St. Eleanor Catholic Church of Ruidoso has long been active in the Lincoln County community, providing jail ministry and supporting programs like the Lincoln County Food Bank and HEAL & The Nest Domestic Violence Shelter.
The Nest has benefited from continued support from St. Eleanor due, at least in part, to the work of the late Bob Racicot, who served as Deacon at St. Eleanor Catholic Church in Ruidoso. Deacon Bob was also an active member of the HEAL Board of Directors from 2007-2012 and was instrumental in bringing the option of a faith-based support system for women staying at The Nest.
In September 2013, St. Eleanor Catholic Church joined an initiative began by Reverend Laurie Benavides, Deacon of the Holy Mount Episcopal Church in Ruidoso, called the Table of Plenty. “Our desire is to provide food and companionship to the poor, the lonely, the homeless and those in need of fellowship,” explained St Eleanor Catholic Church Table of Plenty’s Linda Tobkin, who orchestrates the church’s participation in the program along with co-chair Rosalinda Sanchez. “We want to be Jesus’ hands and feet to serve others.”
The Table of Plenty offers three free meals a month to anyone and everyone from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at one of the three churches: the second Monday of the month at the Church of the Holy Mount, every third Tuesday at the Community United Methodist Church, and every fourth Monday at the St. Eleanor Catholic Church. According to Tobkin, the church community has brought people together who might not otherwise interact with one another, “The three churches work well together. We are all Christians just trying to do God’s work.”
Hot meals are served “cafe-style” at decorated tables, complete with dessert. There is no talk of religion unless the guests bring it up first. “We want people to feel welcomed, comfortable and valued,” said Tobkin. The program operates on the kind donations of parishioners and from the community as well as volunteers.
The charity of St. Eleanor Catholic Church does not end there. They take the recyclable items to the Ruidoso High School’s Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) aluminum trailer located at Schoolhouse Park. Also, because the number of guests vary from week to week, month to month, occasionally there are leftovers. Those dishes that cannot be frozen and used for future Table of Plenty meals – like salads and desserts – are donated to The Nest to then serve their residents.
Additionally, a collection bin sits in the gathering area of the St. Eleanor Catholic Church which collects toiletries, full or travel sizes, that are then donated to the women and children at The Nest.
Josie Powell, owner of Josie’s Framery and former HEAL Board Member, recalls, “Deacon Bob was an inspiration to me in his dedication as someone who cared about victims of domestic violence and educated the congregation of his church about it every chance he could.”