At The Tinsmith, an event venue near Breese Stevens Field on the isthmus, Catholic Charities Diocese of Madison held its annual fundraiser on October 10 to benefit The Beacon, its homeless day center in Madison.
The breakfast fundraiser, aptly named “Beacon and Eggs,” was attended by approximately 150 people from around the Madison area, who represented many organizations that support the day-to-day operations of The Beacon.
Attendance spanned across the private and public sectors in Madison.
Public officials attending included: Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Dane County Executive Jamie Kuhn, and City of Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes.
Representatives from private sector organizations included: Steve Brown Apartments, Findorff, Madison Gas and Electric, and Associated Bank.
‘Human flourishing is possible’
Among the event’s invited speakers, Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison spoke first, giving a blessing and sharing a few words on The Beacon.
In his short reflection, Bishop Hying brought attention to the partnerships created and strengthened through the Diocese of Madison’s charitable arm, Catholic Charities.
Praising the organization for its work in the community, the bishop said that the Beacon and Eggs fundraiser “gives us a chance to publicly thank Catholic Charities and also to honor the beautiful relationship we have with both the city and county”.
Continuing, the bishop expanded on that “beautiful relationship”.
He said, “When the religious community, the public sector, and also the private sector come together, we can do remarkable things to benefit those in our community that really need our help.”
Bishop Hying shared remarks on homelessness in Madison, saying that “we, as Catholics, are convicted that the Lord invites us, indeed commands us, to put the Gospel into action.
“I think of beautiful examples like Mother Teresa who loved the poorest of the poor and saw in them the image of Christ.
“When we look at one another, we see a beloved daughter, a beloved son of God — someone of absolute dignity created in the image of God.
“Human flourishing is possible, and there’s enough food, there’s enough justice, there’s enough medicine, there’s enough dignity for all of us when we open our hearts,” the bishop concluded.
Program Director Nici Hawkins also spoke at the fundraiser, especially thanking volunteers who generously donate their time and energy.
Hawkins provided statistics from January to September of this year.
She said, “Since January, on average, our volunteers have provided more than 890 service hours a month; they have served 4,277 lunches a month; washed, dried, and folded 680 loads of laundry a month; and managed nearly 600 guest showers a month.
“We simply could not provide these basic needs to our guests without volunteers,” she continued.
Hawkins spoke about how The Beacon assists guests “along the long and complicated journey of becoming housed”.
She explained that through partnering with nearly 30 agencies, The Beacon is able to accompany men and women through the “challenges of substance use, employment and training, mental health and medical challenges, assistance with social security and disability support, and finding housing”.
“Since January, staff have provided more than 280 referrals a month to connect guests to our partner agencies,” Hawkins said.
A ‘piece of the solution’
The emcee of Beacon and Eggs was Catholic Charities Executive Director Shawn Carney who skillfully led the event, concisely and eloquently guiding the program.
In his remarks, Carney elaborated upon Hawkins’ speech, adding that homelessness “is a complex issue that will take a comprehensive network of government, business leaders, nonprofit organizations, and the community to find solutions”.
“The Beacon is one piece of that solution” because it “provides basic needs and hope to those on a difficult journey,” Carney said.
Carney added that in the past year, The Beacon has steadily seen an “alarming increase” in individuals using its services, which includes “more families with young children, individuals over the age of 65, and some individuals in their 80s”.
Speaking on financial commitments, Carney said that Catholic Charities now covers “55 percent of the budget needed to operate The Beacon,” which is projected to be $1,632,500 at the end of 2024.
It was clear that Carney, Hawkins, and other speakers led their remarks with statistics, rather than with idealistic or superfluous statements, which brought attention to the dire needs of The Beacon.
The Beacon’s building, originally the city’s Chamber of Commerce building, was expected to reasonably accommodate 150 guests per day.
In remarks, however, attendees were made aware that this year marked a single-day record of more than 300 coming for services, adding that consistently The Beacon is serving more than the initial expectation of 150, which many found alarming.
Concluding the event, Carney talked about how “it takes a village” to support the efforts of reducing homelessness in Dane County, saying that “our village is vast” with support to do so.
Carney thanked attendees, hoping that they “will leave here with a better understanding of the challenges our guests face and that understanding [those challenges] deepens your compassion for those we serve”.
This year’s Beacon and Eggs breakfast was catered by Blue Plate Catering in Madison, and they received warm praise from event organizers for their quality of food, service, and for offering a generous discount to Catholic Charities.