Partnering with St. Mary Parish to help people affected by the damage
GREENSBORO — In the wake of a tornado that struck the Greensboro area last month, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte is working in partnership with St. Mary Church to provide assistance. Catholic Charities has been able to help more than 300 people affected by the storm so far, and relief efforts continue.
The EF2 tornado with 135-mph winds touched down April 15 east and northeast of Greensboro, damaging more than 1,000 homes and businesses and leaving nearly 200 destroyed. One person died and two others were injured in Greensboro when a tree landed on top of a vehicle. No other injuries were reported in the storm. President Donald Trump declared a “major disaster” May 8 and federal funds and assistance will be given to those affected by the storms.
Catholic Charities staff met with Father Charles Strollo, pastor of St. Mary Church, on April 20 to assess the damage and plan how best to respond, said Joe Purello, director of Catholic Charities’ Office of Social Concerns and Advocacy.
St. Mary Church is located less than one mile away from a neighborhood seriously affected by the tornado. The church has held two special collections to help those affected.
“We’re a Vincentian parish,” Father Strollo said. “Offering assistance and working hand in hand with Catholic Charities flows from the charism of charity for which our founder, St. Vincent de Paul, is well known. When Catholic Charities contacted me with a request that we partner in this response, the answer was very easy: yes! Working with Catholic Charities was the most effective way to help the victims of this tornado, parishioners and non-parishioners alike. Fortunately for this effort, our parish has an active social ministry committee who have been eager to assist with Catholic Charities.”
The church has served as a base for Catholic Charities staff and volunteers to work with the parish to offer disaster response assistance. Help has been provided in English and Spanish.
“For the last few weeks, we’ve been giving out water, snacks, emergency supplies, cleaning supplies, toiletries and gift cards to help people replace food and other items lost,” said Becky DuBois, regional director of the Piedmont Triad office in Winston-Salem. “We’re slowing down on emergency assistance and transitioning to case management.”
They’ve helped 340 families so far, DuBois said. Some people lost their homes or aren’t able to return to them, and some people had items just damaged. Catholic Charities is interviewing the families and determining what assistance can be provided next for their long-term recovery, DuBois said.
Catholic Charities has been working with volunteers from additional parishes located in the Piedmont-Triad region and staff are collaborating with non-profit community partners such as the Red Cross and Team Rubicon.
DuBois said Catholic Charities will continue meeting with families who need help through May.
“Parishes know best what the needs are in their communities, so it is natural that Catholic Charities engages with parishes that are closest to where the disaster happened,” Purello said. “The model of working with a parish as a Catholic Charities disaster response base of operations works very well. Parishes often have excellent facilities and resources that are brought to the table to respond to disasters. The pastor, staff and parishioners of St. Mary Church have been so hospitable and generous.”
— Kimberly Bender, Online reporter
Want to help?
Donate online: Click on the blue “Donate” tab at the top of Catholic Charities’ website homepage, www.ccdoc.org.
Doante by mail: Make a check payable to Catholic Charities and send it to Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203. Please write “Disaster Response” in the memo section.
Donate by phone: Call 704-370-3281 to make a donation by credit card.
Interested in helping out? Contact your local Catholic Charities office to see learn where you may be needed.
