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Red Cross Partners with Catholic Charities to Aid Hurricane Dolly Victims in South Texas
by Allen Crabtree, American Red Cross
Friday, August 01, 2008 — To help victims of Hurricane Dolly, the American Red Cross has partnered with Catholic Charities USA of the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas. Together they have established four bulk distribution sites in the Rio Grande Valley to help meet the emergency needs of Hurricane Dolly victims. The Red Cross is providing clean-up kits and personal care supplies for those impacted by the disaster, while the Catholic Charities are providing water, basic food essentials and other items to meet the needs of those impacted by Hurricane Dolly.
American Red Cross volunteer Lois Gerena (center) from Puerto Rico unloads his delivery truck full of disaster relief supplies at the bulk distribution site in Edinburg, Texas. He is assisted by two Catholic Charities volunteers, partner to the Red Cross in providing assistance to victims of Hurricane Dolly at these sites. Photo credit: Allen Crabtree, American Red Cross
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“We are pleased to partner with the Red Cross in this disaster relief effort,” said Kim Burgo, senior director of Catholic Charities USA Office of Disaster Response. “There is extensive flooding in many of the towns here and we are filling a large need with these bulk distribution sites. Numerous mobile home parks and individual dwellings remain under water and there is a great deal of damage in the Colonias, the traditionally low-income communities.”
American Red Cross volunteer Joy Cook is designated as the delivery dispatcher at the Red Cross warehouse in Harlingen, Texas. She dispatched Red Cross volunteers Bob Phelps and Luis Gerena to drive a delivery truck loaded with relief supplies from the warehouse to the bulk distribution site opened at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Edinburg. The parking lot behind the church was a flurry of activity with piles of supplies and long lines of cars with flood victims waiting for assistance.
The Red Cross truck arrived and green-vested Catholic Charities volunteers crowded around to unload the supplies. Phelps and Gerena pitched in to help unload the truck and then stayed to distribute supplies.
“I came here all the way from San Juan to help, and want to keep busy,” said Gerena. “I’ve been volunteering for the American Red Cross since 1989, and it makes me feel good to help people in their times of need.”
Everyone coming to the bulk distribution site had their unique story, and all were grateful for the help they were receiving.
“We have finally been able to get the water pumped out of our home on North Kenyan [Edinburg] and are starting to clean things up,” said Chiselda De Anda. “I can’t tell you how much we appreciate the water and clean-up kits we’ve received here today. You have been wonderful to us!”
American Red Cross volunteer Jill Franklin from Fort Worth, Texas, helps other volunteers loading a delivery truck with comfort kits and cleanup kits at the American Red Cross bulk distribution warehouse in Harlingen, Texas. Delivery trucks are sent to several bulk distribution sites in the area devastated by Hurricane Dolly to provide supplies to victims. Photo credit: Allen Crabtree, American Red Cross
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Others who came to the bulk distribution site were not as fortunate, but were equally grateful for assistance.
“Our house is still flooded and we don’t know when we can get back to it,” said Sandy Gonzales from La Villa. “We lost one of our cars when the levee flooded early Thursday morning, and that is why we have eight of us here in the same car.”
By the end of the first day, the four bulk distribution sites had served thousands of people. Kim Burgo from Catholic Charities was pleased with the results, and, as she met with her Red Cross counterparts she was looking forward to a successful second day.
At the Red Cross warehouse, Staves and Harpin and their crew of volunteers prepared manifests and loaded delivery trucks, ready to send them out the next morning to continue the vital disaster relief effort in the Rio Grande Valley area.
Allen Crabtree is a volunteer from the Southern Maine Chapter of the American Red Cross and lives in Sebago, Maine where he is a writer, antiquarian book dealer, blueberry farmer, Chair of the town Board of Selectman and volunteer fire fighter.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like hurricanes, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-RED CROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org.
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