A great cause: Kathy Perpetua (left) hands a homemade rosary to Alice Brennan at the annual Local 22 widows luncheon, where she also presented a check to Local 22 President Joe Schulle from the rosaries she has sold. MARIA POUCHNIKOVA / TIMES PHOTO
International Association of Firefighters Local 22 last week welcomed dozens of widows for a pre-Thanksgiving lunch that also included dessert, a take-home dinner, a Visa gift card, music and dancing.
Money raised for the feast comes from donations by active and retired firefighters.
In addition, Holme Circle resident Kathy Perpetua replenished the widows’ fund by donating $3,200 in proceeds from the sales of her handmade rosary beads.
Perpetua and her husband, Tony, a retired Philadelphia firefighter, thanked everyone who bought rosaries or placed a donation in a jar. They sold the rosaries this year at craft fairs at Nazareth Academy, Father Judge and Holy Ghost Prep high schools and the United German Hungarian Club.
This is the third year in a row that the couple exceeded $3,000.
The 16th annual luncheon took place Nov. 22 at the union hall at 5th and Willow streets. ••
