News

Salvatorian Mission Warehouse sends
flood relief supplies

By Patricia Kasten
Compass Associate Editor

	Hurricane Katrina
	from this week's issue: • Katrina: Area Catholics can help   Sidebar: Special hurricane collection • Outpouring of care: Welcoming Katrina survivors • Mississippi priory spared by hurricane • Editorial -- Flood with aid from the September 2, 2005 issue: • Bishop asks prayers, money for hurricane survivors

The Salvatorian Mission Warehouse in New Holstein is used to sending supplies to hurricane ravaged areas across the globe. They're not as used to sending supplies to their own country - but they have done it. And they're doing it now.

"A little while back, we sent first aid kits down to the panhandle region of Florida and Alabama, when they were hit," said Br. Regis Fust, SDS, warehouse director. "It wasn't as bad as this, of course." (Hurricane Dennis hit the region July 10.)

On Sept. 1, the mission warehouse sent out 2,000 more kits - this time to the region devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Volunteers immediately made up 2,000 more kits to be shipped. The kits, supplied by the Johnson and Johnson Company, include toothpaste and toothbrushes, baby powder, shampoo and wash cloths.

It's a small amount of what is needed, but Br. Regis said that "for us to try to ship anything from here, when the government is asking companies in that region to help" really doesn't work as well. Every week, the warehouse ships - either from New Holstein or directly from supply sources - truckloads, even boatloads, of food, medical supplies and paper products to mission areas around the world. However, with Hurricane Katrina, many of the paper companies Br. Regis usually works with are in regions affected by Katrina. He expects those companies will coordinate efforts directly.

However, the mission warehouse is already expecting to receive supplies to put together another 7,000 kits and will ship them where needed.

The Salvatorian Mission Warehouse can be contacted at (920)898-5898.