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Sister BJ’s Pantry wins
Annual Samaritan Award
By Steve Gust
January 25, 2007 |
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The real winners at an awards dinner Jan. 25 are the needy and the
community, who rely on volunteers and groups to help. And thank goodness
Edmond, and the metro area, are blessed with the folks who give of their
time and treasure to help those in need. St. John’s recognized many such
groups during the 16th Annual Samaritan Award Dinner held at the church.
The event was founded in 1991 by St. John's former pastor, the late Rev.
John Petuskey. This year's recipient is Sister Barbara Joseph - honored
for work done at her pantry - called Sr. BJ's Pantry. Located at 819
N.W. 4th in Oklahoma City, it serves the needs of the homeless,
providing clothes and food items. Sr. B.J. also gives the people she
meets prayer and spiritual encouragement. The award, sponsored by the
Social Ministry Board of St. John's, comes with a $1,500 prize. "I want
to thank God for giving me the vision to want to help the homeless,"
Sister Barbara Joseph said. She also thanked the many volunteers, or
pantry angels, who played a role in making life a bit more bearable for
those suffering. Her ministry was far from the only group honored last
week. |
Other groups helped were:
 | Birth Choice, an organization which helps
women give the gift of life to their unborn children, including 112 women
a month in Edmond. |
| Breakfast on Boulevard. Last year's
winner of the award continues to provide meals to needy each month from
First Christian Church. There are 3,600 fed a month with the help of 100
volunteers. |
| Citizens Caring for Children, a group
which fights abuse. |
| Edmond Mobile Meals serving 112 a day to
mostly senior and disabled people. Since 1974, 350,000 meals have been
served. |
| Faithworks of the Inner City. More than
300 children and their families are helped in a 20-block area south of the
Bricktown canal. |
| HOPE Center, a Social Service Agency,
helping thousands of Edmond families since 1984 - with food and clothing -
with 75 percent being women and children. |
| HOPE Clinic, since 1990, helping the
health needs of the needy. |
| Mustard Seed Development Corp. fights
poverty in the 73114 zip code area. |
| U.R. Special, 200 seamstresses helping
1,500 children with clothing needs.
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| Big Brothers/Big Sisters
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| Boys Ranch
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| Coffee Creek Riding Center
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| Project R.E.A.D., helping to fight
illiteracy.
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| Child SHARE
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| The Meadows
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| Oklahoma Lawyers for Children providing
free legal services to children.
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| Heartline, Mental Health Services, with
211 telephone help services.
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| Habitat for Humanity, the well known
group which builds homes for the poor.
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| Kids We Care, helping children who have
experienced grief. |
The dinner, with more than 100 present, heard a presentation from Sally Goin,
executive director of Faithworks for the Inner City. She discussed the
need for help in the area, which is one of the poorest and most crime ridden
areas of Oklahoma City. She said that literacy is a problem and 54 percent
of the children who begin school at Shidler Elementary will not complete the
ninth grade. These children and families receive help from many sources,
including St. John's. "We are making a difference," Sally said.
The dinner also featured recognition from Gov. Brad Henry's office to Sister
Barbara Joseph as well as thanks to a host of volunteers from St. John's
including Libby Medina, Marsha Hoegger, Nadine Brestel, Dianne Rose, Barbara
Meiser, Mary Bickford, Bob and Carol Eccellente, Susan and Inslee Bennett,
Rachele Monterisi, Susie Booth and Murphee Bourgeois. Students from
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. John's Catholic school, helped to serve the
meal.
Helping Sr. BJ’s Pantry
You can help Sister's ministry.
Each month her ministry helps hundreds of homeless.
"They're my friends," she said. Would you like to help? |
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