Erin Duhe shared with me recently that she has empathy for children with disabilities, not sympathy.

“I am able to work and play alongside them and love them for who they are without feeling pity for them,” she said. “This is often a hard thing to do, and it takes a strong person. I have heard from a lot of people that they could never do what I do. They could never be that strong. They would just cry for them. While my heart does break for them and the life they live, I choose not to cry for them but to help them enjoy their life.”

This is an amazing trait that many in our community display on a routine basis and is what I’m thinking about today as another school year begins across St. John the Baptist Parish and the River Region.

Erin is a special education teacher locally and she, like so many others, works every day to assist our children — not through the sum of their challenges — to achieve the very heights of their imaginations.

Erin shared her education philosophy while discussing her recent trip to Haiti, where she served as a counselor at Camp Jacob, which provides life skills and self-care training to inspire independent thinking in the lives of campers with disabilities well beyond camp.

“This summer was truly life changing, and I hope this was only the beginning,” Erin said. “Haiti now has a piece of my heart, and I would be so blessed to be able to return again next summer. I will be holding fundraisers throughout the year to raise money and would also accept donations. The money not only sends me to Haiti but it helps send campers to Camp Jacob. More money raised equals more campers.”

Erin asked those interested in learning more about Jacob’s Color Link Initiative to visit jacobscolorlink.org or facebook.com/jacobscolorlink.

Stories like Erin’s remind me that the spirit of giving and service beyond self is alive and well in the River Parishes.

• I also was lucky enough to speak with Dan Wise this week.

The president and owner of Gnots Reserve, a marine fleeting and towing company, recently donated $25,000 to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office to purchase needed technology equipment for its Special Response Team.

Sheriff Greg Champagne said the funds help ensure the safety of team members on deployment. Dan said he, along with daughter Danielle Wise Hymel and son Dane Wise, felt this was their best way to support the community.

“I think the sheriff is doing a good job. I respect all of the deputies and want to help with anything to make their job easier and safer,” Dan said. He described Gnots as “a family run business that pays our taxes and are good members of the community.”

Gnots Reserve is a cool story in itself, as the St. Rose mainstay is celebrating a half century in business this year, according to Dan.

What began as a pilot company taking personnel to ships to exchange crew members grew into a four-generation operation that today works with many local grain elevators while maintaining tug repair work and marine towing services.

From classroom teachers on the education front lines to major economic players in our global marine industry, there are many people working each day to make the River Parishes a better place to live.

Their efforts should always be spotlighted.

Stephen Hemelt is publisher and editor of L’OBSERVATEUR. He can be reached at 985-652-9545 or stephen.hemelt@lobservateur.com.