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Church connects those in need
By SHARON TUBBS © St. Petersburg Times, published September 26, 1998 But for Georges, they may never have gotten to know that George Gasper and Eleanor Wombwell both loved to skate as teens. Or that Chuck Wombwell was a planner for the city of Largo. Or that apparently had been meaning to see that movie, The Apostle, starring Robert Duvall. One thing they do have in common: They are members of St. Cecelia Catholic Church and for the past several days had been focused on a whirl of wind called Georges. The Wombwells were the ones in need, and Gasper and his wife, Rosemary, were the ones who could help as part of what county officials call a model program that the rest of Pinellas should follow. The church finally established the program last year after trying to get a buddy system of members together for the past four years or so. The biggest problem was getting people to sign up in advance. About 30 families who live in mobile home parks and low-lying areas signed up for the program and 50 families agreed to be hosts. An extensive computer data base kept their names, likes and dislikes in order. Who has a pet. Who smokes. Who has children. It was Sister Josephine Louise Paleveda's job to match them all together. Things weren't perfect. "No matter how well you prepare, it'll be a mess in the end," said Father Aiden Foynes, pastor at St. Cecelia. Not really a mess. The plan worked fairly well, especially considering that about 10 of the families placed in host homes waited until Wednesday or Thursday to sign up for the program. Others who had signed up last year found shelter with relatives or friends. Some had passed away in the meantime. Evacuations for Georges were the real test for St. Cecelia and other groups, including a senior living community called Pinecrest Place in Largo. In the end, St. Cecelia matched about 25 families and Pinecrest took in about 85 people from evacuated areas as far as Bradenton. They all had something in common. From St. Cecelia, the Gaspers and the Wombwells shared "God," Rosemary Gasper said. At Pinecrest, they all shared the optimistic view that all would go smoothly. The TLC hair salon inside the Pinecrest complex bustled all day long with women more concerned with the threat of a canceled appointment than a storm that may or may not hit. "It's interesting how people are there," Paleveda said. "They're there for other people."
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hey knew each other only in passing at church, but had never really sat down and had a conversation.
