GASTONIA — Emma Hughlett, an eighth-grader at St. Michael School, recently recruited the assistance of her fellow students in collecting cleaning and household items to make “graduation baskets” for Family Promise of Gaston County, the only organization in the county providing services specifically for homeless families using an interfaith network.
It assists families with emergency housing, food and transportation and when the family seeks permanent stabilization, its program provides job skills training, money management training, as well as assistance with their housing and employment searches.
Upon graduation with employment and housing, each family receives a “graduation basket” for their home. Hughlett is using this project to earn her Girl Scout Silver Award.
— Tammy Eason
CHARLOTTE — Monsignor John McSweeney, pastor of St. Matthew Church, accepts a $5,000 check from the Charlotte Catholic High School Class of 2017 on May 31 during the CCHS Senior Awards presentation held at the parish.
The senior class gave the donation to Monsignor McSweeney to help further his outreach to the poor. He is the first priest ordained for the Diocese of Charlotte and will retire this July after nearly 43 years of priestly ministry.
— SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald
