The Province came to the aid of our fellow Capuchin friars serving in Los Angeles after the city and county were devastated by the wildfires that broke out in January. 

We held a Mardi Gras-themed dinner with live jazz music on Feb. 28 at Dunwoodie Golf Course in Yonkers, N.Y. Over 100 people gathered for an evening of fine cuisine, music, and games of chance in the spirit of carnival. The dinner grossed $70,532.80.

Net proceeds from the Mardi Gras dinner went to the Capuchin friars of the Province of Our Lady of Angels, who serve western America. The friars have a presence in several California cities. When the wildfires broke out, the brothers who reside at St. Francis High School in La Cañada-Flintridge were temporarily evacuated and stayed at the Pasadena Convention Center.

In spite of their displacement, the friars came to the assistance of their fellow neighbors. The Capuchin Family Kitchen, a food truck that feeds the homeless of Los Angeles, was serving hot meals outside the evacuation center in Pasadena. On Jan. 8, the truck served more than 200 people in just a couple of hours. In the days that followed, the friars continued to feed displaced families and first responders. Then, with the help of World Central Kitchen, they set up a food distribution site at St. Francis High School. The friars also sent supplies like personal protection equipment, coveralls, booties, respirators, goggles, and air purifiers to people returning to their homes to survey the damage.

“In a country that’s so divided and so polarized, when something like this happens, you can see people of different faiths, different walks of life, different political backgrounds, all working together to help people out,” said Fr. Christopher Iwancio, who runs Capuchin Family Kitchen.