan. 31 for an elderly widow in the Benton Park neighborhood of south St. Louis. Their effort marked the fourth Spirit of St. Anthony Day of Service, organized by the Mission Team in conjunction with the Franciscan Connection. The Franciscan Connection is a small, neighborhood outreach center that serves low-income families in south St. Louis.
Eleanor had lived in her stately old home for more than 13 years, but frozen water pipes burst and damaged many of the floors, ceilings and plaster walls. Volunteers trudged through the melting snow to haul out bags of trash and debris. Inside, they organized and packed up storage tubs of Eleanor’s belongings so that future work crews could move around and make repairs. They scraped off damaged wallpaper, scrubbed woodwork, mopped floors, and gave the home more than 129 hours of tender loving care. They topped off the day with new area rugs for Eleanor’s living room and a space heater, making it a cozy little nook again for her and her kitties.
Thanks to all who participated in the day of service and to the Rev. Nathan McNally, O.F.M., of Pastoral Care, who warmed everyone up with three crock-pots of tasty chili. Eleanor’s spirits were lifted, and she kept commenting on how God had sent her a crew of “angels.”
For information, please call our Health Access Line at 314-ANTHONY (268-4669) or 800-554-9550 or visit our find a physician online.
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