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Brunini Attorney's Church Helps Katrina Victims

PASCAGOULA -- Although Hurricane Katrina forced Lee Watt and his family to move from Pascagoula to Jackson, Watt is still trying to help local residents, especially children, remain strong.

Watt presented a check for nearly $5,000 to the Jackson County Community Services Coalition, formerly known as the Jackson County Children's Coalition, last week.

The money was donated by parishioners at Watt's church in Jackson, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, which only has about 70 members.

Watt -- who lived and practiced law in Pascagoula for 17 years before relocating -- got the idea after hearing JCCSC executive director Jim Yancey detail the pressing and future needs and obstacles regarding mental health issues to the Pascagoula City Council in August.

"He made an excellent presentation," Watt said. "Jim gave me some of the materials he discussed, I brought that back to Jackson and my church was willing to help."

Watt's church's donation will go toward counseling needs, said Yancey, adding that the Coalition would like to eventually hire four counselors.

"That donation from Holy Trinity allows us to go and do the kind of counseling that's necessary because people don't have the time to go into a counselor's office because they're rebuilding their homes and going to their regular jobs," Yancey said.

"We want to be able to go to (residents) so we can take the counseling to their homes."

In that August meeting, Yancey pointed out that the local suicide rate had nearly reached 200 percent since Katrina and emergency room visits, domestic violence and drug cases, including those involving the youth, had also increased significantly.

Yancey said that major effects from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were not felt until 24 months after that tragedy. As Katrina victims enter their second year of recovery, mental health issues are expected to increase as well, he said.

Issues currently facing children affected by Katrina include difficulties concentrating on schoolwork, living in FEMA trailers and missing their home and symptoms of depression such as irritability, trouble sleeping and behavioral and mood swings.

"They may cry for no reason at all and not know why they're crying," Yancey said.

Adults, Yancey added, are experiencing domestic and marital problems and face backlogs if they try to seek regular counseling appointments.

Watt, who helped the Jackson County Children's Coalition prepare its legal requirements when being established in 1997, said he's seen firsthand what the organization can do.

"I was impressed with the people dedicated to help the lives of the youth of Jackson County and their families," Watt said.

Reporter Brad Crocker can be reached at bcrocker@themississippipress.com or (228) 934-1431.

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