Over 600 New Winter Coats Distributed to homeless by 16-year-old's charity

Lancaster, Pa. - November 20, 2007 - Nearly 400 new winter coats were distributed to the homeless today on the Breadline of St. Francis of Assisi Church, West 31st Street, Manhattan.  The project was named to honor Franciscan priest, Fr. Cassian Miles from Assumption Church in Woodridge, NJ.  Over 600 coats were collected in all, with the first 223 distributed last week to the homeless and poor who visited St. Francis Inn, Philadelphia, PA.  This marks the 16th visit to the Breadline in 5 years by Mychal's Message, an organization founded after the death on 9/11 of Father Mychal, formerly of St. Francis Church, New York, NY.  Founded by then 11 year-old Shannon Hickey, Mychal's Message has collected and distributed over 100,000 new items to the homeless and poor since it began.  Longtime friend of Father Mychal Judge, Father Cassian Miles accompanied Shannon, now 16, in this morning's distribution.  Richard and Jean Haddad of Holy Angels Church in Little Falls, NJ also joined Mychal's Message for this morning's distribution. Christine Ryder of St. Francis of Assisi Church, Long Beach Island, NJ also joined Mychal's Message today to help distribute coats.  "You brought me more than a coat today," one man on the Breadline told Shannon.  "You brought me joy."

Shannon with a guest on the Breadline at St. Francis Church, NYC.