Community dinner models spirit of hope and giving in St. Benedict Parish
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Lori Anne Oliwa | Monitor Correspondent
Her face beaming with joy, Patti Dickens felt proud while watching an army of youth volunteers deliver happiness as well as hot meals at the Thanksgiving community dinner held Nov. 24 in St Benedict Parish, Holmdel.
To see photo gallery on this story, click here.
The event has been held annually for the last decade to provide a sense of community spirit for those in need of food, financial assistance and fellowship, according to Dickens, who is the current president of the parish’s St. Vincent dePaul Society conference as well as the original founder of non-profit organization The RAINE Foundation. Both organizations sponsor and staff the dinner, which has attracted more than 600 guests in years past, according to estimates.
The acronym ‘RAINE’ stands for Reaching Those In Need Everyday. Dickens explained that she and her husband, Mike, started the organization after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as a way of teaching children to volunteer and to give back to the community. The first dinner showed that there was a definite need in the Bayshore area, but also served as an inspiration to the civic-minded couple.
“We were hooked, really hooked, after the success of the first event and just wanted to keep doing it,” Dickens said. Soon thereafter, members of both RAINE and the St. Vincent dePaul Society realized there was strength in numbers as well as a similar mission to provide sustenance to families in crises, so they formed a partnership to allow the event to grow.
“The two organizations formed a type of ‘marriage’ several years ago, Dickens joked, “and the event just continued to blossom.”
More than 200 volunteers worked for many months to prepare for the dinner and for additional charitable initiatives, according to RAINE Foundation President Carolyn Andress.
“We are a team of volunteers, but actually we are a family of giving,” stated Andress, who became involved years ago by helping to wrap children’s gifts and is now presiding over an organization which helps omore than 3,000 children yearly.
“Once becoming involved with something like this, it awakens your passion and changes you as a person.” Dickens cited parishioners of St. Benedict Parish and said that the St. Vincent dePaul Society has been blessed with very generous donors who have enabled the mission of helping the poor.
"That helped to drive the partnership. St. Vincent dePaul was fortunate to benefit from the financial resources, and RAINE Foundation had the large volunteer base, a perfect blending,” she added.
Guests were treated to smiles and holiday cheer along with a delicious meal of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, salad, and close to a dozen different desserts. Many in attendance have been coming every year and treat it as tradition.
“It’s wonderful. Everyone is so nice, and it’s great to be served by all of the wonderful children,” stated Lucy Lovero, a resident of, Keyport, who attends every year with her friends Irma DeMartino, Alice McClester, and Florence Gregory.
She continued, “I just can’t say enough about it. We even get food to take home. Nobody leaves here feeling poor, but instead you feel like family.”
Augustine Accardi, a Vietnam veteran and resident of Union Beach, said he looks forward to the event as a way of celebrating and spending time with good friends George Street and Karen Seising. He was particularly impressed with the youth volunteers of all ages, who he said were being taught civility and compassion at a young age, and most importantly, faith.
“If we are not raising children of faith who believe in God, then what hope do we have for the world?” Accardi exclaimed.
Encouraging community service, compassion, and modeling consideration for others are really key components of the event and something that is part of the curriculum at St. Benedict School, according to self-described ‘team mom’ Sharon McAteer, mother to fourth-grader Alison and seventh-grader Lauren.
“The coaches and teaching staff here really encouraged the students to volunteer. After all, teamwork happens both on and off the court, and my children are certainly enjoying the experience here,” McAteer noted.
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By Lori Anne Oliwa | Monitor Correspondent
Her face beaming with joy, Patti Dickens felt proud while watching an army of youth volunteers deliver happiness as well as hot meals at the Thanksgiving community dinner held Nov. 24 in St Benedict Parish, Holmdel.
To see photo gallery on this story, click here.
The event has been held annually for the last decade to provide a sense of community spirit for those in need of food, financial assistance and fellowship, according to Dickens, who is the current president of the parish’s St. Vincent dePaul Society conference as well as the original founder of non-profit organization The RAINE Foundation. Both organizations sponsor and staff the dinner, which has attracted more than 600 guests in years past, according to estimates.
The acronym ‘RAINE’ stands for Reaching Those In Need Everyday. Dickens explained that she and her husband, Mike, started the organization after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as a way of teaching children to volunteer and to give back to the community. The first dinner showed that there was a definite need in the Bayshore area, but also served as an inspiration to the civic-minded couple.
“We were hooked, really hooked, after the success of the first event and just wanted to keep doing it,” Dickens said. Soon thereafter, members of both RAINE and the St. Vincent dePaul Society realized there was strength in numbers as well as a similar mission to provide sustenance to families in crises, so they formed a partnership to allow the event to grow.
“The two organizations formed a type of ‘marriage’ several years ago, Dickens joked, “and the event just continued to blossom.”
More than 200 volunteers worked for many months to prepare for the dinner and for additional charitable initiatives, according to RAINE Foundation President Carolyn Andress.
“We are a team of volunteers, but actually we are a family of giving,” stated Andress, who became involved years ago by helping to wrap children’s gifts and is now presiding over an organization which helps omore than 3,000 children yearly.
“Once becoming involved with something like this, it awakens your passion and changes you as a person.” Dickens cited parishioners of St. Benedict Parish and said that the St. Vincent dePaul Society has been blessed with very generous donors who have enabled the mission of helping the poor.
"That helped to drive the partnership. St. Vincent dePaul was fortunate to benefit from the financial resources, and RAINE Foundation had the large volunteer base, a perfect blending,” she added.
Guests were treated to smiles and holiday cheer along with a delicious meal of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, salad, and close to a dozen different desserts. Many in attendance have been coming every year and treat it as tradition.
“It’s wonderful. Everyone is so nice, and it’s great to be served by all of the wonderful children,” stated Lucy Lovero, a resident of, Keyport, who attends every year with her friends Irma DeMartino, Alice McClester, and Florence Gregory.
She continued, “I just can’t say enough about it. We even get food to take home. Nobody leaves here feeling poor, but instead you feel like family.”
Augustine Accardi, a Vietnam veteran and resident of Union Beach, said he looks forward to the event as a way of celebrating and spending time with good friends George Street and Karen Seising. He was particularly impressed with the youth volunteers of all ages, who he said were being taught civility and compassion at a young age, and most importantly, faith.
“If we are not raising children of faith who believe in God, then what hope do we have for the world?” Accardi exclaimed.
Encouraging community service, compassion, and modeling consideration for others are really key components of the event and something that is part of the curriculum at St. Benedict School, according to self-described ‘team mom’ Sharon McAteer, mother to fourth-grader Alison and seventh-grader Lauren.
“The coaches and teaching staff here really encouraged the students to volunteer. After all, teamwork happens both on and off the court, and my children are certainly enjoying the experience here,” McAteer noted.
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