April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
ALBANY SERVICE
CWSL partners with LaSalle School
CWSL partners with LaSalle School
LaSalle's residential and day programs serve troubled adolescent boys referred by Family Court or Social Services. But, as autumn approaches, seriousness is put aside and fun rules when the Catholic Women's Service League throws the boys a Halloween party and sponsors a Christmas boutique where they can buy holiday gifts for their families.
The CWSL is made up of older women, most of whom joined because their mothers were involved in the group. The society was established in 1918 to perform "spiritual, cultural, civic and charitable works" around the Diocese. About 40 years later, then-Bishop William Scully asked the women to focus their efforts on the LaSalle School.
Through the years, CWSL members sent cards to LaSalle students on birthdays, confirmation days and other occasions; they held Christmas fundraisers and special breakfasts. These days, the Halloween and Christmas get-togethers are the big events of the year, along with monthly bingo games for the boys.
Patricia Tobin has been a CWSL member for 16 years. She told The Evangelist she loves being able to interact with the students at the bingo games.
"If we win, the boys split the money," she explained. "If the boys win, they keep the money."
The ladies also bring soda and snacks for the boys to share.
For Bernice Lydon, a member since 1989, the Christmas boutique is a favorite. The boutique has tables of gifts purchased by the women during the year, organized into categories. The boys pay a small fee to choose holiday items for their families; Ms. Lydon helps them wrap the presents.
It's a time when she gets to talk to each boy about his family, she said.
"The boys really enjoy it," reported Anne Richmond of St. Pius X parish in Loudonville.
After 30 years in the CSWL, Ms. Richmond most enjoys seeing the boys' creative Halloween costumes - which often feature homemade hats or fake blood. The women judge a costume contest with categories for funniest, scariest and most original idea.
Many CWSL members wear costumes for the Halloween party, too. There are games and relay races for the boys; winners get a prize, which is usually monetary.
"Every kid likes money," CWSL president Marcia Mahoney told The Evangelist. "At the end, we give them a bag and they can put whatever they want in it. There's a table of all sorts of candy and gum; there's doughnuts and muffins."
Since many of the students have been through some hard circumstances, she added, "It's nice to see them go back to being a kid again."
Some of the boys have compromised or limited relationships with their own families. The CWSL members said they often feel like grandmothers to the boys they serve.[[In-content Ad]]
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