By Joe Winter
Catholic Herald correspondent

CCB has emergency grants for tornado victims

HAMMOND -- About 30 families that are victims of the Hammond tornado could be eligible for a total of $10,000 in emergency grant funding through Catholic Charities, but most have been too shy to come forward, officials say.

As of Aug. 7, one application had been returned, although scores more had been sent out, said Rev. Mike Briggs, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hammond, the closest church to the damaged area. He expects that many more will filter in soon, and accept the aid out of the Catholic Charities Bureau of the Diocese of Superior.

Some people are reluctant to come forward and ask for help, especially since they live in a small town, and this may be reducing the number of applications received, Briggs said. He is spearheading the effort by a group of churches, based on the initial overture by Catholic Charities.

In some cases, people have come forward and told officials that while they don't require assistance from the June 11 tornado, they know of a neighbor who does, Briggs said. Then that neighbor will say that they are basically OK, but they know of a third party who has an even stronger need.

The availability of the applications had been announced two weeks earlier, Briggs said, and they are going to be accepted for another three to five weeks.

Applications were provided to nine families who were displaced, and another 20 whose houses received damage, he said. Virtually all have most of their needs met through insurance.

"However, they do need help with deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses, food and lodging," Briggs said.

If the majority of the people affected would come forward, grant awards given would need to be limited to a percentage of the requested amount for each individual, Briggs said. If there are a smaller number, the $10,000 would be enough to stretch, he said.

Officials declined to reveal details of the evaluation process, but Briggs did say decisions on how funds are distributed are based largely on need, as weighed by degree of damage and a family's overall resources.

There is always a possibility of someone trying to manipulate the system for financial gain, but that's where pastors' knowledge of the local situation can be used to screen out any questionable requests, Briggs said.

Briggs said that although he doesn't have firsthand knowledge of what is happening at all the local churches, many have been providing meals, both at their church halls and at the damaged home sites. Their clergy have stayed in touch with victims to provide pastoral services, he said. Prayers have been said at weekly services, and as part of the work of prayer chains. And many of them have been in the form of intentions for specific situations.

Briggs said that the aid being given to families is crossing denominational lines, even though some churches -- and their parishioners -- are closer to the damaged areas than others.

Catholic Charities Bureau, in cooperation with the churches of Roberts and Hammond and their Good Samaritan Fund, is providing the emergency financial assistance to people who suffered loss from the tornado.

Fr. William Murphy, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Hammond, facilitated the collaboration between the Catholic Charities Bureau and the Hammond area ministerial association, which is coordinating the relief program. After Catholic Charities laid the groundwork and helped get things organized, local pastors "tweaked" the format based on their knowledge of the local situation.

"We are very pleased to be working in close cooperation with the local ministerial association and the churches of Roberts and Hammond Good Samaritan Fund in this relief effort," said Brian Soland, executive director of Superior's Catholic Charities Bureau. "The local clergy are very knowledgeable of the circumstances faced by persons and families suffering loss from this tragedy."

Funds for such Catholic Charities emergency assistance programs originate with the Catholic Charities USA Disaster Relief Program and donations from local parishes, individuals and businesses.

All assistance through this program will be provided without regard to race, religion, national origin, disability, sex or marital status, Catholic Charities says. The only qualification for assistance is a loss suffered from the tornado that is not reimbursable from insurance or other sources. All application information will be kept confidential.

Editor's note: Persons wishing to make application for financial assistance should contact: Rev. Mike Briggs, Trinity Lutheran Church, 1250 Broadway, Hammond, WI 54015, 715-796-2788.

For more information on the Hammond grant applications, contact Terry Hendrick, director of development services at the Catholic Charities Bureau in Superior at 888-831-8446 or thendrick@ccbsuperior.org.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2003