Sheila Glbert, the President of the SVDP USA writes of the damage done by the Texas wildfires and how you can help the SVDP relieft efforts.

Dear Brother and Sister Vincentians,

The wildfires that have roared across Texas in the past nine months have caused widespread destruction.

Thousands have been affected and losses include personal belongings, structures, equipment, livestock,
fences, pasture and timber – and those losses continue on a daily basis. Since the beginning of the wildfire
season, more than 23,500 different wild fires have burned more than 3.7 million acres, which is equal to the
approximate size of Connecticut. Some 2,000 homes and over 4,000 structures have been destroyed, while
8,000 persons have been displaced. In Bastrop County alone, more than one-third of the community has been
eliminated. In short, with about 85 percent of Texas affected, and the uninsured rate averaging over 43%,
reaching as high as 61% in the Diocese of Tyler-THIS is the most destructive wildfire in the state’s history.

The federal and state governments have turned to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to help administer
Disaster Case management. The South Central Region of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SCR) is
responding to numerous calls from Councils across the State of Texas (Austin, San Antonio, Tyler, Beaumont,
and Victoria) that need assistance and the SCR of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is manning the Disaster
Case Management office at the Disaster Recover Center in Bastrop. Staff and volunteers are working
alongside FEMA, Texas Department of Emergency Management, and many other health and human service
providers.

These extreme conditions call for extreme generosity. The people we serve are grateful for your past and loyal
support and we ask that you answer our call for our brothers and sisters in Texas with the legendary spirit of
our Society. Your support will help those individuals who are suffering and homeless in Texas.

Mail your check to the National Council, noting Texas Wildfire Relief in the MEMO field, or Donate Online and
check the Texas Wildfire Relief box.

Yours in St. Vincent and Blessed Frederic

Sheila Gilbert

58 Progress Parkway
St. Louis, MO 63043-3706
314-576-3993/6755 (FAX)
usacouncil@svdpusa.org
www.svdpusa.org


Tags: ,
FVArchives

FREE
VIEW