Dec. 13, 2001 – Thanks to $68,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding and help from the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands is taking a big step forward on St. Croix.
The agency, under its Family Education Program, recently completed renovating two buildings owned by the St. Croix Foundation, to be used for a soup kitchen and for other services.
At 10 a.m. Friday, a dedication ceremony will be held for its new facility at the rear of 32 King St. in Christiansted, with Bishop George V. Murry officiating.
"When we open Friday, we'll serve hot meals five days a week," Debra Brown-Roumo, Catholic Charities executive director, said.
Until now, she said, the agency has been able to serve lunch only one day a week, with staff preparing the food at the Herbert Grigg Home and transporting it to the Times Square area for distribution to homeless people. About 40 to 45 people a day have been coming in for the meal, she said.
In addition to food preparation and dining space, the new facility includes men's and women's showers and a clothing bank to serve the homeless. It also has office space for staff to work with clients. The agency provides referrals to government programs and counseling services.
Stephanie Hodge, St. Croix Foundation assistant executive director, said the facility fits the profile of the type of project the agency wants to assist. "It helps the community. They're doing great things, and we're happy to be involved with it," she said.
Catholic Charities has another program that assists 35 homebound elderly people on St. Croix. It, too, will now operate out of the new facility.
To find the facility, Brown-Roumo said, drive toward downtown Christiansted on King Street, then turn left at Andrews Real Estate, across the street from Singh's Fast Food. The soup kitchen, painted peach with green shutters, is behind the real estate building.
