Houston, Texas, Sep 5, 2017 / 12:46 pm
Local Knights of Columbus councils have taken action after the passage of Hurricane Harvey, rescuing survivors by boat and providing shelter, food and water to others.
Their efforts on the ground are being supported by more than half a million dollars raised so far through the organization's long-standing disaster relief fund.
"Since Hurricane Harvey hit the Gulf Coast of Texas on August 25, local Knights have been at the forefront or bringing assistance to victims of the disaster, especially those displaced by destructive winds and flooding," the Knights of Columbus said on their website.
In Dickinson, Texas, members of the Father Roach Council 3217 used boats to help evacuate people stranded in their homes. They helped evacuate a priest from the Shrine of the True Cross.
Richmond Council 7445 aided displaced people at the local parish, providing meals and drinking water until the parish facility was flooded out. In Sealy, the facilities of Father Crann Council 3313 are sheltering nearly 100 evacuees and serving food and clean water.
Also aiding storm victims is the Father Nemec Council 3793, which has provided meals and shelter in Wallis, Texas. In Carrizo Springs, the Rev. Arthur N. Kaler Council 8142 helped feed 300 families.
Members of the Rev. John T. Weyer Council 11343 in Sugar Land, Texas helped home owners repair roofs that suffered tornado damage.
Their actions will be supplemented by the international Catholic fraternity's disaster relief fund. The organization said in a statement that 100 percent of the funds raised go directly to relief efforts.
The Knights led a multi-million dollar recovery effort after Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana in 2005. The Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus also gave $860,000 in humanitarian relief for victims of the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, where the organization has tens of thousands of members. In late 2016, in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, Knights of Columbus Charities raised over $100,000.
The Knights of Columbus has about 1.9 million members in over 15,000 councils worldwide. Donations to the disaster relief fund can be made through its website at www.kofc.org.