Disaster Recovery Group active in diocese

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Disaster Recovery Group of CCH-T has assisted over 100 families in diocese

Story by Janet Marcel ~ Photos courtesy of Lee Shaffer

“The outpouring of support from volunteers in and out of the community for victims of Hurricane Ida in our diocese has been a beautiful aspect of our apostolate,” says Lee Shaffer, associate director of Parish Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux (CCH-T).

“We have witnessed caring volunteers who donate their time and resources, and actually help people who are often hopeless and having a difficult time recovering from a disaster. The love and kindness that is given and received by both the volunteer and the person in need is a very rewarding interaction to be part of as a Christian. Young people listening and praying with elderly residents who are in need is something that I feel blessed to be a part of,” Shaffer says.

The Disaster Recovery Group of CCH-T has been helping people in many different communities throughout the diocese and have assisted over 100 families thus far, explains Shaffer. They have typically focused their efforts on those in most need.

“Our emphasis is often on the elderly, the single mothers, the disabled and those who just can’t help themselves as much as they wish they could. Initially, we helped with mucking and gutting to get rid of the wood and sheetrock that had mold and mildew. Now we are progressing to rebuilding these homes with sheetrock and insulation installation, replacing and repairing roofs, replacing ramps, and making appliance purchases.”

Shaffer says they are not doing this alone, however. They have had the support from the many non-profits, including AmeriCorps, Rebuilding Together – New Orleans & Bayou, St. Vincent De Paul, Knights of St. Peter Claver, Knights of Columbus, ToolBank, CORE, Christian Public Service, St. Bernard Project, and volunteers from around the country.

Recently a group of volunteers from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge provided the diocese with a day of service before they had to be at a fundraising fishing rodeo for the school. They came in at 8 a.m. and worked until about 3 p.m.

“Catholic Charities bought the sheetrock and lumber, and volunteers from Catholic High and Christian Public Services helped me and two other employees from CCH-T (David Lopez and Daniel Hebert) re-build a wall in the home of an 89-year-old resident in Golden Meadow. We then started to install sheetrock in five other rooms. In all, we completed three rooms in his home that day,” explains Shaffer.

As of press time, the Disaster Recovery Group of CCH-T had several groups lined up to work on future projects, including a group of spring breakers from Baltimore, MD, and a group of 125 volunteers from around the country who are with the Catholic Conference and Service Camp organization, “Alive in You.” On Aug. 11, a team of AmeriCorp volunteers will be arriving to work with CCH-T for 10 months.

Shaffer says they are always willing to take individual and group volunteers to help with this disaster recovery process. “Our tag line is that ‘We plan to leave no one behind,’ and this means we are going to continue to help for the long-term.”

For more information about volunteering, contact Shaffer or Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux at (985)876-0490. BC

Feature

Special

Unplanned pregnancies happen

By AMANDA GARCIA

Unplanned pregnancies happen. In some cases, unplanned pregnancies cause a ripple in the lives of expectant women who think and react out of fear – horrifying, thought-crippling fear. There’s no way to practice a rational response that aligns with one’s core values and thinking within those situations. Instead, one’s amygdala, which is responsible for personal emotion and behavior responses, takes over, and an expectant woman finds herself in a fight or flight situation and her choices reflect what will seemingly rid her of the fear (Healthline: Amygdala Hijack). Unplanned pregnancies are such a regular part of life in our society that abortion clinics flourish and pregnancy resource centers exist.

It is easy to condemn and criticize a woman for even contemplating abortion. How can someone justify taking a life of an innocent unborn baby? But look at the country we live in today. Everyone walking into an abortion clinic today has grown up with legal abortion available to them. Abortion became the law of the land in 1973 through the Supreme Court case of Roe vs. Wade, 49 years ago. Women choosing abortion are often panicked and grasping for what has been deemed socially acceptable as a means to allay their fear.

We have been living in a Pro-Roe culture for nearly 50 years. Soon, that could change! There are many reasons to be terrified by any pregnancy, much less an unplanned pregnancy. That crippling fear isn’t going away if Roe goes away. Instead, the option that these women have grown up knowing was a choice may no longer be available to them. And the desperate acts that women will turn to without the availability of an abortion clinic is real. The Pro-Roe culture may change, but abortion isn’t going anywhere.

We need to offer hope to women who fear the end of a pro-abortion culture. More than good feelings and inspiring messages, these fearful women need to find hope in the way we act. Our prayer is powerful, but it must inspire us to act! If you feel called to do something to show your support for life, here are a few suggestions:

Pray. There is nothing more powerful than prayer. • Pray for the safety of all pregnancy help organizations as pro-abortion activists are targeting them. • Pray for the women today who find themselves in an unexpected pregnancy, that they find the care and support they deserve at a local pregnancy center (https://friendsofcrossroadsprc. org/support/pray/).

Volunteer. There is always a need for a skill you may have. • Contact Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center or a local pregnancy organization in your area to ask them about their needs. • Participate in a local center’s event. Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center hosts various events each year such as the Celebrate Life Gala, Respect Life Event, and Baby Bottle Fundraisers. Join in and show your support! (https:// friendsofcrossroadsprc.org/support/ volunteers/)

Give. Your financial support helps save lives! • Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center equips and empowers women and men with life affirming choices. Our Life Skills Parenting Program offers answers to pregnancy and parenting related questions and we offer practical assistance throughout the entire pregnancy and beyond. • You can become a “Partner in Life” by making a one-time donation or becoming a monthly supporter. Every donation is life changing for the women we serve (https:// friendsofcrossroadsprc.org/donate/).

Whether or not Roe vs. Wade is overturned, women across the U.S. will continue to seek out abortions. State laws are changing frequently and women facing unexpected pregnancies will be more confused than ever. It is critical to meet women in this moment with compassion, professional care, and the truth—especially as Big Abortion targets vulnerable women with the abortion pill. The need for pregnancy help will not go away because of a Supreme Court decision. Women will still need the compassionate care and support that pregnancy centers provide day in and day out. For up-todate information about the SCOTUS decision and more visit: https://www. heartbeatinternational.org/dobbs-info. (Amanda Garcia is the executive assistant for Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center in Thibodaux.) BC