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.

Read more about this announcement >

Ten months have passed since the April 20th explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. But work still remains.

If you follow news about the oil spill from New Orleans, you know that the claims process run by Kenneth Feinberg is not easy for fishing families to navigate. Most on the Louisiana coast are unable to get back to work in the seafood industry.

Catholic Charities continues to operate four oil spill relief centers on the coast: at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Port Sulphur, St. Thomas Catholic Church in Pointe A La Hache, St. Bernard Catholic Church in St. Bernard and St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lafitte. We are no longer providing case management services at Mary Queen of Vietnam in New Orleans East, but our mental health counselors are still there.

In the ten months since the oil spill,

• We have served 39,710 people* (16,071 families*). *Many individuals and families have received multiple services from Catholic Charities.
• We have provided $942,675 in total food assistance, including boxes from our affiliated ministry Second Harvest Food Bank and vouchers to local grocery stores.
• Our mental health counselors have logged 13,866 visits with those in need.
• We have given $401,002 in direct financial aid to fishing families.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call our toll-free Care Line at (866) 891-2210.

Renowned pianist George Winston will perform a benefit concert on February 19 for families we continue to help in the aftermath of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

George Winston in concert
Saturday, February 19 at 7:30 PM
Roussel Hall on the campus of Loyola University New Orleans
$40 reserved seating/$20 Loyola student & staff seating
Tickets are available here or by calling (504) 865-2074
Non-perishable donations for Second Harvest Food Bank will be accepted at the door.

Since the oil spill, we have provided $860,403 in food assistance and $378,787 in direct financial assistance to 39,630* fishermen and their families along the coast. Our mental health counselors have logged 13,588 visits with those struggling to cope with the disaster. Our case managers continue to help fishermen with the often-confusing and time consuming claims process.

George Winston plays more than 100 solo piano concerts a year in America and beyond, inspired by the seasons. These concerts feature a variety of styles, including his melodic folk piano, stride piano, New Orleans R&B piano, Vince Guaraldi’s Peanuts pieces, songs by The Doors and more. His new cd is titled Love will Come – The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Vol. 2.

Our case managers and counselors are still present at our five Oil Spill Relief Centers in fishing communities along the Louisiana coast, helping those affected by the oil spill to file claims and receive assistance.

Here’s a list of how we’ve been helping since May 1. Stats are through December 20:

• Catholic Charities has provided emergency assistance to 39,002 people* (15,407 families*) and distributed $853,800 in food vouchers from community grocery stores to affected families.
• Our affiliated ministry Second Harvest Food Bank has distributed 610,785 meals, worth $1,368,158 to families affected by the oil spill (as of August 31), including 1,600 boxes worth $78,770 to Catholic Charities oil spill relief centers.
• Catholic Charities’ mental health crisis counselors have provided counseling to 13,166* people.
• Catholic Charities has also distributed $348,966 in other direct assistance (rent/mortgage assistance, utilities, medication, etc.) and $31,267 in baby supplies (diapers and formula).
• Second Harvest Food Bank continues to work with 150 faith-based and nonprofit member agencies serving all 14 civil parishes affected by the oil spill. 
• Through this member network, Second Harvest is able to serve 4,800 people affected by the oil spill every week.
  * Many individuals and families have received multiple services from Catholic Charities.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the Catholic Charities toll-free Care Line at 866-891-2210.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans continues to respond to the needs of the fishing families and communities affected by the oil spill through the direct services of Catholic Charities and its affiliated ministry, Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana.

Together Catholic Charities and Second Harvest have partnered with Church parishes, local governments, state agencies, United Way of Greater New Orleans, other area non-profits and the New Orleans Saints.

Catholic Charities and Second Harvest have been on the ground providing help and hope in our response to the oil spill since the days immediately following the April 20^th Deepwater Horizon explosion.

