The Mother Teresa Shelter has taken on the responsibility of serving weekday breakfast to the area homeless. Linda McKamie, Executive Director of Catholic Charities that operates the Mother Teresa Shelter, said the decision was made a couple of days following the announcement that Corpus Christi Metro Ministries could no longer serve breakfast at Loaves and Fishes due to a drop in donations.
“We were willing to do it and it was feasible. I presented it to the board of directors and they said go for it,” McKamie said. “We don’t consider it a drudgery and I have so much faith in our community, our old donors and new donors.”
The Mother Teresa Shelter has been serving breakfast to the homeless on weekends for several years. Area parishes that cook and help serve the meals have provided the weekend meals. Parishes that have taken on responsibility for the weekend breakfast include Holy Family, Sts. Cyril and Methodius, Immaculate Conception in Ingleside, St. Thomas Moore and St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. Others, such as the English Cursillo group and the Javier Gamboa family, help when there is a fifth week in a month.
Some clients who come to the shelter for assistances are not necessarily homeless but are running short on food.
“What I would like is if someone could donate non-perishable foods like boxes of cereal, rice and beans. We can put the food in boxes and those that have a home can take it with them,” McKamie said.
“I am happy to have the homeless,” said Sister Rose Paul Madassery, SABS, director of the Mother Teresa Shelter. She comes in an hour earlier in the morning and goes to noon Mass at the Cathedral to stay centered daily.
The shelter serves about 70 clients for breakfast on a daily basis and snacks twice a day.
Sister Rose Paul said the new enterprise is going to take time to organize. The shelter does not have a kitchen for cooking; much of what they need is milk, cereal and paper plates, bowls, and napkins. They also could use pancake mix and small sausages.
The Healthy Living Center on Port Avenue, part of the Catholic Charities family of organizations, has agreed to cook the meals served at the shelter two times a week.
McKamie and Catholic Charities staff members Betty Berry, YiYi Dean, Gloria Solíz, Natalie Becker and Julie Ramone volunteer to help prepare the food, transport and serve the breakfast at the shelter from 8-10 a.m. On other days, the shelter serves cereal, fruit, milk and non-perishables. Eighteen members of the staff and board received their food handler’s permit.
A new Mother Teresa Shelter transitional house is being constructed with a commercial kitchen on México and Mestina. McKamie said the house will be completed by the middle of October and it will have a staff organized to cook breakfast for the shelter.
Sister Rose Paul said that many people have contributed by supplying the shelter with groceries and monetary donations.
“Virginia Haasl donated a huge commercial toaster and others help serve during the morning hours, but more is needed,” said Sister Rose Paul.
Please send non-perishables to Catholic Charities on 1322 Comanche or go to their web site at www.catholiccharities-cc.com/charities/donations/. Donations may also be sent by mail to: Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi, Inc., 1322 Comanche Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78401.