From left: Event organizers Isabel Darcy, Father Glenn Diaz and committee chairman Marisa Casado. Lisa Stark photos.
Father Glenn Diaz stands in front of a sculpted relief hanging inside St. Anne Catholic Church in Ruskin, a depiction of Jesus surrounded by children of every nationality and ethnicity.
“This is my favorite piece of art in here,” he said. “It expresses everything we stand for here at St. Anne, caring for those in our community, our children of God.”
The inscription on the piece reads: “Let the little children come to me.”
In keeping with the spirit of caring for those in the community, the parishioners of St. Anne are gearing up for their annual “Walk for the Poor,” to be held Saturday, Sept. 26, at the St. Anne Ruskin campus. Organized by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a faith-based charity serving those in need, the walkathon promises to be a day of fun and purpose for all ages, and will include games, entertainment, DJ music, an antique car show featuring the Roamin’ Oldies Car Club, plus free T-shirts, hot dogs, chips and sodas for all participants.
“This will be a 2.2-mile, friendly walk for all ages and physical abilities,” said Walkathon Chairman Marisa Casado.
Committee member Isabel Darcy added, “The door is open for everyone to join in.”
This is St. Anne’s second year participating in the Friends of the Poor® Walk/Run. With 85 walkers last year, the organization raised $9,100 to benefit local families. They hope to have 200 walkers this year, exceeding last year’s goal,
The organizational committee for the Walkathon, from left: Livia Coombs, Elba Schmitt, Marisa Casado, George Schmitt, Isabel Darcy, Lauren Coughlin and Bill Hennrich.
The Friends of the Poor Walk/Run is a national program that provides funding for local Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) conferences and councils. Funds raised from these events remain local, allowing local St. Vincent de Paul conferences and councils to provide emergency assistance to those in need, regardless of race, origin, religion or gender.
Last year, more than 4,500 SVdP conferences and councils provided 11.5 million service hours to help almost 15 million people in the U.S.
“We service local individuals and families in Ruskin, Apollo Beach and Gibsonton, no matter what their circumstances or religious affiliation,” said Casado. “Many of our members have worked nights and weekends to help house the homeless and provide assistance to those in need of medical care, food or clothing.”
The majority of the aid is designed to stabilize the family unit, and is determined on a case-by-case basis. Funded entirely by private donations and occasional grants, St. Vincent de Paul is often considered the “court of last resort” for those who are desperate and in need.
St. Vincent de Paul works extensively with local agencies such as Ruskin Neighborhood Services and San José Missions to provide assistance. It also welcomes donations of clothes and furniture to its thrift store on the St. Anne campus, with proceeds divided between St. Anne’s, St. Stephen, Prince of Peace and Nativity Catholic churches.
People can register to join the walkathon and donate to the cause by visiting its website at www.fopwalk.org. Many companies offer a matching gift program, so participants are reminded to ask their employers about this opportunity.
The Friends of the Poor Walkathon is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, at 9 a.m., with registration beginning at 8 a.m.
For more information on how you can participate, call Marisa Casado at 813-645-0304 or visit www.fopwalk.org. St. Anne Church is at 106 11th Ave. N.E., in Ruskin.
