CRS staff and volunteers load boxes for delivery to Gaza as part of a relief effort that will serve 1500 families. Photo by Michelle Barsa/CRS

This week in the West Bank, college-age volunteers helped pack hundreds of boxes with blankets, diapers, plastic basins, and other items to be delivered to 1500 families in the war-torn Gaza Strip. CRS is also sending ready-to-eat food like canned tuna because many families have no way to cook food.

Elias Kreitem, Operations Manager in CRS’ Jerusalem office, said that CRS’ efforts have received a great deal of local support. “The supplier has contributed a lot and was willing to help in all circumstances, like giving us extra warehouse space at no additional charge. I visited the storerooms [on Jan. 20] and all volunteers (most of them with university degrees) were packing the purchased items. Many of them were scouts and worked every day almost until midnight in order to send the packages to Gaza in a timely manner. I was happy to see things moving forward with this help and enthusiasm from all suppliers and scout members.”

With fighting continuing in the Gaza Strip, our prayers are with our colleagues in Gaza and Israel.

A morning press release updates information about our response:

“As the conflict in Gaza and Southern Israel continues, Catholic Relief Services will provide 500 war-affected families in Gaza with desperately needed food and other humanitarian relief supplies. With a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development and $100,000 from its American donors, CRS will distribute food, hygiene items, blankets, candles, and other essentials.”

Here is the complete press release.

Images of submerged streets and mangled roofs have faded from the headlines. But the greatest storm to touch down in Cuba in decades is still very much a reality for Cubans, CRS, and its partners providing outreach from Miami.

Hurricanes Gustav and Ike tore through areas of Cuba in August and September, causing record damage and forced 3 million residents from their homes. This was no ordinary storm season. Cubans face a long and arduous road to recovery.

Outside of the Daughters of Charity in Miami volunteers stand by a shipment of relief supplies that will be sent to Cuba to help victims of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Photo by Kai T. Hill/CRS.

This is why the front lawn of the Daughters of Charity in West Miami remains filled with relief supplies. With the help of CRS, the Daughters of Charity this week will have sent 21 large shipping containers of food, medicine and hygiene supplies among other items. So far over $1 million in relief has been sent to the country, says CRS’ Lynn Renner, who recently visited the sisters and the Miami Archdiocese.

Under a canopy of palm trees, petite but stalwart nuns and dozens of volunteers work side by side to sort and pack goods bound for the island.

“They were going about their business very intently,” says Renner. “They have the help they needed and are saying we want to do this to help. They were serious about making sure that everything was categorized properly and of good quality.”

In total, CRS and Daughters of Charity plan to send more than 700,000 pounds of food and medicines and other relief supplies to the island.

CRS is also sending 5,000 roofing panels to Cuba. They were provided by the Friends of Caritas Cuba.

You can also help by making a donation to CRS’ Latin America and Caribbean Severe Weather Fund.

Kai T. Hill, CRS associate web producer

Caritas posted a story about two babies born during Cyclone Sidr. Saturday, Nov. 15, is the one-year anniversary of the storm.