Federal money for volunteer housing in Delaware

The Ministry of Caring receives nearly $200,000 in federal grant money to fix up a housing facility for long-term volunteers.

The Ministry of Caring in downtown Wilmington hopes to draw more volunteers to help the needy with a soon to be renovated home for those volunteers to live in.

The Ministry of Caring’s Executive Director Brother Ronald Giannone says the new home will draw more volunteers willing to give up one or two years of their lives to help the poor in Wilmington.  He says the ministry is expanding its efforts, and needs more volunteers to help, “Not only to give new zeal and renewal to us, but above all, they come and help us economically, because they only receive a stipend.  They sacrifice to give that one year of commitment to us.”

The three members of Delaware’s congressional delegation were at the Ministry of Caring Monday morning to announce a federal grant worth nearly $200,000 would help fund the $1.8 million renovation of the historic Josephine Bakhita House on Washington Street.  Senator Tom Carper (D) says the grant money is an example of an congressional earmark that is truly worthwhile. “We’re building a bridge here.  This is not one of those earmarked ‘bridges to nowhere’ like they had up in Alaska.  This is a bridge that will actually help people to improve their lives at a time when they are most in need.”

The volunteers that will use the home when it’s finished will come from the Capuchin Franciscan Order of Volunteers.  Bro. Giannone says of volunteering, “It is where we could be the effective when you give back to the community.”