Have you ever encountered a neighbor suffering so greatly, it seemed any assistance you could offer would be insufficient?
As Vincentians, we inevitably encounter poverty and suffering so deep that our material assistance feels like a Band Aid on a bullet wound. It is easy to become discouraged when our resources don’t seem to measure up to the needs we witness, but this story of a husband and wife in Western Kentucky reminds us that the corporal needs we address through our ministries are overshadowed by the powerful friendship we offer our neighbors by walking with them.
P and T lost their home and everything in it to a tornado in May of 2024. Husband T suffers with stage-four cancer, and the couple’s biggest struggle since the storm has been driving T great distances to his many medical appointments in different cities. P lost her job after taking too many days off work to get T to his appointments, leaving a $400 monthly assistance check as their only income.
Living out of a trailer with no belongings and scant resources, P and T came to their local St. Vincent de Paul conference in need of food, clothing, and gas money to get to and from T’s doctor visits. These material needs were met by gift cards, but far more important were the emotional needs met by personal connection.
One Vincentian shared the opportunity she had to directly support this family through the mental load of T’s diagnosis and stress of losing their home.
“I could tell P was very distraught, so I went to visit her and talk to her…She had a lot of anxiety over what happened.” This Vincentian expressed how powerful a listening ear and encouraging word were for this family. “Although their journey will be a long one, the help from SVdP has taken a lot of the burden of the immediate needs from them.”
She and P are pictured together.
“We formed an immediate bond,” said our Vincentian. “I am so glad that we could help this family.”
Brothers and sisters, never underestimate the power your time and care can lift up and encourage even the most devastated neighbor. Please pray for our Kentucky Vincentians and the people they serve this week.
Yours in Christ,
Clare Vanderburgh, The Disaster Services Team