Never Too Old to Help: A reflection on Serving in Disaster
By Ann Fournier of Breaux Bridge, LA.
Our church has always talked about volunteering, and I have brought my fair share of meals to sick people and mowed a lot of grass, but volunteering with Catholic Charities of Acadiana's Disaster Response a few months ago was different.
Our oldest daughter works for Catholic Charities of Acadiana and called us to help with disaster assessments after the severe storms this past May.
I had seen stories on the news about the tornadoes that had hit St. Martin parish. My husband and I are in our 70s and didn't think we could help in recovery due to our age. Our daughter reminded me that despite our age, we had eyes, ears, hands, and hearts that could help! She needed us to be the eyes and ears of Catholic Charities of Acadiana to assess the needs of this hard-hit community. And so, we offered ourselves Damage Assessment Volunteers.
I explained to her that I could only do this for one day because I had to work the next day.
My husband and I went to Catholic Charities of Acadiana's disaster warehouse for a brief training. We got our official disaster response volunteer t-shirts, badges, tarps, and moldicide to gift to homeowners who needed these materials. I filled my car to the brim with supplies and the requests for aid that had come in the day before. Off we went.
What we saw, we needed to prepare for.
The first home was mostly downed trees in the yard. One large branch had gone through the roof above one of the bedrooms. We took pictures. We handed out the tarps and mold agent. We explained the process and the goal of Catholic Charities of Acadiana and the other agencies offering assistance to homeowners.
The next area, the older part of Henderson, would change me forever!
The devastation in that area was horrible. I could easily see the path that the tornado took! The next assessment form indicated that the property was a "total loss" but that was an understatement! When we drove up to the property, the only thing left was the home's exterior walls. The family had lived there for over 40 years, and they said this home was all they had except for each other. They could only save a few items and found themselves instantly homeless. I took down all the information I needed for my report but knew I had to do more. As soon as I got in my car, I called my daughter before even leaving their home to see what could be done for this family. A neighbor had rented a hotel room for a few nights for them, but they would be out of options for housing.
My daughter set up a meeting for the next day with a case manager in Catholic Charities of Acadiana's homelessness program to help this family develop a plan. With this support on the horizon, I could see at least some of the stress released from their faces. Before we left, I asked if they knew of other people in need.
She sent us to a neighbor - an 80-year-old man on his roof trying to repair it. All he wanted was tarps. He then sent us around the block. We saw so many neighbors helping neighbors. Story after heroic story was told of a terrible night that has changed them forever. It is a miracle that no lives were lost that night. Trees were falling on houses and as they moved to seek safety in a different room, trees fell on that room, but somehow, they still got out safely. Truly, most of them shared that to have made it out alive, God must have a plan for them.
Despite my initial assurance to my daughter that I could only volunteer for one day due to work, I did not go to work for the next few days. I continued to do assessments from early in the morning until late in the evening! I felt God called me to be there for that community to help in any way I could!
I have never hugged and cried with so many "new friends" as I did over the next few days.
I'm glad my daughter reminded me that my age was no barrier to being Jesus' hands and feet to those in need!
Be like Mrs. Ann! Reach out to our Volunteer Experience Coordinator, Sarah Baquet, at sarahb@catholiccharitiesacadiana.org or (337) 235-4972 x1222