As part of its mission of serving the most vulnerable, Catholic Charities of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for more than 350 people in need and for the homeless on Nov. 26 in Washington, D.C.
The dinner was held in partnership with Pepco and took place at the Edison Place Gallery in the electric company’s building at 702 8th Street, N.W.
The line of people in need began to form in the early afternoon and wrapped around the block. The dinner guests seemed eager, happy, hungry and talkative, and some were even dancing as they waited.
Among those attending the dinner was a young Hispanic man, 33-year-old Puerto Rican Felix Asencio, pushing all his belongings (a bag of clothes, a tent and a sleeping bag) in a shopping cart.
His story reflects how people who have nothing live and how the little things in life can affect those who live alone on the streets.
Asencio has been living on the streets of the District of Columbia for the past month. He confesses that he often experiences hunger and suffers from the cold, and every night he looks for a different corner to hide in.
“I have seen many people suffering on the streets of Washington: old people, alone, consumed by drugs and alcohol, sick,” he said. “Even though I’m alone I can fend for myself and survive, but there are many others who are worse off than me. When I see all that, I think God is cruel. I believe in God, but I think he is cruel to me.”
He was born into a poor Catholic family and was baptized. He hasn't been in church for more than a year, but admits that he hasn’t given up hope.
He was abandoned by his parents and cared for by his grandmother who still lives in Puerto Rico. Asencio said he was able to finish high school, but he thinks that is not enough to get ahead in this country. He has had nerve problems and inflammation of the joints for years.
Six years ago, he moved to New York and worked in construction, putting up drywall. During the pandemic, he lost his job.
A month ago he decided to visit Washington, looking for opportunities, and when he arrived he lost his wallet and cell phone. He was so tired that he thinks he was robbed while sleeping on the street or forgot them in a bathroom.
Asencio has no access to his money, ID or Social Security card, and he was left helpless and adrift. This situation, he said, caused him to have a nervous breakdown, and he admits that “out of desperation, sometimes I lose my mind.” For this reason, the police put him in a psychiatric hospital for a week.
He plans to stay in the nation’s capital, where he can receive government assistance.
With all the problems he is facing, this Thanksgiving will be challenging for Asencio, but he said that the dinner organized by Catholic Charities and hosted by Pepco gave him food, relief, companionship, hope and a little joy in his heart.
In gratitude
The community meal, offered through Catholic Charities’ St. Maria’s Meals program, seeks to foster a sense of community among guests and volunteers in the spirit of Thanksgiving.
Volunteers along with representatives from Catholic Charities and Pepco welcomed guests during the festive atmosphere at the dinner.
Msgr. John Enzler, the former president and CEO of Catholic Charities who now serves as the agency’s mission advocate, offered the opening prayer and blessing for the meal.
Then 80 volunteers from Catholic Charities and Pepco served the dinner guests. At neat, elegantly decorated tables, the guests were served turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls, hot chocolate and sweet potato pie made by Catholic Charities' KitchenWork program.
“The traditional Thanksgiving meal brings people together, which is important for all people, regardless of their circumstances,” according to Jim Malloy, president and CEO of Catholic Charities. “That's why we at Catholic Charities celebrate the holiday with those most in need of help and hope.”
Malloy believes that the employees and volunteers who participated expressed gratitude for their own blessings through giving and serving those in need.
Among the volunteers were Hispanic immigrants who now work for Catholic Charities and Pepco.
“It’s a very nice, good faith activity for people in need. As a Catholic, it makes me feel good to support others,” said Richard Cavero, a civil engineer originally from Peru who is a member of St. Patrick’s Parish in Washington.
Pepco has supported this annual event since the Catholic Charities’ first St. Maria’s Meals Thanksgiving dinner more than 10 years ago.
“This wonderful tradition fosters a sense of hope and connection while providing more than 300 guests with basic necessities, a warm winter coat and a hearty meal,” said Tyler Anthony, president and CEO of Pepco Holdings. “Through our partnership, we provide support to the people who need it most.”
He arrived with his 8-year-old son Blake, who accompanied him everywhere. As a father, Anthony said he wants to instill in his son the importance of volunteering. He wants him to learn from this activity, to be educated, to be a productive citizen and not forget to give back to his community by donating his time and serving those in need.
Anthony thanked the volunteers, including the cooks, waiters and the dinner’s organizers, and Malloy thanked the guests for coming.
Pepco employees then distributed winter coats and toiletry kits to the homeless.
Pepco is the nation’s largest utility company with more than 10 million customers. It provides energy service to approximately 919,000 customers in the District of Columbia and Maryland.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington is the largest private provider of social services in the metropolitan area.
Last year, Catholic Charities distributed more than four million free meals, with more than 21,000 hot meals served through the weekly St. Maria's Meals program. In addition, Catholic Charities provides more than 1,000 beds to homeless people each night.
Each Wednesday they deliver meal boxes to approximately 150 people in need who show up outside the Catholic Charities headquarters at 924 G Street in Northwest Washington.
With this annual event, Catholic Charities kicks off “the season of giving,” a special time that includes distribution of food, coats, holiday gifts for children, meals for the needy and Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
Catholic Charities invests in communities by providing key services such as shelter programs, immigration assistance, food distribution, medical and dental services and job training to people in need throughout the District of Columbia and in Maryland’s Montgomery, Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties. This past year, Catholic Charities served more than 200,000 people. The agency helps people regardless of background, religion or circumstance. For more information, visit catholiccharitiesdc.org.
(Andrea Acosta is a reporter for El Pregonero, the Spanish-language newspaper and website of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.)
