HUNTERSVILLE — In just one hour Jan. 14, parishioners of St. Mark Church collected 70 lamps of all shapes and sizes to help illuminate apartments for new refugees in what is the first of “50 Acts of Charity” underway in the Diocese of Charlotte.

The “50 Acts of Charity” campaign is a signature component of the diocese’s yearlong golden anniversary celebration in 2022. The donation from St. Mark Parish begins what is expected to be many more such grassroots efforts at parishes and schools across the diocese to benefit people in need in our communities.

The 70 lamps will go to help furnish and light up apartments for families being resettled by Catholic Charities’ Refugee Resettlement Program.

Catholic Charities has resettled more than 14,000 refugees fleeing war, political upheaval, or religious, economic or ethnic persecution since 1975, working in partnership with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the U.S. State Department. And in an emergency federal program launched last fall, Catholic Charities and other resettlement agencies across the United States also began assisting allied Afghans whose lives were placed in danger after Western troops left Afghanistan in August. More than 240 Afghan evacuees have been resettled in Charlotte and Asheville so far.

The lamp drive was organized within just a few days by St. Mark’s Catholic Charities Outreach coordinators Oscar Bernardo and Frances Ferell, the parish’s Catholic Charities Assistance Team, and Catholic Charities volunteer Beth Zuhosky.

Zuhosky contacted St. Mark’s office Jan. 8 about the need for lamps, and the parish leaped into action – calling on parishioners to drop off new or gently used lamps in the church parking lot on the following Friday.

The first donation – a large table lamp and box of light bulbs – came in from Al and Mary Jarvis at 9:30 a.m., and by 10:30 a.m., the parish had achieved its goal of 70 lamps. It took five cars driven by the parish’s Catholic Charities Assistance Team to transport the lamps to the Catholic Charities warehouse in Charlotte.

Said Zuhosky, “We are  blessed by the generosity of our Catholic family who have so generously provided for those seeking asylum. To be a part of Catholic Charities and St. Mark Parish, supporting our brothers and sisters in such a profound and meaningful way, is truly humbling. At a time when life feels a bit hectic and uncertain for many, it is comforting to see our community come together in love and  support of our neighbors.”

The lamp drive is one of the first efforts of the Huntersville parish’s new refugee outreach initiative, established in December.

— Catholic News Herald