Deus Caritas Est

Grant Awarded 2020

September 22, 2022

It’s 10 o’clock in the morning and I knock but get no answer. I head back to my car and start to drive away, when I see a small but vibrant hand waving to me from a car that just pulled up. I drive around the block and try again, received by a door wide open ‐ “Hi Frannie,” I say. She smiles and says, “It’s Fannie, but most people call me Frannie.” Fannie radiates her sense of love and belonging the minute you meet her. An impeccable housekeeper, she is proud of her home and makes visitors feel especially welcome. She came to Michigan when she was in 6th grade from Macon, Mississippi, along with her 10 brothers and sisters. Family is important to her as evidenced by the photos displayed with care around the living and dining room.

Fannie is so grateful for the food grant she receives each month. What she likes was never being made to feel that she had to ‘prove herself’ to receive the grant. She knew it was given in love. Fannie said that the food grant came in her darkest hour. She is divorced and the grant “helps with her cleaning supplies, I have food in the house and it frees me from worry. It helps me get through.”

Fannie volunteers three days a week at Hope Network. It keeps her busy and helps her feel
better. She has found that better nutrition has reduced the need for some of her medications.
The initial planned 20‐minute visit stretched to an hour and as I was leaving Fannie said, “Come
again.” I sure hope to!

Grant Awarded 2023

Terry was beaming a big grin when he met us at the door. Born and raised in Grand Rapids, he attended Central High School and was class president one year. Terry joined the Army and served his time at Fort Campbell. Two of his brothers were already in Vietnam, so the Army did not send him. He met his wife Elizabeth while working at Meijer. Sadly, she passed away 5 years ago. Terry is a hard worker; he says, “I’m old school, I act my age and dress my age. It’s all about self-discipline.” He worked with Upward Bound after he graduated from Oakland University and retired from GM in 2009, then worked for the City in the parking department, and finally for the City of Grand Haven in their water plant.

Terry just loves children and counts 15 grandchildren. He says when they are 3-12 years old you can reach them and lay a good foundation for them. He currently works part time as a crossing guard at Caesar Chavez Elementary School. He likes setting an example for the children he sees at his job. He hopes to continue there but has been dealing with some hip issues.

Terry is our newest family to receive a food grant. He says it will make a big difference for him and eliminate a lot of anxiety about money. He left us with this bit of “Terry’s Philosophy”—“I’m old school – if you hesitate, it’s too late. Life is too short.” We’d say Terry really applies his self-discipline and keeps moving forward. We welcome him to the Deus Caritas Est Family.

Grant Awarded 2013

September 26, 2022

Lula is a tall, graceful woman who is on the shy and quiet side. I noticed the magazines and cat knick knacks around her home; she has an affinity for cats. “But, I don’t have one,” she says; “I just love them.” She offers me a nice cup of coffee and gets herself settled in the easy chair.

Looking around I see the many photos of family. Her mother is a striking woman and Lula starts to share her early childhood story. She was born in Georgia and came to Grand Rapids when she was 21. She has 9 brothers and sisters; her baby brother is 10 years younger than she. “I loved him the best because I carried him around all the time. He is still down south, and fell recently but is getting better,” she tells me. Lula has 3 children and 8 grandchildren. Her family will take her anywhere she asks to go, even if it is for a drive around town (she really enjoys getting out). Lula talked to me about how she worked on a farm in Georgia with her father and then in Grand Rapids worked for most every dry cleaner in town.

She can read a little and said, “No one ever told me to go to school, I just worked.” She then shared her wisdom; “Love and life has given me the education I needed.” She is very thankful for the food grant and said she has learned over the years how to spend it wisely; for instance, when she first started receiving her food grant she would spend it all at once. She has since learned to spread that out over the month (and it gets her out of the house :-)). I’d say that’s sage advice from a woman who knows life well and loves even better.