Free Clothing Program Parakeets

Dechen and Dawa are the Free Clothing Program’s resident parakeets. Their names are Tibetan. Dechen means great bliss. Dawa means moon.

They help remind our volunteer groups of our Franciscan roots – that, plus a small statue in their cage. I always tell them that Francis began by loving and serving the poor. Then he got so holy that animals started landing on him. I’m the exact opposite. I need to start with something cute and cuddly to feel warm and compassionate. Then I can work my way up to people.