El Dorado immigrants have an advocate

Growing Hispanic community comes to Nancy Varnell and Holy Redeemer Church for help

Published: November 24, 2012

By Dwain Hebda
Associate Editor

Nancy Varnell is director of El Centro San Martin (St. Martin Center), a Hispanic outreach ministry of Holy Redeemer Church in El Dorado.

Nancy Varnell is director of El Centro San Martin (St. Martin Center), a Hispanic outreach ministry of Holy Redeemer Church in El Dorado.

On the subject of El Dorado-based activist Nancy Varnell, Patrick Gallaher, executive director of Catholic Charities, shared a story of waiting in the parking lot of Holy Redeemer Church there in advance of a scheduled meeting.

"The Hispanic youth education class had just let out and there were youngsters and families milling about," Gallaher said. "Nancy showed up and it was like a magnet. Everybody there went running over to her."

Waves of people from El Dorado's growing Hispanic community have come to Varnell in just such a manner over the past decade. They come to El Centro San Martin (St. Martin Center), where Varnell is the director, for all manner of help from food to clothing to assistance navigating the channels of life in their new country, or in some cases, life without a country.

Like those on the parking lot that October day, the reception they receive is always the same -- the 66-year-old former teacher meets them with open arms.

"Don't look at the color of peoples' skin," she said, explaining her philosophy. "Think about the person, the families, the children. Think about God. We belong to his world."

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Working with multiple generations of people as she has -- her first English as Second Language elementary student is now in her 40s -- Varnell has seen firsthand the sudden dead end young undocumented students hit when they graduate high school. She's delighted that the DACA program, which forestalls deportation and issues credentials allowing young immigrants brought here by their parents to work or go to college, is changing that. She actively promotes the program at the center and helps young people apply.

"I'm so hopeful and so excited over this," she said. "Kids who were brought here when they were 2 years old and who are now 20 don't know from Mexico. They grew up here."

Varnell's crusade serving marginalized populations began as a young woman and has been fueled over the years by a spunky single-mindedness that accepts no excuses from seats of power. Where some see a political issue, she sees hungry families; where some see lawbreakers, she sees parents desperate to give their children a better life.

"I get fired up when people try to get food and they can't," said Varnell, who during her teaching days was known to keep a supply of canned goods in case someone asked. "I became determined a long time ago I wouldn't turn my back on them."

"When you get someone who is as experienced and outgoing and capable as Nancy is, it doesn't matter what they are doing, they are going to be the catalyst for the organization," Gallaher said. "She's very impressive."