Heading To New York To Help Out Hurricane Sandy Victims

Benedictine Sister Teresa Gunter doesn’t think in terms of days or weeks in her work as a youth minister. She looks 25 years in the future.

She’s currently organizing a six-day trip to New York so that about 50 people from Good Shepherd and St. Anthony parishes in Evansville can help the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

They plan to leave by bus on the evening of May 23 and drive through the night to Long Island. Once there, they will stay at St. Dominic Parish, thanks to the generosity of pastor Father Kevin Smith.

“I do a lot with the scouts,” explained Sister Teresa, youth minister at St. Anthony Parish, “and I make the St. George Trek every other year.”

That’s where she met Father Smith. As she watched the devastation of Hurricane Sandy back in October of 2012, a plan began to grow about taking the young adults there to help out.

“Our youth already do so much to help out our local community such as picking up trash in the parks, cleaning area homes, painting and working with the homeless.”

She thought it was “time to introduce them to opportunities to work with our neighbors that are a little farther away.” She wanted to take them “to a place where they can see how blessed their lives are and how working hard for four or five days can change a family’s life as well as their own life for a lifetime.”

The cost for such a trip? $14,000.

“This is not the richest parish,” Sister Teresa said, “but they have helped us so much.” She compared the parishioners’ generosity to the “widow’s mite.” Some handed her $2 or $3 and others gave her $100.

The youth group painted houses, whitewashed fences, cleaned houses and did yard work, all for donations.

“God has been amazing, and we’ve raised the $14,000,” she said.

Once the decision was made to make the trip, Sister Teresa started contacting agencies in the devastated area. “Nobody wanted us,” she lamented. Then she called Father Kevin. “He said, ‘Come on out,’” suggesting they help his parishioners who haven’t qualified for other assistance.

The southern Indiana volunteers will work on homes during the day, and stay at his parish in the evenings.

“We will be removing sand, removing and replacing drywall, painting, siding and doing yard work,” she said.

“We will also be pulling the youth in the area together to participate in games and activities that I hope will build community and help everyone realize that we aren’t so different.”

Thirty-three young adults and 21 adults including eight couples are expected to make the trip to New York, Sister Teresa explained. “When I asked for volunteers, I realized there are adults who want to do mission work also. Even the bus driver offered to help during the day.”

They will be working on three to four houses. “Do you know how much you can get done in four days with 50 people?” she asked, throwing her arms up in delight.

Good Shepherd Parish in Evansville is also sending volunteers, under the direction of youth minister Jonna O’Bryan. “Her husband, John, has donated Porter paint for us to take,” Sister Teresa said, “and rollers and shirts and water bottles.”

During the trip each participant will have a prayer partner, and they will each be given a journal. Sister Teresa believes “it’s going to be amazing!”

“I imagine them in five years, and hope they are still connected to the Church. In 15 years, I hope they are still serving each other. In 20 years, when they have their own families, I hope they are helping out.

“And I hope in 25 years, they are going to Africa because they know they can and that the need is so great!”