Catholic Charities of Miami Archdiocese to provide hurricane relief

Published: 2005-07-12

MIAMI (CNS) -- The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami July 11 appealed to people in the archdiocese to provide aid to victims of Hurricane Dennis in Cuba, Haiti and the Florida Panhandle. The agency also said it would send a team of six volunteers to the affected area in Florida with enough canned goods and water for a thousand people. The team was heading to Milton, Fort Walton Beach and St. Mary's and planned to stay through July 16. Hurricane Dennis raced ashore at the U.S. Gulf Coast July 10 with 120 mph winds and pounding waves that battered an area still scarred by last year's storms. Dennis moved through the Caribbean July 8-10. By July 12 the death toll in Cuba reached 16. Thousands of homes were destroyed; electricity, water and gas service were disrupted in various locations. "Our quick response is crucial to relief efforts in Florida and the Caribbean," said Brian Stevens, Catholic Charities director of social advocacy. "Our financial support will help people meet their basic needs of food, shelter and clothing."

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