Catholic Charities USA brings relief to the streets in Biloxi, Miss.

Published: 2005-09-12

BILOXI, Miss. (CNS) -- More than anything else, people wanted bleach. That's what the Catholic Charities USA disaster relief team found as it drove its caravan of vehicles through Biloxi and the surrounding area hard-hit by Hurricane Katrina. Victims of the hurricane were happy to get food and water, but above all they wanted bleach and other cleaning supplies such as mops and paper towels to begin the long, arduous process of cleaning up. One woman literally broke down in tears when she was handed a bottle of bleach. Others simply glanced at other giveaway items in the back of the pickup truck, not interested in bread, power bars, fruit and water, just hoping for a big bottle of Clorox. Catholic Charities USA set up a disaster relief center Sept. 8 in the parish hall at St. Mary's Church in Woolmarket, just outside Biloxi, to provide immediate relief to the thousands of people with damaged homes. The parish center was also a base of operations for World Outreach Ministries International, a nondenominational aid group.

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