January 7, 2008   •   VOL. 46, NO. 1   •   Oakland, CA

One family’s offer of a garage
grew into a decade of orphan support
 

By Sharon Abercrombie
Staff writer

When Ann Ferrante visited the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos orphanage in Nicaragua five years ago, she recognized half the clothes the kids were wearing. No wonder. Just a few months earlier, she had folded and packed them herself.

Ali Ferrante (center), who visited Nicaragua with her parents, enjoys time with her new-found friends at an NPH home. photo courtesy of Father Frank’s Kids

“I’m the original volunteer person,” said Ferrante. In 1996, when Father Frank Colacicco spearheaded an effort to get St. Isidore Parish involved in supporting kids living in a network of orphanages in Latin America, Ferrante volunteered to help. Her family’s garage became the donation site.

Soon there were stacks of clothing, toys and other items donated by parishioners. She and Father Frank found themselves working five days a week readying the donations for shipment. Ferrante’s favorite phrase became “just one more box to finish.” But there were always more boxes waiting to be filled.

Something had to be done before donations took over every inch of spare space in the Ferrante home. Father Daniel Cardelli, St. Isidore pastor, came to rescue, making an unused conference room in the rectory available to them.

When it came time for their first shipment, they recruited another volunteer — Ferrante’s husband, Tori, who is co-owner of a moving and storage company in San Leandro. He’s been shipping the donations ever since.

In 2002, the Ferrantes and their two children went to visit the Nicaragua orphanage.
Ann was dreading the trip. “I was afraid I was going to be overwhelmed by sadness at the sight of all these children with no parents,” she said. Indeed, she was overwhelmed, but it was with delight and thanksgiving. “The kids were healthy, happy, and well-fed.”

In actuality, the Pequeños kids fare much better than many youngsters living with their families.

Having all the advantages that they do gives these orphans the opportunity and potential to become the future leaders of their country, said Ferrante. That thought “keeps me going.” said Ferrante, who still helps with the packing.

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