Personal touch comes with emergency grant

The stench of a barn fire, smoke still rising from a pile of hay, neighbors and friends working to restore order.

This is what I saw as I arrived at the farm. Stunned, unable to look to the future with any hope, the owner, his wife and children were heartbroken, feeling as if the world had just caved in. They had insurance, yes, but it is never enough. The farm economy being what it is, a big decision about whether to continue in farming would have to be made soon.

The family's only sense of hope came from those who came to help and to show that they cared. Some brought food to feed the workers. Others helped wherever they could. At that point, I felt so grateful for the Rural Life Disaster Grant Program. Because of it, I was able to offer the family the assurance that the Church was concerned about their welfare and to offer them some financial assistance to meet their immediate needs.

This experience happened this winter. It led to writing this article.

The Rural Life Disaster Grant Program started in 1992 as a means of showing the Church's concern for the plight of our rural people. It was a year of floods. Many suffered from excessive rainfall; many could not get into the fields to plant crops. Other crops were destroyed. Feed supplies were exhausted. Hay was trucked in from other areas, at great cost.

While it made headlines, not much help was available. Quick assistance government programs were not there and farmers were left pretty much by themselves to struggle through a very difficult time. Some became depressed to the point of suicide, family problems increased. Something needed to be done to lift spirits.

The diocesan Rural Life Committee wanted to help. Soon after, the Disaster Grant Program came into being. Its main purpose was to show that the Church cared about the plight of rural people, through personal contact, referrals and emergency funds.

The program began with a substantial contribution and rules were set up to ensure that the funds went to those in the greatest need. The rules are simple:

• Be actively farming,

• Live within the Diocese,

• Have a serious need.

It makes no difference if they are Catholic, Protestant, or no religion at all. The maximum grant is $500. It is an outright gift that does not have to be repaid. The grant program is managed through Catholic Social Services.

The program has been a great success, thanks especially to pastors of rural parishes who let us know of special needs in their area. (Many of those in dire need would never ask for help.)

It didn't take long to realize there are great needs, even in good years. Fires, storms, sickness and poverty of all kinds need to be addressed if the "showing that we care" spirit is to continue. Just last spring, we had lots of hail damage in Calumet and Manitowoc Counties.

Once the grant program started, it became evident to me that the farm visit - going out and personally expressing concern to each family - lifted spirits. Cards and letters of gratitude followed. These letters often thank us for just "coming out to see us."

On many of these visits, I found conditions so bad that I took food from our St. Vincent de Paul food pantry along. A shortage of food is something we seldom think about in dealing with farm families.

By visiting each farm and talking with those who ask for help, we are also able to separate the needy from the greedy and give help only where it is really needed. When I visit a farm, I go with the idea of helping. A few times, I have had to walk away.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society has been a big help. After the first few years of the grant program, the Green Bay District Council offered to help fund the program. It is now our main source of funds. We are grateful for their generosity. We have also received donations from individuals, not only Catholics, but others as well. We thank them all.

To date, we have given 275 grants. Last year, we gave $14,500. Each one has a story. There are fires, injuries with farm machinery, sickness in families with no health insurance. The list goes on and on.

I'm not writing to boast about the program, but to let everyone know it is here so people will let me know about families in need. The greatest pain I feel is knowing that someone out there needs help, but I do not find out about it and no help is given.

I ask rural pastors and rural people everywhere to keep the Rural Life Disaster Grant Fund in mind when you hear of someone in need. Call me at (920)833-2279, or write me at W2121 Culbertson Rd, Seymour, 54165-8442. You can also contact Catholic Social Services tollfree at 1-877-500-3580.

(Dcn. DeBruin serves at St. John Parish, Seymour, and was Rural Life Consultant for the Diocese for 12 years.)