The Quues: giving a family holiday hope

[Senusret I]

Got this in an email:

Fraternity giving family holiday hope
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
By Molly Bloom
Journal staff writer

This year, Andre Johnson and his 27 brothers are buying Christmas gifts for another set of 17 siblings.

Johnson is a member of the Jersey City chapter of the African-American service fraternity Omega Psi Phi and he and his fraternity brothers are donating Christmas gifts to all 17 children (yes, 17) in the family of Grady Washington and Stacey Clark of Jersey City.

"It means a lot," said Washington. "We would not have been able to do it otherwise."

Washington, 41, and Clark, 37, who have 10 children of their own in April took in Clark's sister's children, adding seven more members to their family.

"We didn't expect it, but we'd rather have them here than all split up into different places and spots," Washington said.

"It seems to be working out. They have their moments, but they usually resolve the situations."

Washington, who is out of work on Social Security disability, and Clark, who receives public assistance, are struggling to make ends meet and provide a home for their charges, who range in age from 2 to 21.

For Christmas, the children are just looking for "the basics, nothing extravagant," Washington said.

The men of Omega Psi Phi are giving each child a gift and the entire family a supermarket gift certificate to help supply a holiday dinner for 19.

"As members of this organization, it's our obligation to reach out into the community and provide as much assistance as possible," said Johnson. A local Salvation Army coordinator put the fraternity in touch with the Washington family.

"This is a family that really needs the support," the fraternity brother said. "Even talking to the parents you still see signs of hope. Even though they're struggling, you can see they're not going to give up."

Though the Omega Psi Phi gifts will go a long way toward bringing Christmas to the family's Astor Place home, Washington and Clark will themselves receive only the gift of seeing their children open their presents.

"I guess we'll just have the gift of Christmas," Washington said. "I'm more excited for them. This is a gift from God."

For more information about contributing to the Omega Psi Phi effort, call Andre Johnson at (201) 432-4416.