2008 Woodie Awards
Volunteers feed homeless, needy
Donations pay for holiday party, McDonald's gift certificates
By: Alexandra Smith
Issue date: 12/7/06 Section: LifeStyle
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The holidays are often a time for giving, sharing and celebrating. For one group of Webster students, faculty and friends, there is no better place to do all of these things than Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Soulard.
Anna Barbara Sakurai, a computer science professor, is one of the faculty members who organizes a monthly event to feed the needy at Saints Peter and Paul. Webster students and faculty go to help, and for the month of December they take the event one step further with a holiday party.
The group of volunteers spends about $300 on food each month to provide for the needy and homeless. With additional donations, they are able to make the December dinner event a little more memorable with gifts, decorations and sometimes music.
This year's party is 5 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at the church on South 7th Street in Soulard. Sakurai said the goal for the Webster volunteers is to make the day special for the attendees. The meal is the same as every other month, but decorations, treats and small gifts bring the holiday spirit to the party.
Sakurai said about 180 people usually attend the party. About 60 of those are men who live in the shelter provided by the church. Many of the people who participate are homeless, and others are hungry and needy.
"Giving them a good meal doesn't change their lives," Sakurai said. "But it's something you can do for somebody else, and I feel so blessed to be able to do it."
Sakurai said the holiday party regulars look forward to seeing Santa Claus, who often makes an appearance. Don Love, a professor in the math and computer science department, dresses as Santa and poses for pictures at the party.
"The adults behave like children visiting a mall Santa," Love said. "To me, it's just a fun way to bring smiles to the faces of people who desperately need something to smile about."
Another special aspect of the party is the gift given by the Webster group. Money raised through donations buy enough McDonald's gift certificates for the guests who attend. Sakurai said it costs about $2,000 to buy the gift certificates.
Anna Barbara Sakurai, a computer science professor, is one of the faculty members who organizes a monthly event to feed the needy at Saints Peter and Paul. Webster students and faculty go to help, and for the month of December they take the event one step further with a holiday party.
The group of volunteers spends about $300 on food each month to provide for the needy and homeless. With additional donations, they are able to make the December dinner event a little more memorable with gifts, decorations and sometimes music.
This year's party is 5 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at the church on South 7th Street in Soulard. Sakurai said the goal for the Webster volunteers is to make the day special for the attendees. The meal is the same as every other month, but decorations, treats and small gifts bring the holiday spirit to the party.
Sakurai said about 180 people usually attend the party. About 60 of those are men who live in the shelter provided by the church. Many of the people who participate are homeless, and others are hungry and needy.
"Giving them a good meal doesn't change their lives," Sakurai said. "But it's something you can do for somebody else, and I feel so blessed to be able to do it."
Sakurai said the holiday party regulars look forward to seeing Santa Claus, who often makes an appearance. Don Love, a professor in the math and computer science department, dresses as Santa and poses for pictures at the party.
"The adults behave like children visiting a mall Santa," Love said. "To me, it's just a fun way to bring smiles to the faces of people who desperately need something to smile about."
Another special aspect of the party is the gift given by the Webster group. Money raised through donations buy enough McDonald's gift certificates for the guests who attend. Sakurai said it costs about $2,000 to buy the gift certificates.
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