HomeWorks

By Hank Chardos, Executive Director and Founder

 

Sixteen Home Works volunteers will be traveling to Zorritos, Peru this summer from July 31^st through August 11^th, 2002. Zorritos is a small coastal community in northern Peru. Father Don Gorski is the only priest to care for that community and some 30,000 Peruvians in the surrounding area. Sally and Hank Chardos and their daughter, Catherine will be returning to Zorritos to lead the efforts.

 

The people live a very simple and poor live with fishing as their means of livelihood. El Nino, however, destroyed most of the fishing, placing an overwhelming strain on their economy and diet, already weak in essential vitamins. Primarily, the people subsist on fish, and whatever staples and vegetables they can buy or grow in the poor soil. Every morning, around 300 men, women and children walk miles to gather outside the rectory for a few bananas and pieces of bread. For many, this is their daily meal.

 

Volunteer teens and adults bring hope and provide relief for Father Gorski. Besides feeding the poor, volunteers help in many other ways during a given day focusing on the spiritual and physical needs. Returning to Zorritos sends the message that we have not forgotten them.