Page 23 - Spring 2019 Extension Magazine

Extension | Spring 2019 23

Extending respect Sister Dawson
serves a poor
with each food community in
and clothing item Tuscaloosa still
recovering from a
she provides major tornado.

ometimes a mother
comes here with her
baby and she
is on her last SISTER PRINCESS MARY DAWSON
‘Sdiaper,” said
son. “It is such a blessing TACKLING POVERTY ONE LOAF
Sister Princess Mary Daw-
to give her diapers.”
Others need toilet OF BREAD AT A TIME
paper, toothpaste, soap,
deodorant or a loaf of
bread — all the basics that are so so clients are treated with respect.
easily taken for granted. Sister Dawson loves to help people
Sister Dawson manages the walk through the aisles of beautiful
food and supplies pantry of Cath- clothes and shoes and help them
olic Social Services (CSS) of West pick out a new outfit.
Alabama, based in Tuscaloosa, The number of people needing
in the Diocese of Birmingham. help keeps rising. In 2016, CSS
Belonging to the Mission Helpers served about 7,000. That number
of the Sacred Heart, her order sent jumped to more than 10,000 in 2017
her there after a major tornado and continues to grow.
ripped through the area in 2011, Sister Dawson is happy to greet
killing 64 people, destroying homes In addition to offering her physical presence and each one of them with a smile. “We
and wreaking havoc on its fragile continuous smile, Sister Dawson prays daily are all poor in different ways. These
economy. The region has still not for all the people she serves. people are poor in money,” she said.
recovered. reaching higher, such as Perry with a “But some people have lots of money
Alabama is currently the sixth 40 percent rate. This is the area that and they are still poor.”
poorest state in the country. Several CSS serves. Catholic Extension supports
counties in West Alabama are The food pantry hosts about Sister Dawson’s health insurance
among its poorest, with nearly a 200 people weekly. Regular sup- to help maintain her ministry of
quarter of residents falling below plies from stores, such as Panera presence where it is most needed.
the poverty line and some counties Bread, and other donations keep “I am serving God where it really
its shelves stocked. Additionally, counts,” she said. “These are the
CSS operates a clothing ware- poorest of the poor. I am a vessel
house, which is set up like a store, for God’s love.”