Parish, St. Borromeo church partner to help more people in need
Wiping the soot off the walls of her house in Paradis, Odile Harris couldn’t believe the help that suddenly arrived with project Labor of Love in what she considers “God’s timing.”
“This help is allowing me to be able to go back and live in my own home … living independent life,” said Harris. “I’m
It’s important to her, especially at 72 years old, and she couldn’t stop praising the help she was getting from these volunteers, as well as the St. Charles Parish Department of Community Services, and volunteer fire departments from Des Allemands, Paradis and Luling that helped save her house from a dryer fire.
Harris, along with volunteers Manny Rodriguez, Debbie Canale and Ann Coniglio were hard at work cleaning. A volunteer, who is an electrician, will come soon to fix electrical wiring.
As she looks on at assistance that seems nothing less than miraculous, Harris’ expectations are much different than when she fled her burning house in late August.
“When I left, I just knew there wasn’t going to be anymore house,” she said. “I thought it would burn flat. As I left I said, ‘The Lord giveth; the Lord taketh. Blessed be the name of the Lord.’”
But on Thursday, Harris was among the people expressing gratitude for those who brought her the help.
Community Services Director Joan Diaz said the volunteers came as a result of a new partnership called Labor of Love between the department and St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.
“This one is a labor of love with multiple sites,” Diaz said.
The two have partnered to aid people in health and safety projects such as installing sheetrock, painting or repairing flooring who can’t afford it, she said. They are typically low-income residents such as seniors or the disabled.
Diaz said her department provides funding for these projects, but there will be more money for them with the Labor of Love volunteers helping with the work.
“Different circumstances with different clients,” she said. “These are maintenance related issues primarily.”
Labor of Love volunteers come in teams with a leader skilled in the type of work needed for the project.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to work in partnership with our local community to address the needs,” Diaz said. “This is a great model of public-private partnership.”
On Nov. 9 – 11, the partnership had projects underway throughout the parish, including Paradis, Luling, Ama, St.Rose, Boutte, Destrehan and Killona.
“Most importantly is people in our own community caring for others and addressing the needs in the community,” Diaz said. “Neighbors are helping neighbors. Also, these are Destrehan volunteers doing this parishwide.”
St. Charles Borromeo’s Janeen Rodrigue, the church’s local manager for the National Catholic Heart Work Camp for 18 years, said the partnership evolved from a longtime relationship with Courtney Saucier, the department’s housing rehabilitation specialist.
Its first year in St. Charles Parish, Labor of Love will be done twice a year (fall and spring).
For Harris, God’s timing is at work.
“I was told today that my house is 80 percent salvageable,” she said of a residence that has housed at least four generations of her family. “I just think it’s awesome that the volunteers would volunteer their time and free labor – and they do it with love. They show love.”
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