Catholic Charities USA and Local Catholic Charities Agencies Fully Deployed in Serving Southern Storm Areas and Victims

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May 06, 2011, 05:19 ET

Impact More Devastating than Expected; Community Distribution Centers Set Up by Catholic Charities; Funds Desperately Needed

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) provided additional updates today in its work to reach out to and provide life-sustaining services to the ever-growing numbers of individuals and families devastated by the Southern storms and tornadoes.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081008/CCUSALOGO)

The CCUSA team, under Kim Burgo, VP, Disaster Operations, is currently staged in Birmingham providing Regional support.
Widespread storm damage has affected some rural areas where the poverty rate is almost 40%.
Catholic Charities staff and volunteers are working feverishly to complete all assessments. More than 300 tornadoes touched down.
Catholic Social Services community offices have been established to provide disaster survivors with both goods and services.
The Southwestern Region of the local Diocese has set up a central Community Distribution Site.
Volunteer Management is in place to organize and channel the huge interest and outpouring of volunteers.
CCUSA is providing support to develop overall communication, resource distribution, and coordination of resources.
Much-needed Donation Support can be provided at the CCUSA disaster donations Web page, our mobile giving page, and our 1-800-919-9338 number.

For more information about Catholic Charities USA visit www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.

Catholic Charities USA's members provide help and create hope for more than 9 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrated its centennial anniversary and introduced new federal legislation – the National Opportunity and Community Renewal Act (NOCRA) – to transform the nation's approach to poverty.

SOURCE Catholic Charities USA