At least 13 people lost their lives in tornadoes that ripped through nine counties in Arkansas and other parts of the Midsouth Feb. 5. Catholic Charities of Arkansas immediately began assessing the needs of victims and putting in place local caseworkers to assist those hardest hit by the storm.
“It is absolutely devastating,” said Sister Mary Lou Stubbs, DC, director of Catholic Charities of Arkansas. “We pray that we don’t learn that any more lives have been lost.”
“Catholic Charities of Arkansas has a well-established history of providing long-term recovery assistance in the aftermath of some of the state’s most destructive tornadoes,” she said.
Donations to support the efforts may be sent to:
Disaster Relief Fund
Catholic Charities of Arkansas
P.O. Box 7565
Little Rock, AR 72217-7565
The agency has been in contact with the Disaster Response Office of Catholic Charities USA, which is providing strategic guidance as well as a $10,000 grant to help Catholic Charities of Arkansas meet the immediate needs of the most vulnerable populations impacted by the disaster.
No damage to any Catholic churches has been reported. The parishes have turned their attention to helping their members and neighbors recover, Sister Mary Lou said.
A special collection for tornado relief will be taken up in parishes throughout the diocese this weekend. Click here to read the letter from Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert, diocesan administrator, that will be read from pulpits this weekend.
