MILWAUKEE — A sense of community and holiday spirit pervaded St. Ben's Parish this Christmas Eve, as over 50 volunteers, including the Konieczka family, came together to dish out more than 200 warm meals to those in need, reported FOX6 News. In a gesture that epitomizes the season's ethos of giving, Capuchin Community Services turned the evening into an event that offered not just food but also fellowship to Milwaukee's less fortunate.
Recognizing that the festive period can often sharpen the sting of loneliness, the gesture was a welcome reprieve for attendees, including Nuketa Mccall who has experienced homelessness firsthand, "I know how it is to be on the streets and [how it is to] be homeless," he told TMJ4 News, expressing heartfelt appreciation for the outreach, "They gave us food, hygiene, water, [and they] put food on the table. It's a very good Christmas for me."
Kyle Konieccka, a volunteer, encapsulated the night's spirit with his family's participation, noting that his children decided to contribute to the cause, an involvement that served as a reminder of their own fortunate circumstance and the importance of paying it forward, FOX6 News captured the moment with Kyle's statement, "We are all very fortunate and very blessed, and what better way to see that and give back and give thanks for those things than to be here right now."
For over five decades, St. Ben's Community Meal on State Street has operated not only as a soup kitchen but as a beacon of hope and stability providing daily essentials from food to personal hygiene amenities to those in precarious positions such as Angie Miranda Leon who, before finding help stated "Last year, I was sleeping in the park," her journey from solitude to security echoed during the event as she recounted to CBS 58, "I was crying all the time; I was always alone. Now I’m at peace because of them." Showcasing the organization's ethos, Brother Henryk Cisowski, director of Capuchin Community Services, emphasized action over oration, "We don’t preach much, we preach with our actions," illuminating how the group's endeavor extends beyond the physical providing inclusivity and community.
With a meal comprising roast beef, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and a festive dessert, the Christmas Eve event marked more than a seasonal tradition; it signaled a continuing commitment to community support, as highlighted by the assistant director of Capuchin Community Services, Kenny Howard, who spoke about the long-standing mission of the service to ensure individuals feel loved and cared for, a sentiment encapsulated in the center's year-round assistance as well as warm refuge during the harsh Wisconsin winters, according to CBS 58.
