WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – With a population just under 2,500 people, 28% percent are in the poverty level.
Thirteen percent are unemployed and 15% are uninsured.
Some people of West Terre Haute often rely on generosity from neighbors. That’s where the Sisters of Providence come in.
A pharmacy and clinic for the area are in the early stages of fundraising thanks to the sisters and West Terre Haute donors.
That’s on top of the countless projects the sisters have established for the community over the years.
It’s probably no surprise that the sisters credit their success to God. They say whenever they are in need, God provides through generous donors.
Something you can learned after talking with these inspirational women, is if you take away anything from West Terre Haute, it should be a few examples:
Help your neighbor, take pride in your community and don’t stop until the job is done.
If a man just loses his job, they find it very hard to come the first time, that they can’t do better for their family … When they come and see happy faces serving them i think it makes it easier for them.”
Sister Joseph Fillenwarth
It happened to be the land where these sisters were placed to serve. The Sisters of Providence are located in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in West Terre Haute. Sister Dorothy Rasche says she first realized there was a need working alongside laywomen.
“They couldn’t afford any other clothes, their shoes were falling off their feet,” Sister Rasche said.
Sister Joseph Fillenwarth with the Sisters of Providence is the director of the Providence Food Pantry. Each Thursday she instructs her 40 volunteers to put a smile on the faces of those they serve.
This year they celebrate their 25th anniversary.
The first year we served over 1,000 families. This year, our highest was over 4,000 families.”
Sister Joseph Fillenwarth
Their space and abundance to provide has also grown.
It’s all donations and volunteers. We’re very glad to say it’s the providence of God who provides for us. We have nine local churches, we’re all working together.”
The pantry started in a local church basement in 1994. Each week people had to walk up and down the stairs to get their food. Around 300 people were served in a month’s time.
The pantry moved in 2014 and the women with the Helping Hands bought the building the pantry is now.
It’s handicap accessible.
“They come in in wheelchairs, some on crutches the whole thing.”
Shopping carts are provided, counters are stocked not just with food, but with options.
The local IGA, Aldi and Meijer all donate food to the pantry and the women of the Helping Hands buy meat for the pantry each week.
With the help of donations the sisters were able to purchase a walk-in refrigerator and freezer for $25 thousand to keep the produce fresh.
Just down National Avenue, you’ll find the helping hands who started their clothing and home shop strictly to fund the providence food pantry.
“That’s our baby,” Bonnie Monaghan, treasurer of Helping Hands said.
The Helping Hands started 16 years ago. It was dubbed the quarter store which isn’t totally accurate, but everything you find inside is extremely affordable.
Over the past 15 years the revenue generated from pants that cost 50 cents was enough to put one million dollars back into West Terre Haute community.
“Somebody could come in here and get some nice outfits maybe to start working at a new job,” Monaghan said.
Business for the women has been great. Better than that according to the Monaghan.
It’s a miracle.”
Bonnie Monaghan
These women have the West Terre Haute community’s back, but they say it’s the support they receive that enables those helping hands to extend a little further.
god is just very providing, so when we need something, it just seems like god provides it.”
Sister Joseph Fillenwarth
The mission work that sprouted in West Terre Haute over 20 years ago has grown strong roots.
We’ve got a web exclusive where you can learn about Sister Dorothy Rasche and her impact on the community starting with a housing program that rehabbed 38 homes.
