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Monday, September 05, 2005
St. Monica Parishioner Heads Up Effort to Supply Goods to Victims of Hurrican KatrinaBy Natalie DeHart How quickly Hurricane Katrina ravaged the south. And how quickly St. Monica parishioner Roger Coin put a plan into action to help the victims. Through a leadership program called Beyond Your Best (BYB), Roger Coin was in the progress of completing his final project of putting a vision plan into action. His plan was to organize a clothes-drive to help the poor. "Part of what I've learned about being a leader," says Roger, "is to listen for wants and needs. I kept hearing the want and need for water and clothing to help the victims of the hurricane. At two o'clock Friday afternoon (September 2) I realized the need to change my vision (from the clothes-drive for the poor) to meet this need for clothes and water for the hurricane victims." And that quickly, his vision was put into action. He met with Fr. Whittington and just over 24 hours later Roger presented his plan to the parish at the 5:30 Saturday Mass. By the 6 pm Sunday Mass the Narthex was filled with bottled water, bags of clothing and other items. The same Holy Spirit that inspired Roger to action has, through him, called others to action as well. St. Monica parishioner John Langham donated his warehouse and trucks for use in storing and hauling the items. Many people, including Roger's BYB coach, Donna Fontanin, came to St. Monica early Labor Day morning to help load the materials. Two parishioners came forward with contacts for potential drop zones. "The next thing I'll be doing this week is pinpointing a drop-off," says Roger. At this point there are one of four ways he'll pursue a location: through the Red Cross; through the Indiana Voluntary Association in Disasters (INVOAD); through agencies helping the 4000 refugees scheduled to stay at the Indiana Fairgrounds; or through the son of a parishioner who teaches at a Catholic parish school in New Orleans. Even if the materials are delivered to this parish, efforts would have to be coordinated through the Red Cross. Roger explains, "It's too dangerous to just drive a truck full of goods down there. There's already been one truck driver delivering goods down there that was killed." Roger is a recent convert to the Catholic faith through St. Monica's RCIA program. While in RCIA he remembers being told, "No one should ever ask if you're Catholic. They should know by your actions and your service." He is certainly living out that advice. Since becoming Catholic Roger participated in Christ Renews His Parish team 48 and holds the position of Recorder for the Knights of Columbus. He and his wife, Ann, have two boys attending St. Monica School; Andrew is in 8th grade and Michael is in 4th grade. Previously a medic at Wishard Hospital, Roger is now a realtor with Century 21. It is through a co-worker at the realty agency that Roger found out about the BYB program. "One of the guys I work with said he saw more leadership potential in me than I saw in myself," says Roger. The co-worker recommended Roger take part in the Beyond Your Best program, which teaches leadership skills. With the flexible schedule his career allows, he completed the BYB program in four months. The timing of his involvement in the program, his need to complete a vision plan, and his growth in leadership could not be more timely for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. "At the 10:45 Mass there was a family from New Orleans who came here for refuge," Roger recalls. "They came up to me after Mass and even called me later that evening, crying with tears of thanks." That family will not be the only one that benefits from Roger's vision, leadership in action and the generous response of St. Monica parish. To find out how you can help, call Roger Coin at 690-2646. He will be collecting items from the Narthex through Friday, and is in need of volunteers to sort the clothing. This article posted by Natalie at 3:13 PM. << St. Monica Messages Home |
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