Father Felix Medina-Algaba’s spotless cream vestments brushed against the concrete floor and stainless-steel food lockers as he sprinkled holy water along a row of soda-pop spigots and hot-dog warmers at Coors Field on Thursday.
Medina-Algaba, pastor of St. James Catholic Church, blessed the space, the equipment and the volunteer workers who donate their time to serve food and drink at Rockies games and other venues. They do it to raise money for Catholic schools.
“This blessing is to set aside this place for God. We dedicate it to serve God and the people of God. Is God here, too?” Medina-Algaba asked as his glance swept concrete-block walls and the standard fixtures of a concession stand.
“Yes, he is,” the pastor said.
Maria Mendoza, 39, is one of the 220 parents who sweat Sundays for no pay in order to earn tuition scholarships for their children.
“It’s fun. It’s hard work,” Mendoza said. “And it helps a lot.”
She said it saves her $4,000 for each of two children at St. James Catholic School.
Here’s how it works. A nonprofit called Universal Education Supporters schedules volunteering families to work at Aramark and other concessions. The concessionaires then donate money, based on hours worked, to designated Catholic schools.
The schools are free to use the donated funds for whatever they choose, Universal Education Supporters Director Mary McKnabb said. However, she said, the schools honor the donated labor of their students’ parents (and of the students themselves at some venues, if they’re 16 and older) and provide tuition scholarships for those students.
“In his own life, Christ showed us the dignity of work,” Medina-Algaba said. “We pray parents can give their children educations. We pray they can give them wisdom. Wisdom is knowing how God rules in each moment of our lives.”
Concessionaires’ donations are going to Catholic schools and colleges all over the country and have been for 35 years, McKnabb said. The nonprofit has 220 families signed up, she said, but a core group of 130 are most active.
Many other nonprofits, such as Victory Outreach, an evangelical ministry, and All About Kids, an education program, have similar arrangements with concessionaires.
Thousands of nonprofit volunteers from private schools, food banks, youth sports, college fraternities and civic groups have worked at most of Denver’s big venues, including the Pepsi Center and Invesco Field.
By using volunteers — and making donations in lieu of paying wages — concessionaires save themselves the costs associated with regular employees.
Terry Schilmoeller, 50, of All Souls Parish, said his Sunday shifts at Rockies games accomplish two things. They help pay tuition for his two daughters. It is also Catholic outreach, he said.
Schilmoeller doesn’t identify himself as a Catholic to customers. He doesn’t evangelize. He simply strives to be courteous and fast and to keep a clean stand.
“I’m sure they have no idea we’re Catholic,” Schilmoeller said. “It’s just another way to serve people.”
Electa Draper: 303-954-1276 or edraper@denverpost.com
