Hygiene Kits Still Needed for Disaster Survivors

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The SVdPUSA Disaster Services Corporation has been working non-stop coordinating disaster relief services in response to hurricanes in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, Georgia, Alabama, the Carolina's and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and wildfires in California. With millions of individuals being displaced because of these disasters, the DSC has been assisting survivors with immediate needs, in addition to its traditional role of long-term disaster relief services including: on-site training, Rapid Response grants, long-term recovery grants and disaster case management services.

"I have never seen so many disasters grouped this closely, nor so much devastation, or so many individuals and families displaced," Elizabeth Disco-Shearer, CEO-SVdP Disaster Services Corporation said. "People are struggling and it is important to remember them in the weeks and months to come. While we help with long-term recovery, we can also help people now with basic, everyday needs."

The SVdP Disaster Services Corporation is asking for help in providing hygiene kits for disaster survivors. Hygiene kits help meet the immediate needs of individuals who have lost everything. These hygiene kits cost less than $7 each and include a full bar of soap, a soap holder, a 4-ounce bottle of shampoo and about a dozen other items. The contents of these kits are tailored to the needs of people by age groups and gender.

A campaign is underway to obtain 40,000 kits in the next 15 days by November 10. More than 12,000 kits have already been donated and distributed to disaster survivors. Please help by donating today:  https://www.roonga.com/svdphygienekitdrive/

All hygiene kits purchased will be shipped directly to the designated SVdP disaster relief location for distribution to people in need.

About the Disaster Services Corporation

The National Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Disaster Services Corporation (www.svdpdisaster.org) responds to disasters such as floods, wildfires, tornadoes and other events throughout the United States. The DSC trains regional response teams as well as individual Vincentians throughout the country to compassionately serve victims of disasters. It is the person-to-person holistic case management that distinguishes SVdP from other organization's approach to relief and recovery - reaching out to each individual to determine his or her needs and then working closely with them to meet those needs.

About the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

One of the largest charitable organizations in the world, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (www.svdpusa.org) is an international, nonprofit, Catholic lay organization of about 800,000 men and women who voluntarily join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to the needy and suffering in 150 countries on five continents. With the U.S. headquarters in St. Louis, Mo., membership in the United States totals nearly 100,000 in 4,400 communities.

SVdP offers a variety of programs and services, including home visits, housing assistance, disaster relief, education and mentoring, food pantries, dining halls, clothing, assistance with transportation, prescription medication and rent and utility costs. The Society also works to provide care for the sick, the incarcerated and the elderly. Over the past year, SVdP provided over $1.2 billion in tangible and in-kind services to those in need, made more than 1.7 million personal visits (homes, hospitals, prisons and eldercare facilities) and helped more than 20.9 million people regardless of race, religion or national origin.

For more information about this release, please contact:
Gary Stevens at (314) 576-3993 ext. 209 or (314) 378-5583 or e-mail [email protected]

SOURCE Society of St. Vincent de Paul