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A decrease in donations during pandemic lockdown has forced nuns in Western France to seek other ways to provide care for the 77 residents of their home for the aged
The House of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Nantes, which welcomes 77 elderly residents, is appealing for donations.
(Photo by SEWCREAM - STOCK.ADOBE.COM)
By Florence Pagneux | France
A cart stands at the entrance way of "Ma Maison", a home for the aged that the Little Sisters of the Poor operate in Nantes, a French city some 30 kilometers from the Atlantic coast.
Morning is not yet over, but the cart is already piled with cookies, herbal teas, sugar, hygiene products and other dry goods.
They are donations that people of the area have dropped off in a discreet way that allows them to follow anti-coronavirus norms and avoid having any physical contact with the home's staff or residents.
The sister decided to make a special appeal for such donations after France recently went into another period of strict lockdown.
They can no longer appeal to people's generosity outside churches or supermarkets, so they have reverted to the same method they used during the first lockdown in March.
"We had reached the end of our reserves and we were told that we had to appeal again to the generosity of the people of Nantes," says Mother Superior Mary Joseph.
Originally from Kenya, she and seven other sisters live and work at the home. The nuns are all from different countries, including France, Ireland, South Korea and India.
This particular home for the aged has 77 residents and 36 outside employees. It has limited resources and could not function without donations and bequests received by the religious congregation.
Although the government and the residents share in the financing of the facility, the Little Sisters must raise €400 to 500,000 in donations each year to pay for basic need like food, heating, building maintenance and so forth.
"It is thanks to our benefactors that we are able to hold on and we pray for them every day," says Mother Mary Joseph.
"With nearly 90 people at the table twice a day, our food supplies run out very quickly," she points out.
"We have already collected several carts," the Mother Superior adds.
"We are very touched that people come to us, whether they are the elderly or families with children. It reminds me of Jesus' words in the Gospel of Matthew: 'I was hungry and you gave me food...'," the Kenyan sister says with gratitude.
"Having collections is truly a part of our vocation and we miss it very much," says Sister Catherine Emmanuel, bursar of the worldwide Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor.
"It's also a way to make ourselves known, since we don't have a marketing budget!" the nun says, from the Mother House in France.
The Little Sisters of the Poor serve over 13,000 of the elderly poor in 31 countries around the world, including the United States, Turkey, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand and the Philippines.
The facility in Nantes is only one of 35 homes for the aged they operate in France. Their residences in several other French cities -- Metz, Strasbourg, Saintes and soon Auch -- are also appealing for drop-off donations.
The sisters in Nantes have asked specifically for dry goods, which are easy to preserve. And they've also asked people to consider donating Christmas chocolates.
"We are going to use them to make gifts for our residents," says Mother Mary Joseph
It's an attempt to do something a little out of the ordinary during these trying times.
The home in Nantes has had only two residents infected with COVID-19. And, fortunately, neither case was serious. But room visits and family outings are forbidden.
"But our residents love to go see their children and grandchildren," says the Mother Superior, lamenting that this is not possible now.
Most of the 80 volunteers who usually visit the elderly residents or organize activities for them are also confined to their homes.
"As a result, we offer residents the opportunity to take part in the life of the house, such as setting the table or peeling vegetables in the morning," says Mother Mary Joseph.
"They take this role very much to heart. It's a bit like living in a big family...".
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