Nov 9, 2005 / 22:00 pm
The Catholic response to the people who survived Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the southern United States continue. To date, Catholic Charities USA has allocated more than $36 million to 58 local Catholic Charities and other Catholic organizations responding to these natural disasters.
The organization has also raised a record $101 million to assist in what will be the network's largest disaster response effort in its history.
Across the country, more than 80 local Catholic Charities are working to meet the needs of hurricane victims by providing victims with the basic necessities, helping with medical and prescription needs, offering clean-up assistance, and providing crisis counseling, job placement, and housing. Some 58 local offices have each received disaster relief grants from Catholic Charities USA, ranging from $6,000 to $25 million; a $25.6 million grant was allocated to Catholic Charities of New Orleans.
Two months after Hurricane Katrina struck Catholic Charities in New Orleans as well as the other Catholic Charities agencies are moving into the long-term recovery phase, which could last up to a few years.
For more information, visit www.catholiccharitiesinfo.org.