Lafayette, Ind., Nov 21, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Following the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in August and September, some Catholic organizations along the Gulf Coast are facing declining donations for their other charitable services, as well as catch-22’s because of earmarked funds, coming in strictly for hurricane relief.
This, according to a report in the Lafayette, Louisiana, Daily Advertiser, is leaving many already-homeless people without food, clothing, or a chance to get out of their own cycles of poverty.
Although there is a decent amount of money coming in, said Kimberly James, head of Lafayette’s Catholic Service Centers, which runs St. Joseph‘s shelter for Men, " it’s a mixed blessing. We need it as much as it hurts us."
"We're grateful”, she told the Advertiser, “for those designated donations, but we're asking for donations to support existing services."