Thank goodness a St. Mary Parish-based nonprofit organization stepped outside of its comfort zone to establish a presence in New Iberia.

Chez Hope, a domestic shelter for victims of domestic abuse, filled a huge vacuum here when the Safety Net for Abused Persons closed its doors in March. Two hundred local people have been helped since Chez Hope opened its doors at 501 W. Admiral Doyle Drive.

That’s why New Iberia and Teche Area officials met early Thursday to salute Chez Hope. As a story Friday in The Daily Iberian pointed out, the event was more of an introduction of the organization, a hearty thank you, than a ribbon-cutting ceremony, of which there was one.

“I want to thank Chez Hope for stepping in at a crucial time,” Janet Faulk-Gonzales said at the event.

Faulk-Gonzales, executive director of the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce, also pointed out the attendance for the ribbon-cutting was one of the largest in recent memory, with an overflow crowd spilling outside the office.

There was an even bigger crowd later Thursday. More people showed up for the candlelight vigil at the Steamboat Warehouse Pavilion, where domestic abuse victims and survivors were remembered in a solemn ceremony. Among them were local firefighters and deputies from the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Chez Hope’s executive director spoke to the crowd in the morning and said starting a branch in New Iberia was a step “outside of our comfort zone.” Cherrise Picard also said the local community has embraced the group and made the move an easy one.

“Since we’ve been in Iberia Parish, everyone has been very gracious to us. Everyone has been there,” Picard said.

Iberia Parish President Larry Richard, New Iberia City Councilwoman Deidre Ledbetter and 16th Judicial District District Attorney Bo Duhé praised Chez Hope’s efforts in New Iberia.

Duhe also said the presence of such a shelter is important from a criminal justice standpoint.

The candles were lit for women like Tiffany Morgan Dupas, an actress and domestic abuse survivor who was abused and shot by the father of her child in 2008. Dupas turned to the volunteers at Chez Hope, she said.

“These women at Chez Hope have been my second family. Without them I wouldn’t know where I would be. They believe in me sometimes when I don’t believe in myself,” Dupas said at the candlelight vigil.

It is a crying shame such a shelter is needed in our community. It is a blessing that it is here for those who need it.

DON SHOOPMAN

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR