Sarah Mitchell
Catholic Charities is a disaster relief organization that helps individuals, families, and communities prepare for and recover from natural disasters. They have provided relief for victims of hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and fires. Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is the official domestic relief agency of the Catholic Church in the US and has launched disaster relief campaigns for victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, providing essential needs such as food, water, toiletries, and hotel vouchers. Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma also provides assistance to those affected by house fires, offering financial aid for shelter, food, clothing, and other basic needs. Additionally, they work with other community organizations to help individuals, families, and communities prepare for and respond to natural disasters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) | Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) |
| Disaster Relief Fund | Food, water, toiletries, hotel vouchers, emergency cash assistance, etc. |
| Areas served | Los Angeles, Eastern Oklahoma, Sacramento, Ventura County, Butte County, etc. |
| Types of disasters served | Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, house fires, etc. |
| Other services | Disaster preparedness training, disaster case management, immigration assistance, free school tuition, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic Charities USA's disaster relief fund
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is the official domestic relief agency of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is a member of Caritas Internationalis and the membership office for Catholic Charities agencies nationwide. CCUSA provides disaster relief to communities affected by natural and man-made disasters, including hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
CCUSA's disaster relief fund is used to disburse disaster funds and grants to agencies aiding their crisis response efforts. In addition to financial assistance, CCUSA also provides in-kind donations such as food, water, hygiene products, diapers, cleaning supplies, sleeping bags, and external power stations. CCUSA's Mobile Response Center serves as a critical component in delivering these essential items to survivors.
In 2024, CCUSA distributed $5.1 million to Catholic Charities agencies providing relief for Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. The Archdiocese of Baltimore also set up a relief fund specifically for victims of Hurricane Helene. CCUSA's Disaster Operations and Development teams worked closely with partner agencies and donors to coordinate and ship in-kind donations to the affected areas in the Southeast.
CCUSA has also been actively involved in providing relief to survivors of the 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles. The organization launched a dedicated relief fund, collecting donations for food, clothing, and temporary housing. CCUSA of Los Angeles offered vital support services, including financial assistance with rental and motel vouchers, to help families recover and rebuild their lives.
CCUSA's disaster relief efforts are characterized by their commitment to immediate and long-term support. The organization works year-round to coordinate trained disaster response teams and provide life-saving aid. CCUSA's Social Policy Team also plays a crucial role in shaping legislative priorities and recommendations based on the needs of the vulnerable populations they serve.
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Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma's disaster case management
Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma provides disaster case management services to help individuals, families, and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters, such as tornadoes, floods, and wildfires. They understand that recovery from a disaster is a long-term process that involves more than just rebuilding physical structures.
In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma takes several steps to provide assistance. They collaborate with federal, state, and local partners to meet the diverse needs of survivors. This includes offering financial aid for essential needs such as shelter, food, clothing, and other basic necessities. Their case managers work closely with survivors, listening to their stories, helping them identify their needs, and connecting them with the necessary resources for their unique situations.
The organization also participates in Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs), which are one-stop shops where survivors can access multiple resources simultaneously, streamlining the process of obtaining aid. Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma also assists with recovery from house fires, providing immediate access to food and clothing during business hours in some areas.
Additionally, Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma is an active participant in Oklahoma's chapter of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). Their case managers work with a Long-Term Recovery Committee to coordinate volunteers and effectively utilize manpower, donated materials, and monetary donations to meet disaster-related needs.
For those in need of assistance, Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma maintains a Disaster Line at (918) 935-2650, where individuals can request help and experienced disaster case managers will respond to their specific needs.
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Catholic Charities' disaster relief for Los Angeles wildfires
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) has launched a dedicated disaster relief donation campaign for survivors of the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. The wildfires, which started in January 2025, have caused destruction in Los Angeles County, with Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Sylmar, and Hollywood Hills among the hardest-hit regions. Nearly 180,000 people have been forced to evacuate, leaving their homes and belongings behind.
CCUSA is the membership office for Catholic Charities agencies nationwide and is a member of Caritas Internationalis. CCUSA and its member agencies have a long history of rapidly mobilizing following disasters to meet immediate needs and provide long-term support to communities as they rebuild. CCUSA provides help and creates hope for more than 15 million people a year, regardless of their religious, social, or economic backgrounds.
