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The SS. Mary and Hyacinth Charity Fund: A Mission to Care For Those in Need
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells the parable of the sheep and the goats. He says to those on his right, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” They answer him, “Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?” The king replies “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
This parable is the foundation and motivation for the Charity Fund at SS. Mary and Hyacinth. The Charity Fund was set up in 1996 by Fr. Paul Koszarek, who was the parish’s pastor at the time. His brother, Tom, wanted a tangible way to assist the poor in the community. Their brother, Louis, was also involved in this mission, though the fund was mainly the vision of Tom and he provided the majority of the funding. Tom lived a very simple life and wanted to give back and share his blessings with those in need.
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Katie Klemp has been a part of the committee for this fund for the last 21 years.
“When I was first asked to join the charity fund, we were merging St. Mary’s and St. Hyacinth Parishes,” Katie says. “We work under the idea that, as Christians, we follow Christ and do what we can to feed the hungry and live the beatitudes.
“We understand that anyone’s circumstances can change overnight,” she adds. “Their outward appearance does not tell the full story. Generally, we focus on those in need in Langlade County, though we have helped others as well.”
As Katie notes, the fund aims to help those that fall through the cracks of other programs and those in emergencies.
“We don’t advertise, but our group is known by social services, the women’s shelter, and other programs, so we get referrals that way,” she says. “We have a network of people and that is how the word travels.”
The committee meets once a month to review applications though they will review them in between meetings in emergency situations.
“We believe in the power of prayer as we strive to help people and use the resources put at our disposal,” Katie says. “We begin and end every meeting in prayer and trust that God will help these people as well.
“We ask someone to tell their story and provide information about what they are asking for help with,” she adds. “They need to provide substantiation for the need, such as a specific bill or a notice of eviction, as well as two references.”
Katie and her fellow committee members have found that the best way to help people is to provide funds for specific needs, such as rent or a bill.
“We make out the check to the specific vendor, and the person is responsible for turning in the check,” she says. “It is the best use of our resources, as well as the best way for us to help others.”
Tom’s investments generate the majority of the money for this fund. Parishioners and community members have donated to this fund throughout the years, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the fund received a grant from the United Way of Langlade County.
“We don’t always see the results of the assistance that we give, but that isn’t really the point,” Katie says. “Occasionally, we receive ‘thank you’ cards. Once, we had a man come in and donate to the fund out of gratitude for the help that we provided him years earlier. But whether or not we see the results, the work we do is necessary and we are blessed to be able to help in a small way.”
A check was received by Steve Bradley and Gary Smits. Jane Szmanda Zeller and Jim Fittante presented the grant from United Way of Langlade.
