Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
January 17, 2001
Volunteer dedicates retirement to serving others
Henninger, a 'giant of service' helps out at Catholic Charities Northern
By Laurie Dunklee
When Charlie Henninger walks into the Mission, he's hard to miss. At six-feet-six-inches tall, he's a recognizable figure at Catholic Charities Northern's homeless shelter in Fort Collins. Henninger volunteers three times a week in the emergency services program, helping people who are down on their luck make it through.
"The biggest needs we address are for food, prescriptions and help in paying utilities. Also we help get bus tokens or tickets for stranded travelers," he said.
Henninger, 72 this month, has been volunteering at the Mission for six years, three times a week. He's also on the board of Catholic Charities Northern.
"I retired in 1994 and went looking for volunteer work," he said. "When I visited this place I fell in love, and I've been here ever since."
Henninger's wife Joan also volunteers at the Mission, coordinating fundraisers and as a standby kitchen helper.
They moved to Colorado from Greenwich, Connecticut, where he was the director of a civic center and Joan was the director of a senior center.
Henninger said he likes the hands-on aspect of his volunteer job. "I like to work with the people face-to-face. You get to see immediate results."
He said he's worked with some interesting characters, including men who ride the rails from state to state. "One fellow called `Grizzly' asked me for plastic bags to bury his winter clothes in before he moved on to a warmer climate. Said he had clothing buried all over the country for when he stayed there; he even had a map!"
He said 70 percent of those he helps are working poor families. "Both parents work but the rent is so high, they can't make ends meet."
He said many families have suffered a catastrophic event, such as a sick child. "With no health insurance, they get wiped out by doctor bills," he said. Other families are traveling and their car breaks down. "The state police bring them in and we feed them and get them bus tickets to their destination."
On Christmas day this year the Henningers planned to coordinate volunteers to deliver hot meals to nearly 300 homebound people in the Fort Collins area. "The taxi company makes up routes for our 30 volunteers," he said.
Catholic Charities Northern provides food, shelter, vocational help, counseling, child care, senior services and adoption services to people in need in Northern Colorado.
