On the surface, the shrimp boats look as picturesque as ever, but in the neighborhoods next to Bayou Lafourche, fear is continuing to grow, and the sea of uncertainty often produces a flood of tears.
"Oh gosh, sleepless nights worrying, sleepless nights stressing," said Thibodaux resident Charlene Nelson.
Charlene Nelson of Thibodaux said she has not worked since business dried up at the oilfield welding company where she was employed. Her tears are for this single mother's two-teenaged children.
"You know I stay up all night sometimes, worrying. Worrying how I'm going to pay this, how I'm going to pay that. It's devastating."
But she came to the Catholic Charities office in Galliano, where they had a supply of gift cards provided by United Way that could be used for food, clothing, and school supplies. It is the second time they have helped Charlene.
"Rent, food. It's utilities, that's the main thing, you know, my rent so I don't get put out and have my children living on the streets," said Charlene.
"People are desperate, they're in distress," said Maryal Mewherter of Catholic Charities. "A lot of people come in crying."
In the four-parish South Louisiana United Way district, the oil spill has increased calls for help by 25-percent, including many who used to support the agency.
"For the first time, they are the ones coming in and having to ask for help, because they can't afford their school supplies," said Alina Merlos of United Way South Louisiana.
The gift cards being distributed today were donated by a Missouri chiropractor. But United Way officials know that as the impact of the oil spill spreads, they will need more help. So WWL-TV has partnered with United Way to help the victims of this disaster.
"Never would have expected this to happen, never, in our wildest dreams," said Disabled Processing Plant Worker Linda Boudreaux.
To find a place that can help is such a relief.
"It makes everybody's heart feel good, if they turn around and help out United Way also," said Linda Boudreaux.
"Oh my gosh, the first time I came, I couldn't stop thanking them," added Charlene Nelson.
But United Way leaders worry that the additional strain on resources caused by the oil spill could impact essential services.
"That elderly person that's waiting on their meals on wheels, or maybe that woman that's trying to get away from that domestic violence situation, that those agencies areb all of a sudden going to have to shut their doors," worried Alina Merlo.
