MOVIES - Oct. 5, 1987

Former welfare recipient Whoopi Goldberg spent her weekend visiting a Washington shelter for homeless and battered women and campaigning with comic colleague Bob Goldthwait on Capitol Hill for its residents. “In the United States of America I found it incredible (that people beg for money) when we’re giving it away to the contras . I think that’s disgusting,” Goldberg told the staff at the House of Ruth shelter. Goldberg, one of the driving forces behind the Comic Relief organization that helps the homeless, also helped present a check for almost $70,000 to the home. “Being poor and on welfare is no laughing matter,” said Goldberg, who was on welfare for 10 years.