Catholic Charities USA Awards Disaster Grants

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Mar 24, 2011, 01:35 ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), the 100-year-old social services organization working to reduce poverty in America and assist with disaster response, this month has awarded five $10,000 disaster relief grants to help victims in the following communities:

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

Toledo, OH: Massive flooding due to melting snow. Funding will be used to cover basic needs to residents of areas that have suffered damages due to flood waters.

Lafayette, LA: On March 5th, a tornado struck Rayne, Louisiana, causing several fatalities and many injuries, and leaving behind a major path of destruction. More than 122 homes have been designated as unlivable due to physical damage. Funding will be used to help disaster-impacted households meet their immediate needs.

Venice, FL: Emergency assistance for farm workers impacted by a major crop freeze.

Cleveland, OH: Flooding of homes in Valley View, Ohio and other areas. Intense rain has destroyed vital home appliances such as furnaces and water heaters, forcing families to use potentially unsafe alternate heating sources.

Paterson, NJ: Support for the poor and vulnerable in response to recent flooding.

CCUSA is also supporting its partners in Minnesota and Wisconsin for disaster preparations related to ongoing flood predictions.

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