CNS photo/Rick Wilking, Reuters
Left photo: Valerie Gonzalez, Rose Porcellini and Mark Taylor of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden, are in Colorado to assist local efforts to help those impacted by the flooding.
Colorado is currently under a state of emergency due to catastrophic flooding which has left eight people dead and tens of thousands of people displaced. Catholic Charities USA has been on the ground since Sept. 17 and has asked for assistance from the national network of Catholic Charities agencies to assist Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Denver, respond to the needs of those impacted by the flooding.
Three staff from Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden, traveled to Colorado to join in this effort: Valerie Gonzalez (Veterans Services), Rose Porcellini (Executive Office) and Mark Taylor (Veterans Services).
“When our diocese was struck by Hurricane Sandy, we benefited from the generosity of people all across the United States,” said Kevin Hickey, executive director, “Our response to the Colorado flooding, so near to the one year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, is another way we can commemorate the great contributions so many volunteers and donors made in our time of need.”
While in Denver, Gonzalez, Porcellini and Taylor will work closely with staff from CCUSA and Catholic Charities Denver to respond to the immediate needs (similar to what was done at the Distribution Sites following Hurricane Sandy) and help the agency develop a plan for longer term response efforts. They are deployed until Oct. 13.