LSU Alumnus Turns to Parishes at Home to Help Hurricane Helene Victims

LSU alumnus Elizabeth Dazzio searched for answers on how extend hope and God’s healing touch to residents in her hometown of Ashville, North Carolina who lost everything in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. She knew she could turn to her native home of Southeast Louisiana to find them.

Dazzio was in Ashville when Hurricane Helene destroyed the area on Sept. 30.

“I had friends who were directly impacted, and my surrounding community was directly impacted by the storm,” she said. “Seeing the devastation and loss weighed heavily on my heart. When I was coming home (for a visit) to Louisiana, the Lord put in my heart a desire to help. God’s abundant generosity and the people of Louisiana have always been really good at that. And I wanted to carry that love and those donations back with me to the people in North Carolina when I got back home.”

She organized a collection for warm clothing, blankets, and sleeping bags: “WNC Warmth Project: Hurricane Helene Mountain Relief.”

Dazzio, who attended Christ the King Church and Catholic Center when she attended college, contacted Father Andrew Merrick, former CTK pastor and pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Prairieville and current CTK pastor, Father Mathew Dunn for assistance with the collection drive. Parishioners and the surrounding community were invited to donate the items.

People responded to Dazzio's call for help beyond her expectations. She was “filled up to capacity” with items she could bring home with her.

“I was thinking if I take up one coat, that’s one more person who’s warm this winter after losing everything in North Carolina,” stated Dazzio. “And we definitely received more than just one coat.

“I've been so humbled by the openness and the generosity of all the parishioners, students, priests, and the business owners,” she added. “It was an immediate ‘Yes.’ People came with their arms wide open.”

Father Merrick, who has known Dazzio’s family from his time as pastor at CTK, said the people of South Louisiana quickly respond when needs arise.

“St. John's is a very, very generous community helping those in need from our outreach center to all the different ministries that we have focusing for people in need. Anytime we've had a collection drive, whether that's been a hurricane or for our Thanksgiving or Christmas efforts or assisting others, it is a very, very generous community here at St. John's. They were very happy to help. There was overwhelming support for the clothing drive here.”

When it comes to providing aid of those impacted by Hurricane Helene, people from South Louisiana have empathy because they have experiences with such natural disasters, according to Father Merrick.

“People here I think understand when natural disasters hit that we need a whole community to come together and help each other, and folks in South Louisiana have been recipients of the assistance of others and it’s part of our life, in our culture, and in our faith, to help those in need. And it's a beautiful thing to be able to do,” said Father Merrick.