by John Sorce
john.sorce@theleaven.org
MOUND CITY — This year’s St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Award did not go to a single person, but rather to a group of people who are making a positive impact on the very Linn County area where the sainted Frenchwoman once served.
Concern, Inc., is a not-for-profit organization formed to help county residents through financial, food and clothing assistance. They were honored with the 2024 St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Award, which was presented by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann at a Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Mound City on Nov. 17.
Sister Rose Philippine Duchesne was a French nun who had a lifelong dream of serving the Native Americans in the New World. It was not until she was 71, however, that she had the chance to minister for one short year to the Potawatomi at St. Mary’s Mission at nearby Sugar Creek in 1841. There she became known as “Quahkahkanumad,” or the “Woman-Who- Prays-Always” and the annual honor is awarded in her memory.
Concern also operates a thrift store called Good Buys, which is located in the agency’s Mound City building on Main Street. The thrift store started when Concern, which was originally chartered in 1977, moved to its current location in 2013.
“We’re so thankful and appreciative to be getting this award,” said Concern director DeAnn Dawson. “We have over 25 volunteers and like any volunteer organization, no one gets paid for what we’re doing. I think it’s good for them to see the work they are doing does not go unnoticed.
“Each one of our volunteers has an important role, and we couldn’t do it without every single one of them.”
One of Concern’s volunteers is Janice Little, who detailed the thorough sorting process when taking donations to make sure everything that is resold in the thrift store is high quality.
“Our volunteers make sure that our donations are of such quality that people want to come here,” Little said. “We make sure the buttons are on, the zippers zip and everything is clean. We want the entire community to come here because if we only relied on people who receive assistance to shop here, they can’t spend enough money to support the food pantry. So, we have prices that are affordable to everybody, so we can be a community resource.”
“If you shop here, we want you to feel like you’re recycling and saving money. And even though you are making a purchase, that money goes to help our charitable efforts,” she added. “There’s a lot of good things that happen when you shop at Concern.”
Concern’s mission statement comes straight out of the Gospel of Matthew: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me” (25:35-36).
Praise and worship music plays constantly inside the thrift store. Dawson said they will often receive compliments with the tone it sets.
Sacred Heart pastor Father Barry Clayton said that Concern shares similar virtues to St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, specifically a commitment to helping others in need.
“Concern specifically demonstrates those virtues of St. Philippine through reaching out in charity to others,” he said. “St. Philippine had a desire in her heart to reach out and help the Native Americans, particularly the Potawatomi, who she worked and served among. She had a heart of charity, and Concern really demonstrates that heart of charity as well.”
During his award presentation at the conclusion of Mass, Archbishop Naumann noted that Concern’s charitable mission and their love of Christ epitomized that of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne.
“This award goes to individuals or groups that embody the spirit of Rose Philippine Duchesne,” he said. “What motivated her was to make the love of Christ real and tangible to others, so it’s a pleasure to present this award to you.”
While volunteering is never about the attention, Little said that being recognized does make her feel good about the work that everyone at Concern is doing.
“It’s always good to know that you are heading in the right direction with any type of recognition,” Little said. “It feels like a pat on the back and it’s an encouragement that we are doing something right.”
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