
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 24, 1990                   TAG: 9006240057
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORWALK, CONN.                                LENGTH: Medium

JILTED BRIDE THROWS FULL-SCALE RECEPTION FOR 150 HOMELESS

Saturday was supposed to be Kathleen Gooley's wedding day. But when the bridegroom backed out and she got stuck with the reception bill, the jilted bride decided to give her party to the homeless.

The 41-year-old Gooley of Norwalk found herself thrust into the national spotlight when, after her fiance got cold feet two months ago, she and an intended bridesmaid decided to reorganize the event for 150 homeless people from southwestern Connecticut.

Busloads of homeless men, women and children from Norwalk and nearby Stamford and Bridgeport arrived at the pink-and-white decorated Canongate catering hall just after noon. Some were clad in jeans and T-shirts, others shirts and ties or dresses. Many hadn't had a hot meal in weeks.

"This is Christmas in the summer for these people," said Marvin Minkler, who works with the homeless in the streets and escorted a group to the party. "This is a decent meal for them and they don't get it on a daily basis."

Donated flower arrangements and balloons adorned each table, and the guests sat down to an opening course of fruit cup and a tossed salad. Waiters and waitresses served hors d'oeuvres. The main course was stuffed chicken breast and string beans almondine, with cake, ice cream and coffee for dessert.

Eleven-year-old Tara Gooley, the youngest of Gooley's three children, left a photocopied note on each plate that read, "Hope you have a great day," with pictures of teddy bears.

The intended bridesmaid, Rinda Farnham, thought of giving the party for the homeless after the caterer refused to refund $4,000 of the $5,800 Gooley had paid, Gooley said.

She said she agreed because she and one of her children, then a baby, spent a night in a shelter 23 years ago.

Gooley's balance bought 118 dinners. Everything else was donated, including the buses that transported the guests. Members of the public who heard through the media walked into the reception and offered cakes, brownies and checks.

Gooley and Farnham appeared on Joan Rivers' TV talk show on Tuesday. Rivers gave $500, which paid for 16 dinners. Canongate owner Ginger Sollazzo-Raymond contributed another 16 dinners, for a total of 150.

Ralph Blechner, an electrical engineer, walked into the reception and handed Gooley a $500 check.

"I saw it in the paper and I thought, now this is a great lady," he said.

by CNB