Sacred Heart, Spencer community reach out to accident victims

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
May 24, 2007

SPENCER - The Spencer community including parishioners and students at Sacred Heart Church and School recently raised money and collected food to help victims of a car accident.

Six people were in the car when the accident happened - three died and three survived. The survivors include Humberto Lopez-Perez, Magdalena Marin and Gladys Acosta-Marin. Those who died were Alberto Lopez-Perez (twin brother of Humberto), Angelina Lopez-Hernandez (Humberto's grandmother) and Anatolio Heliodora Flores-Sanchez.

According to Gwen Kardell, assistant director of religious education at Sacred Heart Parish and a Hispanic outreach worker, the two Hispanic families were traveling from Spencer to Storm Lake in a van when the accident happened.

"The van basically wrapped itself around the semi and flipped into the ditch," said Kardell. "It is amazing that anyone is alive."

Magdalena is out of the hospital, but her daughter, Gladys, is still in the hospital at Creighton in Omaha. Humberto was released from the hospital and was able to attend the final memorial service for the three that died.

"They are part of our Spanish community who come to Mass each month," said Kardell. "Molly initiated this and then everyone joined in. There are banks that are still doing collections. Spencer came together to help as much as they could."

Kardell noted that the twin boys each attended a different school in the Spencer Community School District. Molly Graettinger, Sacred Heart parishioner and Spanish teacher at Spencer High School, and a few of the teachers from the school started the drive for the donations.

"When Gwen told me that we experienced more than one loss in our parish community, I came to my school and I talked with my principal and guidance counselors and we decided that we should do something," said Graettinger. "Magdalena was a student here last year, so we decided we wanted to do something. We knew that Humberto would also need assistance."

Graettinger pointed out that an English class at the high school had a competition to see who could raise the most canned goods and cash donations.

"I had kids come in randomly and say, 'Here is $5 for the family, Miss G,'" said Graettinger.

Over $1,200 was donated as well as several bags of canned goods and other food items to help the victims.

Students at Sacred Heart School were able to donate money through a collection at an all-school Mass.

"I think it is part of our faith to help out when we can and show the comfort for the need and the sorrow," said Kardell. "These boys were visible. It is what we are called to do and what we want to do."

Graettinger mentioned that it is important to have the students help because "it lets them know that when someone needs help, you just step up to the plate and do the right thing."

"We want them to know that they are truly part of our parish," said Graettinger.