A big thank you goes out to all those who made the St. Patrick’s
Dinner such a success for benefiting the homeless and low income
families of Gilroy. In fact, it was the most successful one ever
held by St. Joseph ‘s Family Center. The
”
Dinner with the Three Pastors
”
live auction was an entertaining new addition to the evening
that brought in $1,200, thanks to auctioneer Dr. Eric Cohen and the
generosity of the Kaiser family.
A big thank you goes out to all those who made the St. Patrick’s Dinner such a success for benefiting the homeless and low income families of Gilroy. In fact, it was the most successful one ever held by St. Joseph ‘s Family Center. The “Dinner with the Three Pastors” live auction was an entertaining new addition to the evening that brought in $1,200, thanks to auctioneer Dr. Eric Cohen and the generosity of the Kaiser family.
It was new Gilroy Presbyterian Pastor Jeff Holmes’ first time telling jokes onstage with Father Derry and Rev. Berry (an ordained Elder in the Methodist Church – she is also known as “Elder Berry”). Once Father Dan Derry had the microphone, he regaled the crowd with many religious jokes but also touched their hearts as well with his tribute to volunteers.
All I can say is, that “Dinner with the Three Pastors” is going to be anything but boring, and how I wish I were going to be a busgirl at that event.
After surveying the silent auction items, longtime supporter Jack Gifford came back to his table shaking his head and saying, “There’s nothing up there for me; it’s all frou-frou items. I’m not going to bid on horse-riding lessons or a spa beauty basket.”
Imagine my relief when the raffle item he won turned out to be a lube job! I’m just glad he didn’t open the envelope with a deep-cleansing facial in it.
It took the efforts of many to make the evening happen, from the chefs to the volunteers who decorated and transformed the gym into a beautiful place (with ambiance!).
When some of the entertainment plans didn’t go as expected, a very gracious Mary Henry took to the stage at the last minute. When we were planning, I had received several requests for her to sing at our event, but I thought it was too short notice to ask her. Little did I know, we’d be putting her on the spot on the night of the dinner. But it turned out to be just the special touch of Irish flavor that the evening needed. I know the folks at my table got a little misty-eyed as she sang, “How are Things in Glocca Morra?”
But what really matters most of all is that the money raised during the effort goes to help those whose circumstances in life have not turned out to be as fortunate as yours or mine. I will never forget the mother I overheard as she was walking away from St. Joseph’s Family Center carrying some of those little sample tubes of toothpaste and free toothbrushes the dentist gives you when you visit. People had donated those to St. Joseph’s and this mom had received some for her children.
“Now remember,” she said to her youngest, “Only brush your teeth every other day; we have to make these toothbrushes last.”
Another way to help: Have you received some VTA passes in the mail? Many South County residents have received five to ride on bus 168 from Gilroy to San Jose. They are good through April 4 of this year. If you have any bus passes you don’t plan to use, you might consider donating them to Jeff Fishback at St. Joseph’s Family Center. He is working in the job placement program, where the bus passes can help a jobless person who is going to job interviews or someone who needs transportation to work. Send them or drop them off at 7950 Church St. Suite A, Gilroy, CA 95020.
