About the Charities BureauHurricane Sandy Relief Information
Catholic Charities Diocese of Rockville Centre
12/13/12, Submitted by Laura A. Cassell - CEO
Q 1: What is the approximate dollar amount of donations and pledges that
your organization has received to date in response to Hurricane Sandy?
A 1: $527,000
Q 2: Will these funds be used solely for Hurricane Sandy relief? If not,
approximately what portion will be used for Hurricane Sandy relief and
what other purposes will funds be used for?
A 2: These funds will be used solely for Hurricane Sandy relief and to build response
capacity for disaster victims.
Q 3: Approximately how much has your organization spent to date on Hurricane
Sandy relief?
A 3: $137,000
Q 4: What services has your organization provided to those affected by Hurricane
Sandy? What populations or geographical areas are being served by your
organization in response to Hurricane Sandy? What services does it expect to
provide in the future?
A 4: Catholic Charities, Diocese of Rockville Centre, serves Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Areas that have expressed greatest need since the storm, where we have focused most
closely, include Long Beach, Oceanside, Lindenhurst, Mastic, and others. Services are
described below.
Catholic Charities operated a special needs shelter during the hurricane.
The agency distributes food, clothes, blankets, baby supplies, hygiene kits, cleaning
supplies, flashlights, batteries, tools, and other items to people in affected areas
through local parishes.
Staff and volunteers conduct person-to-person outreach in affected areas, informing
storm victims of services and benefits available.
Funds are being distributed directly to households that were severely impacted by the
storm.
Disaster case managers are being hired for a team that will work long-term with Long
Islanders during recovery from the storms. Case managers will reach out to people in
impacted areas, assess their needs, develop a collaborative recovery plan, and walk
with their clients on their journey toward renewed stability. We expect to provide the
disaster case management program for two years or longer because families will
continue to need help through different phases of recovery.
Q 5: Has your organization provided funding to other organizations for Hurricane
Sandy relief efforts? If so, which organizations have received those funds
and what is the approximate dollar amount provided to them? How does
your organization determine the need for funding?
A 5: Catholic Charities has not provided funding to other organizations for Hurricane Sandy
relief efforts. No such funding is planned.
Q 6: Has your organization provided, or does it intend to provide, direct financial
assistance to individuals, families or businesses for Hurricane Sandy relief?
If so, what is the approximate dollar amount that your organization
has provided to date and approximately how much direct financial assistance
does it expect to provide in the future? How does your organization
determine the need for assistance?
A 6: Catholic Charities has provided approximately $50,000 in direct assistance to
Hurricane Sandy victims. A family seeking such assistance may fill out an application
through their local parish. The application is submitted by the parish to Catholic
Charities, where it is further reviewed on the basis of need and appropriateness of
request. Approved disbursements are made directly to applicants. Note: Application to
the fund is open to all residents of affected areas, Catholic and non-Catholic alike.
Membership in a parish is not a consideration. Catholic Charities plans to disburse at
least $75,000 in additional funds in this way.
Q 7: Does your organization have a plan in place on how to use any surplus funds
not spent for Hurricane Sandy relief? If so, please describe that plan.
A 7: Catholic Charities does not anticipate having surplus funds, due to the scale of the
disaster.