January 30, 2023 |
St. Christopher’s Highway of Carbon County is off to a strong start lending a helping hand to those in need, according to a just released executive director’s report.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church’s priest, Reverend Bobbe Fitzhugh said, despite only existing for five months, St. Christopher’s Highway of Carbon County has helped over 100 individuals and families.
Pictured above: Photo of St. Christopher’s organization report, courtesy Mira Miller.
St. Christopher’s Highway has spent $7,377.12 on fuel, hotels, food, and bus tickets for stranded travelers. Reverend Fitzhugh said hotel stays are the most common form of assistance provided in 2022. She said the winter weather has increased the number of people in need of overnight accommodation.
The charity has spent $2,726 on hotels.
Bus tickets are the second highest expenditure for St. Christopher’s Highway, costing $1,776. Reverend Fitzhugh said very few homeless services are offered along the I-80 corridor. She said she prefers to provide but tickets so people can get to areas with shelters, food banks, and mental health services.
In 2022, St. Christopher’s Highway of Carbon County provided travelers with $818 worth of food, $1,353 in gas, and $702 for, what is described on the executive director’s report as, other. Moving into 2023, Reverend Fitzhugh said she is changing the way St. Christopher’s Highway operates. She said, instead of immediately handing out money, clients will be asked to help themselves as much as possible.
Reverend Fitzhugh said the charity is has plenty of funding going into the new year because of generous donations from churches and individuals. She described other ways St. Christopher’s Highway obtained financing.
The number of people St. Christopher’s Highway of Carbon County has helped since its August inception shows a need for this type of service exists. Flush with donations, and a potentially more frugal set of edicts, St. Christopher’s Highway is set to aid far more needy travels in the coming year.
