Today, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF) announced that a Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans-led collaborative would receive $15 million for ongoing oil spill relief in coastal Louisiana communities. Catholic Charities and collaborators will provide case management services, including job training, English as a Second Language classes, financial education and counseling to families that have yet to return to sustainable fishing or have yet to receive their claims payments from BP.
From left are Baton Rouge Area Foundation Chairman Matt McKay, Executive Director of System Advancement for the Louisiana Community & Technical College System Leah Goss, Audubon Nature Institute President Ron Forman, Louisiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster President Margaret Trahan and Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans President Gordon Wadge.
August 29, 2005 was a day that changed us and our beloved city forever. After Hurricane Katrina struck our coast, we started our work for those who had lost everything as a response to our loving God’s call to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and comfort the hurting.
In order to serve the fishing communities affected by the oil spill, Catholic Charities and our affiliated ministry Second Harvest Food Bank have partnered with Catholic Church parishes, local governments, state agencies (DSS and DHH), and other area non-profits.
At our five oil spill relief centers, families can receive food vouchers to local grocery stores, case management services, crisis counseling and other emergency supplies.
Through July 21, 2010:
We have provided emergency assistance to 18,541 people (6,983 families).
We have distributed $371,500 in food vouchers to affected families and $78,540 in emergency food boxes from our affiliated ministry Second Harvest Food Bank.
Our affiliated ministry Second Harvest Food Bank has distributed about 296,289 pounds of food (about 230,000 meals) to its member agencies in 11 Louisiana parishes affected by the oil spill.
We have distributed 393 cans of baby formula and 1,051 packages of diapers.
Our mental health crisis counselors have provided crisis counseling to 5,843 people.
We have distributed $180,355 in other direct assistance and babysupplies to families.
We are operating five oil spill relief centers in the affected areas:
St. Bernard Catholic Church in St. Bernard
St. Thomas in Point-a-la-Hache
St. Patrick in Port Sulphur
Mary, Queen of Vietnam in NO East
St. Anthony in Lafitte
We are also providing counseling information and referrals at Breton Sound and Venice, LA.
If you need help, please call the toll-free Catholic Charities Care Line at (866) 891-2210.
On Tuesday, May 11, Catholic Charities and our partners will open up an assistance site in St. Bernard Parish for fishermen and their families who are in need due to the oil spill in the Gulf.
Catholic Charities’ case managers, crisis counselors, DSS, DHH and the LA Workforce Commission will be located at the following only through May 14, 2010:
Ducros Library/Los Islenos Museum
1345-1357 Bayou Road
St. Bernard, LA
Starting May 17, Catholic Charities and our partners will be located at the following:
St. Bernard Catholic Church 2805 Bayou Road
St. Bernard, LA
If you or someone you know is in need of aid, please call the Catholic Charities Care Line toll-free at (866) 891-2210.
Today, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF) announced that a Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans-led collaborative would receive $15 million for ongoing oil spill relief in coastal Louisiana communities. Catholic Charities and collaborators will provide case management services, including job training, English as a Second Language classes, financial education and counseling to families that have yet to return to sustainable fishing or have yet to receive their claims payments from BP.
