Miss USA Pageant winners serve at Lazarus House

Feb 11, 2020 

LAWRENCE — The Lazarus House Soup Kitchen in Lawrence bubbled with excitement Feb. 9 as four state winners in the Miss USA pageant volunteered to serve lunch.

The young women – Miss Massachusetts, Miss Teen Massachusetts, Miss Maine and Miss Teen Maine USA – even entertained guests with an impromptu dance during a lull.

“We are dedicated to working in our communities,” said Miss Massachusetts USA Sabrina Victor.

Victor, who says prayer gives her a sense of serenity, connected immediately with the faith-based mission of Lazarus House.

“I am from Brockton and I know about inner cities," she said. "They are doing great work here.”

Annika Sharma, miss teen Massachusetts USA and a student at Boston College, greeted visitors with a warm smile on what was a very cold day.

As each guest came through the food line, the women seemed to make a personal connection. They brought their hearts and a desire to serve, the Lazarus House staff observed.

Watching Miss Maine USA Julia Van Steenberghe work behind the counter, one could see her experience as a waitress.

Steenberghe, a Presidential Scholar at the University of Maine, saw that both a plate of food was ready and that each guest had what he or she needed.

Lazarus House is a long way from somewhat remote Deer Isle, where Miss Maine Teen USA Grace Morey grew up. Still, she saw similarities.

“I am from a small town in Maine,” Morey said. “A tight-knit community is important to me. I really feel that here. I love the work that Lazarus House does and love to talk and meet with these people.”

The four state winners will go on to compete in the national pageant later this year. Regardless of the outcome, they promised to try to return again to Lazarus House.

“We’ve made a connection here that we want to continue,” said Victor. 

https://www.eagletribune.com/news/merrimack_valley/miss-usa-pageant-winners-serve-at-lazarus-house/article_418148a3-8074-50d7-920f-65cf01f6d344.html