By Jenny DiTomasso and David Eisenberger
Three years ago, Joanna Sarafian started The Midnight Hour. After 15 years of a difficult life, in which she had to give up the rights to her four children, Sarafian devoted her life to her Christian faith. She was determined to return to the streets in the midnight hour to search for people whose shoes she walked in before.
Today, her four children are back in her life, and some of them work with her. Today many young girls are turning their life around, following Sarafian’s example.
The Midnight Hour has a four-member team that covers the streets, going to various places throughout Providence where homeless people congregate. Barbara Mattscheck, pastor of My Father’s Hearts Fellowship; Barbara Casgrove; Tom Casgrove; and Fred Shandley begin their work at 8 p.m. They start out at Crossroads, bringing prepared lunches, clothes, and compassion, and then they head out onto the streets. The Midnight Hour team cannot and do not go it alone. They receive help from other churches. Members of the FirstCongregational Church of Rice City prepare bagged lunches that the team delivers throughout the streets.
The members of Midnight Hour dream of having a storefront, where they can provide clothing and a day shelter. They would also like to include more churches, volunteers, and youth groups in their outreach work. Tom Casgrove is currently encouraging youth groups to become involved with the ministry. To help out, contact Mattscheck at 401-615-2327.
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