Charity facilities open doors

Members of the Las Vegas community came together Thursday and sat among the aluminum tables of a homeless dining facility to celebrate the grand opening of the new Lied Dining Facility and Fertitta Residential Center in Catholic Charities Plaza, formerly St. Vincent's Plaza.

The 15,000-square-foot Lied Dining Facility served its first meal at 10 a.m. It will enable Catholic Charities to serve 330 people at once, nearly triple the previous number. A $2.5 million donation was made by Christina Hixson through the Lied Foundation.

The 8,200-square-foot Fertitta Residential Center enables Catholic Charities to offer another 200 beds for men, in addition to the 550 beds currently offered at the shelter. A $1.5 million donation was made by Frank and Virginia Fertitta.

John Mowbray, president of Catholic Charities, explained to the crowd the mission of Catholic Charities and the importance of the new facility.

"We feed the hungry, clothe the naked, we shelter the needy," he said. "We are here to celebrate the rebirth of the plaza, to dedicate the beginning of a new era."

Lynette McDonald, newest member of the board of trustees for Catholic Charities, said she was excited about the new facility.

"What is great is that it is not just one facility, we are working together to transition people to self-sufficiency."

Bishop Walsh, chief executive officer for Catholic Charities, spoke of biblical passages, which he related to this event.

"There is indeed room in the inn, where people can be served with dignity and respect," he said, referring to the Christmas story. "These new buildings are a sign of welcome, love and respect."

In 1997, St. Vincent's served 600,000 meals to those in need and an additional 150,000 meals are expected to be served this year.

Three more phases to the facility, assisted by a $10.4 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, are due to begin soon, with the whole project slated for completion by 2001.

archive