The Fathers of Mercy, in conjunction with the Catholic parishes of South-Central Kentucky (Bowling Green, Russellville, Elkton, Franklin, Scottsville, and Glasgow) and our local Knights of Columbus, are sending aid to help several parishes on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi which have suffered extreme damage from Hurricane Katrina.
Our efforts are to send help directly to our Catholic brothers and sisters who have suffered so much from this devastating hurricane. We would like to thank the Knights of Columbus of Tupelo, MS who have put us in touch with the pastor of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Ocean Springs, MS, where the first semi-truck load of supplies will be delivered on Friday, September 9th. The Knights of Columbus will be on hand to unload the truck and distribute food, water, and other goods to the needy.
Our Hurricane Relief efforts are being 100% staffed by volunteers, and the semi-trucks are being supplied free-of-charge by a member of the Knights of Columbus (from Tupelo, MS) — so there is ZERO overhead!! All donations will be going directly to the people who have suffered from Hurricane Katrina!
At this time, we are asking for donations of the following items:
- Canned foods (meats, fruit, vegetables, and ready-to-eat foods)
- Non-perishable staples (rice, dried beans)
- Bottled water
- Baby supplies (Diapers, baby food, formula, wipes, etc.)
- Hygiene supplies (Bar soap, detergents, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.)
- Paper goods (plates, bowls, paper towels, plastic utensils)
- Mosquito repellant
- New clothing (especially underwear and t-shirts, in all sizes)
To Donate any of the above items, please contact us to arrange a time to drop off your donations at the warehouse, which is on the corner of Clay and 11th Streets in Bowling Green (about 4 blocks from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church). For those in the outlying towns, you may drop off your donations at your local Catholic parish, and someone will bring them to the warehouse.
Our plan is to adopt one parish along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, and to assist the pastor and people of that parish (and their non-Catholic neighbors) with their immediate needs; when the parish is ready, we plan to send volunteers to assist our Catholic brothers and sisters as they rebuild their churches, schools, rectories, and other parish buildings. If each Deanery in the Church in the United States would adopt just one parish from Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama that has been damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, it would be a great help to our brothers and sisters as they seek to rebuild their parishes and their lives. Please spread the word, and ask your parishes to join us in this important work of Charity and Fraternity!