“God’s Yard Sale” starts, raising money for three shelters in D.R. Congo

By Ron Giofu

The giant yard sale for the Hope of St. Joseph Inc. is now underway with another weekend to go.

Shoppers attended the home of Marc and Mary Beneteau last Thursday through Saturday with clothing, electronics, DVD’s, CD’s, Christmas goods, toys, hardware and a charity barbecue among the ways people could spend their money and donate at the same time.

“We had really big crowds this morning,” reported Mary Beneteau. “A lot of people have been here before. They know where everything is. It’s been good, really good.”

Beneteau said spirits were high, and she was glad to see that.

“Everyone is happy,” she said. “That’s the main thing.”

Proceeds still go to help the girls at the Hope of St. Joseph Shelter in Bukavu, D.R. Congo as they always have, but Father Donato Lwiyando has started two more shelters there as well. The new shelters that are also being funded include one for boys and another for families.

Knowledge is growing in the community about where the proceeds go, Beneteau added.

“I think people are learning,” said Beneteau. “There’s more of an awareness.”

Beneteau said when she stops and talks to people at the yard sale, they have some understanding of the original Hope of St. Joseph Shelter, but not as much as the two additional shelters that are being fundraised for.

“What they don’t know about is the expansion,” she said.

The public is still good about donating, Beneteau stated, and not just buying yard sale goods and hot dogs. A donation jar under the cashier’s tent was being used frequently.

“There’s a lot of really good stuff,” she said, of what was for sale.

Temporary storage tents were set up in the Beneteau’s back yard for sorting of future goods, but she stated the majority of donations start coming in later in the year.

“Sometimes they start in October and November,” she said.

Children supported by Father Donato have often been abused or sexually assaulted and it is estimated he is now taking care of 90 children between the three shelters. There are also 250-300 street kids that he assists as well.

“I ask him, ‘if the war came, what would you do? Where do you go?,’” she said. “He said ‘you can’t run with 90 kids.’”

Father Donato is a former assistant pastor at St. John the Baptist Church in Amherstburg but went back to his homeland to tend to the children there.

“He counts on us a lot,” said Beneteau. “This is his sole support for the kids.”

Father Donato is attending university in the Congo, where he is pursuing a philosophy degree. He hopes to earn extra money for the shelters and street kids that way. Beneteau added costs are rising and money they send to the African nation has to be in U.S. dollars.

“We need money,” she said. “Hopefully we get it. We always want to get more.”

Last year’s charity yard sale ended up raising approximately $14,000 and Beneteau said they hope for more this year.

“It would be nice to get closer to $20,000,” she said. “We’ll take what we can get and be happy with it. The support we’re receiving is amazing. The people who support us are uplifting. They keep our spirits up.”

The volunteers who help were also described as “uplifting” as well, with Beneteau further describing them as “very encouraging and joyful.”

“I’ve called this God’s Yard Sale,” she said. “I just know this is what we’re supposed to be doing – taking care of others.”

The Beneteau home is at 3560 Middle Side Road (County Road 10) and the sale runs from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ThursdaySaturday again this week (Aug. 3-5).

For more information on the Hope of St. Joseph Shelter, please visit www.hopeislife.ca.