Samoan home for elderly and disabled selected for Extension employee fundraiser

Hope House, a ministry that provides shelter and care for the elderly and disabled on the island of Samoa, has been chosen as beneficiary of the Catholic Church Extension Society's 2009 employee pledge drive. As a result, the facility will receive more than $2,600 in staff contributions and matching funds from Catholic Extension.

Operated by religious sisters, Hope House is the only residential facility on the Island of Samoa offering around-the-clock care for the elderly and disabled, the "poor and abandoned" who suffer from a variety of medical situations, including stroke, Parkinson's disease, intellectual disability, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, cerebral palsy, scoliosis, juvenile arthritis, and physical disability due to accident. 

Hope House was also made available for temporary shelter to those in need of a place to stay after the devastating tsunami in late September.

Sr. Elsa O. Sintilias, OP, Hope House's administrator, thanked Catholic Extension employees for "accepting us as your beneficiary for your Christmas Drive."

"We always hope and pray that there will be more generous people who will support this ministry here and abroad," Sr. Elsa wrote. "Thank you friends for your love and concern for these poor people here in American Samoa."

Hope House has 19 caregivers, including two nurses, as well as two cooks, two laundry and housekeepers, and two maintenance workers.

Given a goal of raising $1,000, the 39 employees of Catholic Extension, collected more than $1,300, matched dollar for dollar at the direction of Fr. Jack Wall, Catholic Extension's president.

With the extra money, Sr. Elsa plans to buy a new heavy-duty washing machine so her small laundry staff can keep up with the demand for fresh linens and clothing and maintain a clean and dignified environment for the residents of Hope House. 

Hope House supports its staff salaries of $232,000 by securing donations from local businesses, seeking grants from other organizations and hosting an annual "Telethon run" by local townsfolk who want to help.  These efforts, though, are still not enough.  Hope house also has the goal this year of getting more volunteers, to increase the quality of care to their disabled residents. 

"It is our joy to be here in American Samoa to help the diocese care for these poor and abandoned elderly and handicapped children," Sr. Elsa wrote to Catholic Extension. "We are capable to extend our services on this island as long as the diocese needs us, we are ready to do it!"