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 Sister Mary Isaac Koenig, S.U. arrived at St. Mary's the first time
in 1982 with Sister Eleanora. In 1985-86, with the help and
inspiration of many St. Mary parishioners, she began what we now
call the St. Mary's Social Outreach Program serving the needy of the
Wilmington area. In 1991, once again inspired by St. Mary
parishioners and at the urging of doctors within the parish, Sister
began the St. Mary Outreach Clinic which now calls itself the
Tileston Clinic and prides itself on serving the working poor of the
area.
Sister was also instrumental in the development and construction of
the area.
Sister was also instrumental in the development and construction of
the Hadden Hall Apartments which is HUD sponsored housing for low
income senior citizens. The idea was born in 1989-90 and the initial
request, spearheaded by Mal Maynard, Ethel Robinson and the late
Peter Carter, in addition to Sister Isaac, was denied because HUD
felt there was enough low income housing for seniors in the area.
After more research by the above mentioned individuals, it was
determined that the available housing was either in very poor
neighborhoods or way out by the beaches. Armed with that
information, the second request was approved and enabled Hadden Hall
I and II toSister began Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, with the help of St. Mary
parishioners, and she also served on the Board of Good Shepherd in
the early years.
Sister has received many awards through the years. She received the
Human Relations Award from the State and she has also received an
award from the Unitarian Church, to name a few.tions Award from the State and she has also received an
award from the Unitarian Church, to name a few.
In 1991, Sister was called back to the Motherhouse to serve as the
American Regional Superior for the Sisters of St. Ursula in
Rhinebeck New York.
After completing her term of office in August of 2003 Sister Isaac returned to her beloved St. Mary's to
pick up where she left off - the Mother Teresa of Wilmington. Today,
the St. Mary Social Outreach has 150 volunteers who are actively
involved several times each month in serving the poor, handing out
food, picking it up at local
grocery stores, or cleaning and folding donated clothes to be given
to those in need. local
grocery stores, or cleaning and folding donated clothes to be given
to those in need.
Within the past 2 years, Sister began a program for diabetics which
provides some fresh foods such as meats, fruits, vegetables, etc. to
approximately 100 diabetics on a monthly basis to assist with their
dietary needs. She also has families of volunteers that make
sandwiches to serve to the patients at the clinic while they are waiting for their
appointments. The St. Mary Social Outreach served an average of 31
guests a day. They were open for 161 days and all totaled helped
5,062 guests - of those 5,062, 300 are homeless and 464 are single
persons. At the Outreach they are given bags of food or vouchers for
Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, hygiene products and sometimes clothing
and household goods and even furniture, depending on their needs.
Sister also helps them financially when possible, by providing funds
for rent, electricity, medicine and gasoline. However, this is
dependant upon the donations she receives from parishioners and her
many other supporters. Sister is proud to say that 48% of those
guests visited only once during the year. She was also able to "retire" the files on 763 individuals from the previous year who did
not seek assistance during the 2005-2006 fiscal year. The guests who
seek assistance from Sister Isaac's Outreach program come from as
far away as Clinton and Whiteville. However, the majority come from
the downtown Wilmington area. Sister also tries to make the holidays
special for some families by providing Thanksgiving Food Baskets -
this year 85 families received baskets which served 295 individuals.
She also arranged, via St. Mary's Giving Tree, a Complete Christmas
for 33 families providing gifts and food to 43 adults and 91
children. Thirteen food baskets were also provided to other families
which served 16 adults and 25 children.
Sister Isaac is truly a blessing to all those who know her. She is
ready and willing to help those in need and she treats everyone with
kindness and respect at all times. She has a kind and giving heart
and is most definitely a pillar of St. Mary's as well as the entire
Wilmington community.
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