Catholic Charities, Volunteers, the Community and Parishes Partner to Assist Evacuees

When the news of Hurricane Katrina's impact on the Gulf Coast cities was first broadcast, Timothy O'Connor, Executive Director of Catholic Charities knew that Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City had to be ready to respond.  "The Catholic Charities disaster plan was quickly implemented," said O'Connor.  Case managers were dispatched within just a few days after Katrina to conduct intakes for the long-term needs of evacuees.

"It has been heart-warming to see how quickly individuals, parishes, volunteers, and the community responded to assist Catholic Charities in helping people affected by Hurricane Katrina and Rita," added O'Connor.  "We are still connecting with people who are willing to help these families," he noted.  

One Stop Resource Center Offers Immediate Help

Early in September, Catholic Charities staff and volunteers began staffing a table at the One Stop Resource Center located at Trinity Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.  The One-Stop, consisting of several agencies, was able to help evacuees with FEMA registration, housing, food, clothing, financial assistance, and other needs.  Following Rita, Catholic Charities worked with Red Cross, Travelers AID and United Way to help families who fled the Gulf Coast and who came to Oklahoma.

"The stories for both Rita and Katrina evacuees were compelling," Shirley Cox, Director of Social Action for Catholic Charities, stated.   Some evacuees had to stay in hospital rooms with a mother or father who had become ill and had to be hospitalized after the evacuation. Pregnant moms with kids struggled to survive and keep their wits about them, amid the chaos of shuffling children from shelter to hotels to apartments. Other evacuees became ill with infections, bronchitis, fevers or other illnesses that need immediate medical attention.

Cox stated, "Most tried to remain hopeful, but many were exhausted, anxious, depressed and frustrated." She expressed that the Catholic Charities' table at the One-Stop provided a little bit of hope. The table and services could not have functioned, though, without help.  "With the support of our community and parishes, our staff and volunteers at the One Stop were able to be a compassionate presence to evacuees," she said.

Contributions have been invaluable.  St. John the Baptist Church in Edmond gathered 150 hygiene kits for distribution. Volunteers agreed to help staff the table.  Evacuees were referred to the Parish to Family Program and case-management.  "We are so grateful to the corporations, the volunteers and the parishes who have given so much," said Cox.  "They have been so very generous."   

For nearly three weeks, Catholic Charities staff and volunteers conducted intakes at the One Stop on some 465 cases (more than 1200 people); distributed vouchers and hygiene kits; made referrals for prescriptions, medical attention, clothing, food, gasoline etc.; translated for Spanish speaking evacuees; assisted in securing  FEMA numbers and participated in other disaster related responses.

Parish to Family Program Links Parishes To Families

Parishes across the Archdiocese have been compassionate about coming to the aid of evacuees from the Gulf Coast.  The call for assistance, early on, included a request to parishes to be partners and sponsor an evacuee family.  The Parish to Family program has linked evacuees to parishes for assistance and mentoring. Judy Reilly, Interim Director of Parish Social Ministry, applauds the much-needed help from the parishes. "When a case was referred from the One Stop, parishes responded quickly and generously" said Reilly. "Some 35 families have been sponsored by 20 parishes in the Archdiocese. We are very fortunate to have the parishes as partners in this effort," she added. "The parishes give the personal contact which is so needed.'

Parishes linked with cases so far include Corpus Christi, OKC: Epiphany, OKC: St. Charles Borromeo, OKC; St. Eugene, OKC;   St. Andrew, Moore; Our Lady's Cathedral, OKC; St. Patrick, OKC; St. Francis, OKC;   St. James, OKC; St Mark, Norman; St. John the Baptist, Edmond; Christ the King, OKC; Sacred Heart, OKC; St. Philip Neri, OKC; St. Theresa, Harrah; Holy Family, Lawton, and St. Thomas More, Norman. Several other parishes have very generously volunteered to assist, but are awaiting families to sponsor.   

Volunteers and Resources Emerge To Meet Needs

When evacuees arrived, the need for resources to assist the newcomers became evident. A data base of furniture, housing, host families, cars, household goods, job opportunities and volunteers was compiled. Becky Van Pool, Volunteer Coordinator for Catholic Charities, sees the influx of resources as a valuable asset in the recovery effort. "People from around the state began calling to offer resources, said Van Pool. "I was so touched by the generosity of donors and our own Catholic community. More than 200 offers of assistance poured into Catholic Charities. That was very gratifying."

Case Management-Catholic Charities Handles Long Term Recovery

While emergency assistance garnered the most attention, Catholic Charities, long known for its long term case-management assistance, began the process of addressing the long-term needs of evacuees staying in the Oklahoma City area. According to Christina Smith, Family Support Services Director, case managers have begun sorting through the applications, contacting the evacuees and assisting them to reorder their lives in a new place.  Seventy-five cases have been assigned to 2 full-time case managers and 4 volunteer case managers. "Case management is the critical piece of the recovery in a disaster," said Smith. "Once the short term assistance is gone, Smith added, "The needs still continue. Catholic Charities, however, will be there for the long term."    

The needs and assistance continue and are likely to continue for some time.  Families settling in Oklahoma in the weeks and months ahead will also need our help. At the current time, there are more families than sponsors.  Organizations, corporations, parishes, and other entities wanting to sponsor a family are encouraged to contact Catholic Charities of OKC Archdiocese, (405) 523-3000, as soon as possible.   Catholic Charities' local disaster response effort has been made possible from the past generosity of parishioners through the Annual Appeal, individual donations designated to Katrina and Rita families, and Catholic Charities USA grants.   For more information on Catholic Charities, go to the website www.catholiccharitiesok.org

Top: Catholic Charities volunteer Janet Branch , talks with Kim Brown and Pierre Smith who recently evacuated with their families from Beaumont, Texas after Hurricane Katrina.  Left: Shirley Cox of Catholic Charities hands Katrina evacuees hygiene kits at the One-Stop Center at Trinity Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.