Volunteers Tommy Holleman, Jearayne Poole and Terry Patterson accepted the generous donation from Jimmy and Kathleen Flanagan.

Helping Hands Ministry

On Saturday, August 17, 2024, Paul Fontenot and Charlotte Schneider (left and center) of the Helping Hands Ministry of the First Methodist Church brought two large bins of school supplies to the Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center. Accepting on behalf of the Center is Carol Gaignard (right).

DISCH-DECLOUET SOCIAL SERVICE CENTER

48^TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

On February 21, 2024, the Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center celebrated the 48^th anniversary of its ministry to the poor in Iberia Parish.  Board President Anesha Burgess opened the celebration with a message thanks to all the volunteers and donors who have kept “The Center” operating during these many years. 

The Center has never had any paid staff, but as volunteer Carrie Dore said, “I have been volunteering for 43 years and our “payments” cannot be measured in dollars.  Every day we live out the gospel message to help those in need, but we receive so much more than we give.  In my 43 years here, I have met so many faith-filled clients who, despite needing a helping hand from time to time, come in with a smile on their face, a ‘Praise God’ on their lips and thankfulness in their hearts for the help we are able to give.  It makes me and all of our faithful volunteers feel very humble and grateful that we are able to help others.

The Celebration opened with a prayer from Deacon Steve Rogers, who also provided a reflection on this year’s theme, “All they asked was that we should remember the poor, the very thing that I was eager to do (Galatians 2:10).”  He emphasized the many ways that The Center has done this throughout the years with the support of the whole community.

Mrs. Ruth Conover followed the prayer and reflection with the beautiful meditative song, “If I Can Help Somebody.” Again, reflecting the mission and ministry of The Center. 

John Indest, Executive Director, announced, “The 2024 Lenten Campaign of the Center is now underway.  This campaign helps The Center continue its work through the summer months when donations tend to slow down.  The Center helps about 400 families a month with rent, utility assistance, food, clothing, adult and children’s diapers and many other services.” Mr. Indest then presented Carrie Dore with a plaque for her 43 years of exemplary service.

The ASBS are a prayer group and faith community dedicated to continuing the work of St. Katharine Drexel, “…that all people be brought to the community of the people of God.”  As part of their dedication to helping others, when the Social Service Center added the Diaper Bank to its services provided to the poor, the ASBS were its first supporters.  At every meeting for the past 9 years, members of the ASBS continue to bring diapers for the Social Service Center.   Board President Burgess presented the group with a plaque honoring them as “Community Supporters of the Year for 2024.”

President Burgess then presented Judy Dodge with a plaque for Volunteer of the Year 2024. She stated, “Judy has been a faithful volunteer at the Social Service Center for over 7 years.  She gets great joy from helping people in any way that she can. In so many ways Judy goes the extra mile for the Center and the clients of the Center.  She makes donations to the Center; buys diapers and other items the clients may need; brought numerous little toys to amuse the babies who may be at the Center; and picks up needed donations of food or clothing from friends who can’t get their donations over to the Center.  She is cheerful, kind and respectful of our clients.  She jumps to any extra thing that may need doing in order to quickly and smoothly address the needs of the clients.

Once, we had a family of six trying to get back to Virginia but were stranded in New Iberia because their car had broken down.  We were trying to get bus tickets for them, which took a couple of hours to accomplish.  Judy, realizing that they would need food and other things for the long trip, went to her own house and got snacks, water and other supplies they might need for the bus ride.  Judy truly embodies St. Paul’s saying in 2 Corinthians, ‘God loves the cheerful giver.’”

The celebration closed with Mrs. Conover leading the entire audience in the song, “ Let There Be Peace on Earth.”