Through November 15, 2010:

• Catholic Charities has provided emergency assistance to 37,251 people* (14,738 families*) and distributed $845,100 in food vouchers from community grocery stores to affected families.
• Second Harvest Food Bank has distributed 610,785 meals, worth $1,368,158 to families affected by the oil spill (as of August 31), including 1,600 boxes worth $78,770 to Catholic Charities oil spill relief centers.
• Second Harvest Food Bank continues to work with 150 faith-based and nonprofit member agencies serving all 14 civil parishes affected by the oil spill.  Through this member network, Second Harvest is able to serve 4,800 people affected by the oil spill every week.
• Catholic Charities’ mental health crisis counselors have provided counseling to 12,286* people.
• Catholic Charities has also distributed $317,651 in other direct assistance (rent/mortgage assistance, utilities, medication, etc.) and $31,267 in baby supplies (diapers and formula).

At Catholic Charities’ five Oil Spill Relief Centers, families can receive direct assistance, case management services, crisis counseling and emergency help and supplies: 

• St. Bernard Catholic Church in St. Bernard
• St. Thomas Catholic Church in Point-a-la-Hache
• St. Patrick Catholic Church in Port Sulphur
• Mary Queen of Vietnam Catholic Church in NO East
• St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lafitte
• We provide counseling, information and referrals at two additional sites along the Louisiana coast: Venice and Breton Sound.

Families in need can also call our toll-free Catholic Charities Care Line: 866-891-2210.
For information on a food relief agency in a local community, contact our
Second Harvest Food Bank at 504-734-1322.

We continue to operate our five Oil Spill Relief Centers at located at Catholic Church parishes in the coastal communities affected by the spill. We are helping families file claims with the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) and helping those families still falling through the cracks.

Through October 25:

• Catholic Charities has provided emergency assistance to 35,715 people* (13,990 families*) and distributed $831,600 in food vouchers from community grocery stores to affected families.
• Second Harvest Food Bank has distributed 610,785 meals, worth $1,368,158 to families affected by the oil spill (as of August 31), including 1,600 boxes worth $78,770 to Catholic Charities oil spill relief centers.
• Second Harvest Food Bank continues to work with 150 faith-based and nonprofit member agencies serving all 14 civil parishes affected by the oil spill.  Through this member network, Second Harvest is able to serve 4,800 people affected by the oil spill every week.
• Catholic Charities’ mental health crisis counselors have provided counseling to 10,982* people.
• Catholic Charities has also distributed $288,947 in other direct assistance (rent/mortgage assistance, utilities, medication, etc.) and $31,267 in baby supplies (diapers and formula).

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the Catholic Charities toll-free Care Line at (866) 891-2210.

Donate to our ongoing efforts here >

Recently, three young men (seated in the photo) from the New York area cycled from New York to New Orleans to raise money for Catholic Charities’ oil spill relief efforts on a trip they called “Ride to Heal.” The trip took about 20 days, spanned 1,500 miles and raised $10,000 for families still facing economic uncertainty in the wake of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

These three young men visited the Catholic Charities oil spill leadership team on Tuesday. Since May 1, Catholic Charities has served 35,277 people and our mental health counselors have logged 10,829 visits with people suffering from the spill.

More than twenty of the country’s most notable jewelry artists have come together to support victims of the oil spill in the Gulf through Catholic Charities.

The diverse group of jewelers has organized a charity auction on eBay to raise money for our relief efforts. Please click here to visit the eBay site, Jewelers for the Gulf.

Photo: Color of Water Series Pendant by Chris Hierholzer

Although our funds for oil spill relief are exhausted, we are still working in our 9 sites on the Louisiana coast to help fishing communities affected by the disaster.

Through August 9, 2010:

• We have provided emergency assistance to 22,260 people* (8,578 families*).
• We have distributed $587,247 in food vouchers to affected families and $78,770 in emergency food boxes from our affiliated ministry Second Harvest Food Bank.
• Our affiliated ministry Second Harvest Food Bank has distributed about 391,086 pounds of food (about 305,000 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 7,301 people.
• We have distributed $207,044  in other direct assistance and baby supplies to families.

Families in need can visit one of our oil spill relief centers or call the toll-free
Catholic Charities Care Line: 866-891-2210

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 four additional sites along the Louisiana coast, including Venice, LA and Breton Sound.