The Catholic Charities network responds to around 60 disasters annually, including hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, and floods. The organization has launched similar dedicated relief campaigns for other natural disasters, such as Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene.
Catholic Charities of Los Angeles is providing critical humanitarian relief to those most in need. Their Disaster Relief Fund provides essential needs such as food, water, toiletries, and hotel vouchers to those impacted by the wildfires. The organization has shared contacts dedicated to supporting those affected by the wildfires and has set up a donation page for the Los Angeles Wildfires relief fund.
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Catholic Charities' response to the Mountain Fire
The Mountain Fire in Ventura County, Los Angeles, forced thousands of people to flee their homes. The fire, driven by high winds, caused widespread damage to homes, structures, and agricultural land. It scorched over 20,630 acres, destroyed more than 200 homes, and damaged 90 structures. The areas most affected by the Mountain Fire are primarily residential.
Catholic Charities of Los Angeles has launched a disaster relief fund to support those impacted by the Mountain Fire. The fund provides essential humanitarian relief to those in need, including food, water, toiletries, and hotel vouchers. The Catholic Charities network responds to roughly 60 disasters every year, including hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, and floods.
The disaster response team of Catholic Charities USA is mobilized through the local knowledge and expertise of its agencies. They support direct aid, home repair and rebuilding, health care services, and other long-term recovery efforts. Catholic Charities USA has also launched a dedicated disaster relief donation campaign, with 100% of donations going towards providing critical humanitarian relief to those most in need.
To donate to the Catholic Charities of Los Angeles Disaster Relief Fund, individuals can visit the website and select the Disaster Relief Fund—Mountain Fire from the Designation dropdown menu. Donations can also be made by texting “FIRES” to 20406.
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Catholic Charities' disaster preparedness program
Catholic Charities is the official domestic relief agency of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is committed to providing immediate and long-term aid to rebuild lives and restore hope in communities devastated by natural and man-made disasters. The Catholic Charities network responds to dozens of disasters each year, from hurricanes and tornadoes to fires and floods.
The Catholic Charities Disaster Recovery Program provides disaster preparedness training and workshops, as well as tips, resources, and checklists to help individuals and families prepare for and recover from disasters. The program covers topics such as emergency financial aid, material assistance, and disaster relief funds.
The Annual Applied Institute for Disaster Excellence (AIDE) is a key initiative of Catholic Charities' disaster preparedness program. AIDE prepares Catholic Charities network and diocesan staff to successfully engage in disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Through AIDE, CCUSA is training 400 disaster case managers (DCMs) who can be dispatched to provide humanitarian services, ongoing case management, and disaster training for staff and volunteers.
Catholic Charities also offers disaster relief funds to provide immediate and long-term support to individuals and families affected by disasters. These funds are used to provide critical humanitarian relief, such as shelter, meals, water, emergency funding, and disaster aid application assistance. Additionally, CCUSA disburses disaster funds and grants to agencies to enhance their crisis response capabilities.
In conclusion, Catholic Charities' disaster preparedness program equips individuals and communities with the knowledge and resources to prepare for and respond to disasters effectively. Through training initiatives like AIDE and the Disaster Recovery Program, Catholic Charities empowers staff and volunteers to provide essential humanitarian services and rebuild lives impacted by disasters.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) has launched a dedicated disaster relief donation campaign to provide humanitarian relief to those most in need. They are collecting donations for food, clothing, and temporary housing. They are also offering a helping hand to those who have lost their homes and livelihoods, and praying for their firefighters and first responders.
You can get in touch with Catholic Charities USA by visiting their website at CatholicCharitiesUSA.org or by contacting Kevin Brennan, Vice President for Media Relations and Executive Communications, at [email protected].
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has set up a donation portal to provide financial assistance to victims. You can donate or find other fire-related resources and information at lacatholics.org/california-fires. You can also donate to the Diocese of Sacramento Fire Assistance Fund or the Camp Fire Student Fund by calling (916) 733-0266.
Catholic agencies in California have organized outreach and relief for storm victims amid historic rainfall. Catholic aid agencies have also launched emergency collections for quake victims in Turkey and Syria, and Texas archdiocese agencies have assisted immigrants and refugees seeking asylum.
