Living in tents and severely damaged homes is still an everyday sight in Oak Island. But a Beaumont parish is trying to make life a little warmer for its residents.

St. Anne Parish donated $5,000 to be spent on ways to keep residents warm.

When Father William Manger, pastor of St. Anne, Beaumont, heard about the needs of the residents in the community, he knew his parish had to help.

“We were at a meeting with the clergy and found out how much that was needed down there, so I just decided,” Father Manger said.

He spoke to Father Joseph Khanh Ho, pastor of St. Louis, Winnie, and episcopal vicar of the western vicariate, about the specific needs of the community, and the two decided heaters were the best thing. Father Manger said it wasn’t a hard decision.

“Father Ho has established a very good St. Vincent de Paul Society down there, and he’s got an ecumenical effort to help people. It’s just a matter of trying to support people who are doing some very good work,” Father Manger said.

Father Ho was able to recently pass out the much needed heaters to those who still had homes even though they’ve been damaged.

With left over funds, Father Ho also bought and distributed jackets to residents without power who are sleeping in tents.

Oak Island, a small fishing community of mostly Vietnamese and Hispanic residents located on the Trinity Bay south of Anahuac, was devastated by the storm surge from Hurricane Ike. He not only flooded the community, Ike completely washed away about half of the homes. Every home in the area was, and is still, damaged in some way leaving few livable.

Many people are sharing their damaged homes with others who lost theirs. Some homes are occupied by as many as 15 people.

Father Ho has been one of the main connections in bringing aid to the area. He has been traveling to Oak Island weekly keeping track of what’s happening and what the residents need.

Of the few individuals that are able to return to work, Father Ho said, “They want just to get away from the environment to refresh their mind and take everything off their mind for a little bit.”

“They truly want to rebuild their lives. The people I’ve talked to said this is the only place they know. This is their town, their city, so they want to stay,” Father Ho said.

Father Rodel Faller, parochial vicar at St. Anne, said that the parish is now holding a clothes drive and collecting blankets to further help prepare the community for the winter season.

The government has been able to deliver some FEMA trailers to the area, but church leadership said residents are being greatly helped by their brothers and sisters in Christ. “We’ve got the money, he (Father Ho) has the legs,” Father Manger said.