CV NEWS FEED // The disaster response ministry of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Slidell, Louisiana, is partnering with Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville, North Carolina, to offer free hot meals to Helene victims October 7-9.
“The playground at Immaculata Catholic School looks like a festival,” an October 7 post from Immaculata stated. “Though it’s far from it, the disaster response ministry of St. Margaret Mary parish in Slidell, LA, will offer a taste of hope and joy on this Monday.”
According to an October 6 post from the school, the drive-through meal service is offering lunch starting at 11:30 a.m. and dinner at 5 p.m. each day. The ministry is prepared to serve up to 8,000 meals, which can be boxed for easy pickup.
Another Facebook post shared on October 7 that some of the hot meals are being donated by local restaurants, including Aroma Bistro and El Paso Grill, with Morales Plumbing company of SC helping deliver food.
As CatholicVote reported on October 3, through partnership with Catholic Charities, Immaculata Catholic School has been serving as a volunteer-run disaster relief distribution center. With classes canceled due to Helene, many students are spending their time volunteering to help distribute and package supplies. Monday was the eighth day of operating their “drive-through pick up area” which provides critical supplies and food to those affected by the disaster.
Through an online donation site, Catholic Charities has raised nearly $950,000 in disaster relief funds as of October 7, according to a report from Catholic News Herald.
Bill Borchert, the organizer of the St. Margaret Mary disaster response team, noted that every member of his team has “experienced some kind of devastation,” as they are all survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
“In times of disaster, we are the hands and feet of Christ bringing hope to those who need it,” Borchert stated, according to the October 6 Facebook post.
Bishop Michael G. Duca of the Diocese of Baton Rouge published a letter on October 4, announcing a special collection to provide relief for those affected by Hurricane Helene, aiming “to offer assistance in this time of need and to repay the generosity so frequently shown to us by our brothers and sisters now affected by this storm,” according to the letter.
“Pastors are encouraged over the next two weekends (5/6 October & 12/13 October) in every parish of the diocese to hold a special second collection for Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief,” the Bishop wrote, sharing that the funds will be sent immediately “to provide direct relief to the victims of the hurricane and to sustain the charitable and spiritual works of the Church in these areas.”