FOR NOW I ASK NO MORE THAN THE JUSTICE OF EATING...

 

ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT: HOUMA FOOD BANK

The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Good Samaritan Food Bank in Houma continuously serves our local community by providing food, household items and other support to families in crisis.

The hunger problem is less severe locally than it is statewide or nationally, statistics suggest. But a laden table is a still a dream for many people. About 11.8 percent of Terrebonne residents and 10.5 percent of Lafourche residents struggled to put food on the table in 2010, according to a study by Feeding America, a national nonprofit network of food banks. 

To find out how you can help the Food Bank collect items for our community’s hungry, visit their website at www.htdiocese.org/CatholicCharitiesHome/GoodSamaritanFoodBanks or contact them at (985) 851-5523.

TOGETHER WE CAN HEAL THE VIOLENCE...

ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT: THE HAVEN

The Haven provides shelter, counseling and other support to survivors of domestic and sexual violence.  Our mission is to empower survivors of family violence to live safe, independent, and violence free lives. 

The Haven believe in empowering women and children to break the cycle of domestic violence through supportive intervention, because they possess the ability to make decisions that foster healthy, violence free relationships.

From January through October 2012, The Haven has answered 879 crisis calls, provided shelter to 195 women and children, held 237 group meetings for women, coordinated more than 506 violence prevention sessions for children and provided 1080 hours of individual counseling.

In addition to providing domestic violence and sexual assault crisis hotlines, The Haven offers several services for endangered women including legal advocacy, parenting classes, group sessions, counseling, and shelter.

To find out how you can help The Haven in their goal of protecting women and children who are most in need, visit their website at www.havenhelps.org or contact them at (985) 872-0757.

THE CLOSEST THING TO BEING CARED FOR IS TO CARE FOR SOMEONE ELSE...

 

ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT: MARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER

In 2008, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center formed a partnership with Terrebonne General Medical Center and Cancer Care Specialists. Each party had one goal in mind: to offer residents of the Bayou Region a comprehensive cancer center, close to home.

Since then, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center at TGMC has grown and evolved to meet the needs of the community, but its mission has remained the same: to improve survivorship and lessen the burden of cancer. As a comprehensive cancer facility, Mary Bird provides the full continuum of cancer care – from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, treatment, recovery and survivorship. The Center’s services include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.

The Cancer Center at TGMC offers free cancer screenings, community education and support opportunities for cancer patients throughout the year. Residents of the Bayou Region can also get free cancer screenings though the Early Bird, a mobile medical clinic that helps brings early detection to the uninsured at times and locations that are convenient.

To find out how you can help Habitat in their goal of providing housing to those most in need, visit their website at www.marybird.org/tgmc or contact them at (985) 876-9045.

HOME IS THE NICEST WORD THERE IS...

ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT: START CORPORATION

Start Corporation strongly believes in recovery, quality of life, respect, and personal choice for our clients and for everyone.  Start Corporation has successfully established numerous programs to provide supportive housing, case management, social skills training, residential services, a clubhouse, and a Peer to Peer program for persons with low incomes and/or behavioral, physical, or developmental challenges and disabilities.

Mission: The mission of Start Corporation is to promote opportunities, which enhance the self-sufficiency of people who are impaired in their abilities to live and function independently.

Vision: To create a seamless system of care for people with brain disease and other disabilities in a manner that creates community awareness and support.

Start Corps will be collecting items on behalf of The Opportunity Center, a clubhouse for persons working on recovery from severe and persistent mental illness. The center is operated on the philosophy that recovery is an individualized, self-directed journey that involves support and interaction with peers and focuses on personal strengths. The program provides opportunities for psycho-education, social and recreational activities, development and enhancement of coping skills and independent living skills, job opportunities and access to professional staff as needed.

To find out how you can help Start Corp in their goal of providing housing to those in need, visit their website at  www.startcorp.org or contact them at (985) 879-3966.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME...

 

ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT: BAYOU-AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

The overwhelming need for housing in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes has provided the Bayou-Area Habitat for Humanity volunteers an amazing opportunity to change lives in our neighborhoods. Cost burden and overcrowding are the most serious problems faced by many residents – Habitat addresses these issues by being one of the only affordable home ownership programs that services families earning less than 50% of income.

Working with volunteers, families, corporations, congregations and donors Habitat is able to address important housing issues throughout Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, making homeownership possible for low-income, working families. However, Habitat does not give away their houses - they require Habitat families to invest "sweat equity" hours to help build their home and they must each qualify for a 0% interest loan.

Mission Statement: Under the guidance of God, Bayou Area Habitat's mission is to bring together the resources within the community- the businesses, volunteers, churches and the government-to provide decent, affordable housing in partnership with families in need in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes.

Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner/ partner families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans. The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments are used to build more Habitat houses.

Since 1996, Bayou Area Habitat has built over 100 simple, decent and affordable homes for families in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes.

To find out how you can help Habitat in their goal of providing housing to those most in need, visit their website at  www.bayouhabitat.org or contact them at (985) 447-6999.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS...

 

ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT: MACDONELL CHILDREN’S SERVICES

MacDonell Children's Services is a residential home for children whose circumstances leave them in need of a safe, loving and nurturing environment. The agency welcomes boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 17 who are placed in the state's custody due to neglect, abuse and/or abandonment. 

While it is hard for most people to imagine the circumstances where a child would be removed from their natural home, there are times when it is better for the child’s safety and well-being to have the child reside with MacDonell, either until they reach a milestone such as graduation from high school or reach legal adulthood at the age of eighteen.   While no two circumstances are identical, suffice it to say that most children arrive at MacDonell Children’s Home during times when their security, safety and well-being is most at risk.

Above all else, children need a strong foundation upon which they can build their lives as adults. MacDonell ensures that children in their care can count on being physically secure, on being fed in mind, body and spirit, and on being empowered with the hope and optimism needed by everyone to move forward into successful adulthood.

 For more information on this incredible local organization, visit their website at  http://www.macdonellchildren.org or contact them at (985) 868-8362.

HEAD START PROGRAM

ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT: HEAD START PROGRAM

The Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government's Head Start Program provides comprehensive services for low-income children and families. These services include high quality early childhood education, nutrition, health, mental health, and social services along with a strong parent involvement component.

Darrel Waire, Terrebonne Director of Housing and Human Services, says “Head Start does more than educate and feed its 3- to 5-year-old students. Head Start workers visit the homes of families to discuss children’s needs and help direct parents to other public services.”^a

For more information on this organization, visit their website at http://www.tpcg.org/view.php?f=Housing_Human_Services or contact them at (985) 580-7273

 

a.     (Ryan, Chance. "Gibson to Lose Head Start Program." Houma Courier 08 June 2013: n. pag. Web. 10 June 2013).