We are a small group comprised of volunteers who have all come to
care deeply for our friends in Benin. Some of us have traveled to
Benin many times and have met with our school children there,
dressed the wounds of Benin’s suffering villagers, and witnessed
firsthand the many needs of the nation’s people. Some of us have
never been to Benin but assist from home, developing newsletters,
creating web sites, and working at fundraising events. The time we
devote to SFLG is strictly voluntary; in fact, we pay for most of
our travel, fundraising and other expenses from our own pockets,
allowing the donations we receive to go directly toward our projects
in Benin.
If you would like to learn more about how to volunteer with SFLG,
please click here.
HISTORY
In the spring of 2003, a group of friends was engaged in feeding the
homeless in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One morning they
introduced themselves to a young priest who had stopped by for a cup
of coffee, and they asked him if he knew of a way for them to become
even more involved in helping the poor. Father Andre Quenum was just
about to complete his doctorate at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh
and return to his work at the Archdiocese of Contonou in his home
country of Benin. He introduced the group of friends to the needs of
his country and invited them to become involved in his work. Service
for the Love of God was born.
Since that time, SFLG has become a 501c(3) nonprofit charitable
organization. We have gained members and established a board that
consists of both American and African individuals. We have made
many visits to Benin, during which we have been able to successfully
affect the lives of our Beninese brothers and sisters through our
many educational and health related projects (
link).
MEET OUR MEMBERS
Sherri Kearns is the United States Chairman and co-founder of
Service for the Love of God, Inc.
Sherri made the initial visit to Benin
in 2003 and has since been back four additional times. Benin has
become her 'second home'. Sherri lives in
Pittsburgh, PA with her husband Mike. She is a member of
St. Thomas A' Becket Parish, a
mother of 2 and a grandmother of 4 beautiful children 5 years of age
and younger.
Rev. Andre Quenum is SFLG’s Rebublic of
Benin Chairman. It was his chance encounter with a few of our
members that planted the seed for SFLG many years ago. Father Andre
is a Catholic priest who was born in Benin and still resides there.
He is the director for communications for the
Archdiocese of Cotonou, where
he edits the archdiocesan newspaper, La
Croix du Benin.
Jim Flynn is the Secretary of SFLG. Jim is a Registered Nurse who
helped co-found SFLG. He has volunteered in Benin four times as of
2008. He is employed as a Nursing Supervisor at a rehab facility in
Palm Harbor, Florida.
Christopher Campana is the SFLG Vice Chairperson. Chris is a
Registered Nurse on staff at a Cancer Research and
Treatment facility in Tampa, Florida. He has been a member of the
volunteer team visiting and assessing projects in Benin four times.
Lara Kenney is the Treasurer of SFLG. She looks forward to
visiting Benin one day, and in the mean time she works on SFLG’s
many projects at home in Pittsburgh. Lara is married and is a
happy, full-time mom.
Edward Grundi traveled to Benin along
with Sherri Kearns as part of the initial mission trip. He is a
Registered Nurse in the Critical Care Unit of The Washington
Hospital in Washington, PA. Ed lives there with his wife and
daughter. He remains active with SFLG as a member of the Steering
Committee.