*Many individuals and families have received multiple services from Catholic Charities.

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 baby supplies 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.

Click here to make a donation to our Oil Spill Relief Fund >

Since May 1, almost 17,000 individuals have received emergency assistance through Catholic Charities.  By the numbers, through July 9, 2010:

• 16,703 people (6,288 families) have received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities;
• $370,600 in food vouchers have been distributed to affected families, $75,030 in emergency food boxes from Second Harvest Food Bank have been distributed at the relief centers, in addition to regular distributions through the SHFB partner pantries in the area;
• 393 cans of baby formula and 1,051 packages of diapers have been distributed;
• Total food assistance: $445,630
• 3,524 people have received individual counseling and 60 have taken part in group counseling with Catholic Charities crisis counselors;
• $147,107 in direct assistance and baby supplies has been distributed to families;

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the Catholic Charities toll-free Care Line at 866-891-2210.

As the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico stretches into a third month,  more fishermen and their families find themselves caught in an economic and mental health crisis.   Those needing crisis counseling can get it, free of charge, at any of our five oil spill relief centers.  Catholic Charities Care Line, 1-866-891-2210, is available 24 hours a day.  The National Suicide Prevention Hotline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), is also available 24 hours a day.

Since May 1, almost 14,000 individuals have received emergency assistance through Catholic Charities.  By the numbers, through June 28, 2010:

• 13,696 people (5,203 families) have received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities;
• $236,900 in food vouchers have been distributed to affected families, $72,840 in emergency food boxes from Second Harvest Food Bank have been distributed at the relief centers, in addition to regular distributions through the SHFB partner pantries in the area;
• 353 cans of baby formula and 966 packages of diapers have been distributed;
• Total food assistance: $401,370
• 2,667 people have received individual counseling and 58 have taken part in group counseling with Catholic Charities crisis counselors;
• $115,948 in direct assistance and baby supplies has been distributed to families;
• $1,044,423 raised;
• $855,316 spent.

Those wanting to help can make donations to the Catholic Charities Oil Spill Relief Fund by clicking the link to the right.

Since May 1, more than 9,800 individuals affected by the oil spill have received emergency assistance  through Catholic Charities. 

In order to serve the affected communities we have partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank,  local governments and state agencies (Dept of Social Services and Health and Hospitals) and other local non-profits such as United Way.  We are also very grateful to BP for its $1 million gift that has enabled us to expand our services.

By the numbers, through June 14, 2010:

• 9,819 people (3,283 families) have received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities;
• $185,500 in gift cards and/or food vouchers have been distributed to affected families;
• 1,600 emergency food boxes from Second Harvest Food Bank have been distributed through our oil spill centers, additional food has been distributed by Second Harvest through regular partner food pantries;
• 190 cans of baby formula have been distributed along with 102  boxes of diapers and 291 ½ packs of diapers;
• 1,535 people have received individual counseling and 58 have taken part in group counseling with Catholic Charities crisis counselors;
• $68,459 in direct assistance has been distributed to families.

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Since May 1, more than 7,800 individuals have received emergency assistance from the local Catholic Church through Catholic Charities.  By the numbers, through June 7, 2010:

• 7,803 people (2,369 families) have received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities;
• $140,600 in gift cards and/or food vouchers have been distributed to affected families;
• 952 emergency food boxes from Second Harvest Food Bank have been distributed;
• 177 cans of baby formula have been distributed along with 77 boxes of diapers and 186 ½ packs of diapers;
• 902 people have undergone mental health assessments; and
• 737 people have received individual counseling and 58 have taken part in group counseling with Catholic Charities crisis counselors.

Those wanting to help, can make donations  directly to Catholic Charities at www.ccano.org. 

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Catholic Charities is currently in need of volunteers to help us outreach to families who work in fishing-related industries affected by the oil spill.  All volunteers must initially attend an Oil Spill/ Disaster Relief Volunteer Orientation; orientations will take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday  at 2pm on the 10^th floor of 1000 Howard Avenue New Orleans, LA 70113. 

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