LeeAnn Winters graduated from culinary school, landed a job and is about to move into quality local housing. She couldn’t have done it, she said, without help from Catholic Charities of Spokane.
“I grew up in a cycle of domestic violence,” she said.
By the time Winters had started grade school, she was already finishing her parent’s drinks. At 12 years old was bartending for her families’ constant parties; and by high school she was homeless.
“By the time I was 17 I was shooting dope,” she said, “and I’d been on and off ever since. At 48 years old I was released from prison after a short prison term, and that’s when I met Jerry at the House of Charity.”
Jerry Schwab, assistant director of the House of Charity, said not everyone who walks through the doors of Catholic Charities has a success story, but for some people, like Winters, a true transformation takes place.
Winters shared her story Monday night during a candlelight vigil at the House of Charity. Since 2009 a vigil has been hosted at the house to raise awareness about Spokane’s homeless community and to kick off the annual Catholic Charities Christmas Collection.
“Tonight is a night for us to be reminded and to pray for and think about those among us who are vulnerable and fragile and in need of help,” said Executive Director Robert J. McCann.
He said the annual candlelight vigil represents the light of warmth, hope and spirit of Spokanites ready and willing to help the city’s homeless through their daily challenges.
“You all being here is a real show of solidarity for that,” McCann said.
About 100 people attended the vigil, including about a dozen students from the youth group at St. Joseph Parish. The crowd processed around the block before listening to a short forum highlighting the organization’s success stories.
The House of Charity serves 70,000 hot lunches annually for area homeless and houses 108 men nightly during the coldest months of the year.
Annually Catholic Charities serves 77,000 people through 11 programs in 13 Eastern Washington counties. Each December the organization attempts to raise the bulk of the private donations it will need to support programs for the next year.
For information call 358-4250.
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