Events to shine light on homelessness
Lynn Peterson has a thousand stories about working with the homeless in Kootenai County. But when the executive director of St. Vincent de Paul was asked what the charity’s events planned for tonight and next week are intended to do, she knew exactly which one to share.
A nurse at Kootenai Medical Center and her three children came to the homeless shelter a while back after losing their house, because her husband hadn’t made the payments he said he did. She’s not the drug addict that many think of when homelessness and hunger issues are discussed, and Peterson hopes people recognize that there are many more people like this mother during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week next week.
The activity-packed week begins tonight with a spaghetti dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus.
“This is supposed to make people aware that there really are homeless people out there, and not all of them are deadbeats,” Peterson said.
More than 600 people stayed at St. Vincent shelters in Kootenai County in 2005, according to promotion coordinator Shelly Hines, and about 5,300 used St. Vincent’s services, such as food and clothing.
The week of events is part of the charity group’s fourth annual recognition of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, which runs Sunday through Nov. 18.
At tonight’s dinner, two paintings by local artists, four gift baskets and three quilts will be raffled off, with all proceeds going to St. Vincent. Raffle tickets are $1 each, six for $5 or 15 for $10.
On Monday the charity will host a candlelight vigil outside its thrift store. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., people are invited to gather in front of the store at 108 E. Walnut Ave. in Coeur d’Alene to hold candles, pray and remember those struggling to find permanent shelter and keep themselves fed.
The events highlight the Catholic charity’s food drive, which ends Thursday. More than 20 donation boxes are set up in the area. All food collected will go to homeless and hungry people in Kootenai County. Students in the Lakeland School District are also helping collect winter hats, gloves, scarves and socks. Coeur d’Alene High students collected clothing this week.
Other events include:
•An open house at St. Vincent’s Transitional Housing Center, 1425 N. First, from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
•Tours of St. Vincent’s from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Walnut Avenue thrift store.