Meet Regina Araujo

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Regina Araujo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Regina below.

Hi Regina, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I believe that we all came here for a reason, even though some take longer than others to discover their personal reason.
In 2012, I suffered the worst pain a mother can feel when my daughter Danuza passed away from cancer at the age of 29. My daughter was a communicative and extroverted person. Often, while walking on the street with her, I noticed her closeness to people who were not exactly part of our social circle. She talked to homeless people, knew them by name, and treated them as if they were old friends.
After her passing, immersed in depression and not knowing where to find strength, I started attending a reading group of the Gospel According to Spiritism. I realized that when someone fulfills their duty on the earthly plane, they are welcomed back to our home, while those who remain here must continue their work (their own or that of those who have departed). Since then, I have begun to develop a different perspective towards those people to whom my daughter dedicated so much of her attention.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

The Solidarity Path Project has the mission of serving breakfast three times a week to the homeless in Newark, New Jersey, with the aim of providing an opportunity for their reintegration into social life. Breakfast is simply the way we have found to attract these people so that they feel comfortable opening up to someone, as many of them suffer from emotional problems, chemical dependency, or are victims of violence. Through this meal, we can listen to their stories, learn a bit about their lives, and develop a relationship that offers not only something to eat but also a family-like moment for these people. For example, when we celebrate a birthday, commemorate a festive occasion, or simply share a fraternal hug. In these moments, we take care to provide warm clothing, garments, or blankets to also alleviate their physical suffering.

Over almost five years of the project, we are often able to notice when one of our friends is going through a particularly difficult time or even when they are under the influence of substances. Initially, some were hostile and refused to have more personal contact, but soon we became accepted with increasing enthusiasm.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

In the beginning, volunteers used their own money to offer some pieces of cake, coffee, juice, and water, which were served on a folding table or from the trunk of my car. During the pandemic, we stopped for a month due to a court order, but we soon adapted to provide breakfast safely and not leave our friends helpless. Today, with the help of volunteers and donations, we have a minibus from which we weekly serve 800 sandwiches, 25 gallons of coffee with milk, cakes, cereal bars, applesauce, fruit, 20 dozen boiled eggs, as well as clothes, socks, shoes, gloves, and personal hygiene items every week.

Therefore, the advice I can offer people is to be perseverant in their purpose and not let themselves be discouraged by often being exposed to unpleasant or even unfair situations.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

The biggest obstacle we have always faced is the prejudice of the general population against the homeless, as we notice the lack of interest in offering help to these people who are seen as a burden in the daily life of the city. Therefore, at this moment, we need help with donations (whether financial or food) as well as dedicated volunteers to prepare and serve breakfast.

If you are willing to contribute, no matter where you are, you can access our social media (Instagram and Facebook) @SolidarityPathProject or send us an email at sglightofthegospel@gmail.com.

Donations can be made via Venmo at SolidarityPathProject or Zelle at 862-621-7223.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @SolidarityPathProject
• Facebook: @SolidarityPathProject
• Other: Venmo : SolidarityPathProject
  Zelle : 862-621-7223.