A large number of volunteers under the direction of María Guadalupe Nava, coordinator of Casa Marillac, receive, prepare and distribute the boxes of food that are delivered every Wednesday to more than 150 needy families. Casa Marillac also offers assistance to newcomers to the Charlotte area by providing medical referrals and furnishings for their homes. (Troy Hull | Catholic News Herald) CHARLOTTE — The years after 2001 were not easy for immigrants arriving in the Carolinas.
After the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York, the atmosphere for immigrants drastically changed in the United States. Immigrants from many places were viewed with suspicion as the country stepped up security measures.
Many Latino families in the Charlotte area began having trouble finding work – whether they had work permits or not – and fell into dire economic straits.
In 2003, recognizing a growing need to help people with emergency food assistance, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish rallied to collect food to deliver free of charge to people in need.
Gloria Sierra, the Charlotte parish’s secretary, was one of three volunteers who worked with Community Food Rescue to organize food deliveries to local food pantries during those early years.
That effort was the predecessor of what later, in 2013, would become Casa Marillac, an organization of social mission and charity developed by the Congregation of the Mission, known as the Vincentians, who staff Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.
Now, Casa Marillac does more than deliver food to local pantries and help families put food on the table.
Casa Marillac’s coordinator María Guadalupe Nava notes that they offer referrals for medical services to people who lack or have insufficient medical insurance, assist newcomers to the area with furniture and household items, and connect them to other community resources they might need.
Guadalupe, who volunteered at Casa Marillac for many years before taking charge as coordinator, explains that “it feels very nice to have empathy for those most in need.”
“We, at some point, have had needs, whether material or emotional, and we have been well cared for and feel welcome. Today we give back a little bit of what we were given when we needed it most,” she said.
Every Wednesday morning approximately 20 volunteers receive, organize and pack canned food, fruit, vegetables, meat, bread and other groceries sent by Second Harvest Food Bank.
The community also collaborates to help in other ways. Every first Sunday of each month, which they have nicknamed “Divine Providence Sunday,” parishioners give donations when they arrive for Mass.
“We know parishioners also have needs and yet they help us to help others,” Guadalupe said.
Ten years after its beginning, Casa Marillac continues to respond to the community’s changing needs – this time, helping families who have been impacted by the loss of COVID-19 emergency food aid. The rise in demand for help has been noticeable, Guadalupe said.
“We deliver the food boxes at 1 p.m. Since some weeks ago, the line of cars is formed from 9 in the morning, and at 11 we already complete the quota of between 150 and 180 boxes,” she said.
Volunteers benefit from serving at Casa Marillac as well.
Sometimes, after working all day, they will selflessly put together a box of food and take it home to a neighbor who unexpectedly shows up to ask for help.
For Guadalupe, the best payment she and the other volunteers receive is seeing the grateful faces of the people they help.
“It’s priceless,” she said.
— César Hurtado
Get involved
To contribute to Casa Marillac’s work or get assistance, go to 6218 Tuckaseegee Road in Charlotte or call 704-503-9204.