ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the fires continue to rage in Southern California, local Catholic Charities in the impacted areas are working with their Catholic and disaster response partners to provide relief.
In San Diego, Catholic Charities is providing hot meals, staffing, and technical resources to those sheltering at Qualcomm Stadium--now San Diego County's largest emergency evacuation center where about 12,000 people spent Tuesday night. (View photos of Catholic Charities staff helping out at QualComm Stadium at http://www.cc-sd.org/firerelief07/web%20photos/index.htm)
Additionally, the agency has organized diocesan priests to provide spiritual and emotional care at the stadium. In the coming days, Catholic Charities of San Diego and its partners will help victims coordinate their transitional housing needs and with completing FEMA and other aid applications.
Based on agreements with their local Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) partners, Catholic Charities of San Bernardino/Riverside continues to assess current conditions and possible solutions. The agency anticipates that its initial efforts will focus on providing case management and helping clients access resources, such as FEMA assistance.
Catholic Charities of Los Angeles continues to work closely with local disaster and community leaders to assess and mobilize its efforts. The agency is looking to provide case management services and help clients to apply for FEMA aid and locate other resources.
With the fires in Orange County contained and not affecting populated areas, Catholic Charities of Orange continues to monitor the situation and remains in contact with Catholic Charities USA's Disaster Response Office staff in the event a response is required.
"Catholic Charities USA's Office of Disaster Response is working closely with local agencies to ensure that our network has the tools and resources it needs to respond to the fires," said Kim Burgo, director of disaster response for Catholic Charities USA. "A team will be traveling to California tomorrow to assist our agencies on the ground."
Catholic Charities USA, which has been commissioned by the U.S. Catholic Bishops to represent the Catholic community in times of domestic disaster, responds with emergency and long-term assistance as needed. Its Disaster Response Office connects the Church's social service agencies and disaster planning offices across the nation.
Editor's Note: Please include CCUSA on your list of humanitarian agencies responding to the fires.
Catholic Charities USA is collecting donations to support local agencies' recovery efforts. To contribute:
Call (800) 919-9338
Visit http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/
Send checks to:
Catholic Charities USA
Southern California Wildfires
PO Box 7068, Merrifield, VA 22116-7068
Catholic Charities USA is unable to accept contributions of food, clothing, blankets and other relief supplies. Its federal ID number is 53-0196620.
Catholic Charities USA
