Scripture tells us that the poor will always be among us.

Tonight, we meet a woman who, years ago, answered a calling to come to the aid of those less fortunate.

Still today, she has the heart of An Angels In Our Midst.

Sissie Perry, A Heart for the Poor; I started, I think, in 1976 with Catholic Charities. I think it's something that God gave me. It's one of my little Angels on my shoulder, I think.

That little angel led Sissie Perry to the perfect place, Catholic Charities, where they minister to and meet the needs of the poor like Joann Cetrullo. They helped her find a home after she lost everything in Ivan.

JoAnn Cetrullo, Catholic Charities Client; They're there when I need them and right now they're helping me further my education at PJC.

Donna Potts, Catholic Charities, Regional Director; Escambia County is very poor. We're second in the state of Florida for having the poorest county and she knows that.

Sissie knows that standing in the gaps takes money. For 25 years, she's coordinated every detail of fund raising gala for the agency.

Sissie; This money is so needed in the community. They're just so many things that aren't covered by grants, or welfare, or anything else. We're it.

She is a master at tapping the community to help meet those needs. She searches out kind hearts who'll donate cash or items for her auctions. Some of the stories stay close to her heart.

Sissie; The lady that died that really wanted to be buried, have a proper funeral and she didn't have any money. She had a hundred dollars.

Sissie got everything donated or paid for.

Sissie; We finally could bury her with dignity. And we all went to the funeral.

And she doesn't ask for what she doesn't give herself, time and time again.

Sandra King, Catholic Charities Outreach; This child was terminally ill and the mother wanted to give the child Christmas in July and all he wanted was a fishing pole. I remember that very well, she was able to go out and buy this child a fishing pole.

Donna; She stands for what it means to respect people and their human dignity.
She doesn't believe in levels of classes or income or... there's a need, she's going to meet it.

Sissie; When you can help somebody and know you're helping somebody; that's the greatest reward there is. Angels In Our Midst )Sissie Perry)