From the Office for Social Concerns



Responding to National Disasters

With the best of intentions, people of faith are responding to the numerous disasters that have hit our nation recently. Currently, a second disaster threatens to overtake Joplin and other recovering areas by way of a tidal wave of unsolicited goods (things like clothing, miscellaneous household items, mixed or perishable foodstuffs, diapers...) and volunteers who just show up to help. Critical resources are being redirected from the important work of response and relief to managing what has become a crush of unneeded donated items. Churches and social networking sites are prompting collection drives to fill semis with items that threaten to crowd warehouses and overwhelm distribution channels in the impacted areas.

Our help is urgently needed to stem the flow of unneeded goods and volunteers into disaster recovery areas. Please reach out in a way that doesn't cause further impact, but rather aids in the response and recovery effort.

Cash to a recognized voluntary agency is the single best way to help disaster survivors. Cash doesn't need to be sorted or stored. Cash allows the recovery agency to put the donation towards the needs that most urgently need addressing. Please consider giving a cash donation to Catholic Charities USA in support of the many recovery efforts they already are supporting throughout the country. Conations can be made through your parish or sent to the diocesan Finance Office at 198 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215. For more information, call the diocesan Office for Social Concerns at 614-241-2540 or ecordle@colsdioc.org