Baton Rouge, LA-Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is collecting financial donations to help communities along the Gulf Coast recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Gustav. Donations will be used to fund local Catholic Charities agencies' emergency and long-term humanitarian relief efforts.
Catholic Charities initial recovery work will focus on directing critical resources and supplies to hurricane victims.
Local Catholic Charities plan to open community resource sites throughout the impacted region where families can access food, water, toiletries, cleanup supplies, and other resources provided by partner agencies. In addition, response teams will fan out across the region to make damage assessments and identify communities' unmet needs.
These assessments will help Catholic Charities determine how best to tailor their response efforts in the days, weeks, and months to come.
"With compassion and commitment, we are here to help our brothers and sisters in the Gulf Coast," said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA. "Catholic Charities USA is firmly dedicated to rebuilding lives, rebuilding communities, providing help, and creating hope." Since last week, CCUSA's disaster response team has been on the ground in the Gulf Coast, helping the local Catholic Charities agencies implement their disaster response plans.
To contribute to Catholic Charities USA's response efforts:
Call (800) 919-9338
Visit www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
Send checks to
Catholic Charities USA
2008 Hurricanes
PO Box 17066
Baltimore, MD 21297-1066
CCUSA, which has been commissioned by the U.S. Catholic Bishops to represent the Catholic community in times of domestic disaster, responds with emergency and long-term assistance as needed. Its Disaster Response Office connects the Church's social service agencies and disaster planning offices across the nation.
Catholic Charities USA is unable to accept contributions of food, clothing, blankets and other relief supplies. Its federal ID number is 53-0196620.