BREVARD — Helen Hardin lived a life of quiet service. She was a supportive military wife whose love of flowers and music brightened the lives of those she knew.
Hardin, who spent much of her time behind the scenes, left a gift that will make a tremendous difference to the church she loved: A bequest of $200,000 from the Clarence C. Hardin and Helen P. Hardin Trust has been donated to an endowment established in August 2024 to support the general needs of Sacred Heart Parish in Brevard.
An endowment is a permanent fund, the principal of which is invested – not spent – that generates income to help pay for projects and programs specified by the donor. Endowments are tax deductible and help sustain the strength and viability of the diocese and its entities, paying for capital improvements, charitable outreach, education and parish operations.
“Our heartfelt gratitude for their love of the parish and their desire to leave a legacy that allows them to continue being an important part of the maintenance and growth of our church,” said Jenni Pogue, Sacred Heart’s office manager.
“Donors like the Hardins allow us to continue putting the heart in Sacred Heart, which we use to spread love and joy to our neighbors and community,” she said.
Clarence and Helen Hardin were married for 67 years before his death in 2013. Clarence was a career U.S. Air Force officer and the couple lived all over the world – including England, Germany and Panama – before he retired in 1970.
The couple settled in Brevard, where Clarence worked as a teacher and guidance counselor in local schools until 1986. Helen had a passion for gardening and enjoyed playing the violin. A devout Catholic, she attended Sacred Heart Church.
“Across our diocese there are people like Clarence and Helen who are leading lives of quiet impact,” said Jim Kelley, the diocese’s development director. “While age or infirmity may keep them from visible participation in the life of the Church, their love for their parishes continues, and their impact – like that of Helen Hardin – can be substantial.
— Courtney McLaughlin, Catholic News Herald
Fund an endowment
Interested in setting up – or adding to – an endowment to benefit your parish or Catholic school? Establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will, a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan, a trust or annuity, or a gift of real estate, life insurance, cash or securities. Join over 1,700 parishioners who have informed the diocese they plan to remember the Church in their estate plans. For details, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
‘The Gospel in action’
Catholic Charities Week, which is being celebrated May 5-9, highlights the tangible ways in which people across western North Carolina are giving back to people in need, offering a glimmer of hope and inspiration to overcome the difficulties they are experiencing.
Catholic Charities is committed to helping our brothers and sisters who are struggling and living on the peripheries, the most vulnerable among us. For more than 75 years, the agency has provided assistance and resources to strengthen families, build communities and reduce poverty in Western North Carolina. Last year alone, Catholic Charities served more than 24,000 people across the 46 counties of the Diocese of Charlotte.
Catholic Charities’ food pantries in Asheville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem are among its most in-demand services. Last year, the agency distributed more than 556,000 pounds of food to 16,693 people in need.
Agency staff and volunteers also provided people with a range of individualized support services designed to help them escape poverty, including educational and employment opportunities, help connecting to healthcare, parenting and life skills coaching, overcoming barriers to transportation and childcare, and more.
Catholic Charities has also risen to the challenge of aiding people in the path of Tropical Storm Helene, with more than $12.3 million raised to date for ongoing recovery efforts across western North Carolina. From the moment the storm struck on Sept. 27, 2024, Catholic Charities sprang into action, delivering emergency supplies and now managing long-term recovery for more than 1,400 households. That includes rebuilding homes, offering case management, and supporting small businesses and mental health needs in hard-hit mountain communities.
The agency has already spent $5.1 million on direct aid, rehabilitating 53 homes and committing to repair or rebuild 50 more. Another $5 million is earmarked for long-term support like job assistance, mental health care and restoring an additional 150 homes. Collaborations with organizations such as Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) and referrals from parishes ensure resources reach those most in need, especially those overlooked by government relief programs.
Catholic Charities routinely offers a comprehensive array of services to meet the needs of our communities, including mental health counseling, support for teens in crisis, legal immigration services, help for homeless veterans, and social advocacy.
The agency also assists elderly individuals through its Elder Ministry, offering classes and workshops to address the needs and challenges of aging.
All of these services are made available to people regardless of their race, ethnicity or religion.
Dr. Gerard Carter, executive director and CEO of Catholic Charities, expressed deep gratitude for the volunteers and donors who make the mission possible.
“We couldn’t do this work without them,” he said. “They step up for people they’ll never meet, simply because they’re neighbors in need – and that’s the Gospel in action.”
— David Long, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte
