Just yesterday a horrific tornado struck our neighbors in Moore, Oklahoma and our hearts and prayers go out to them.  It has been two years since the devastating tornado hit Joplin, and Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri has been continuously involved in disaster response and recovery efforts there, and also continues to repair and rebuild homes. Unfortunately, we know first hand how difficult it is to pick up the pieces and start to mend. We would like to help in any way we can.

Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri is requesting donations to fill two box trucks with needed supplies for this tornado-devastated region in Oklahoma. One box truck is located on the parking lot of Hobby Lobby, 1535 E. Battlefield, in Springfield. Another truck is located in Joplin at the Wal-Mart on Rangeline Road. 

Catholic Charities is accepting only certain items, including shovels, tools, work gloves, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items, diapers, wipes, and canned food items. Plastic storage containers are greatly needed. Many survivors also need binders and file folders for holding insurance and FEMA paperwork. These are the most needed items at this time. We are not accepting clothing or water, as many others have met this need. 

Catholic Charities is also accepting cash donations that will be given to Catholic Charities of Oklahoma City. CCSOMO has made a $5,000 donation and has offered to send two trained disaster response staff members to Oklahoma if requested.

Thank you for your prayers and support!

Left to Right: Felecia Blanton, Saint Francis Medical Center; Tyree Chapman, Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri; Beth Keller, Saint Francis Medical Center; and Frances Presswood, Saint Francis Medical Center.

“Saint Francis Medical Center Employees”

is now a CHARTER MEMBER

of Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri!

The Power of Sharing Campaign at Saint Francis Medical Center, Cape Girardeau, raised more than $156,000 with 1,043 employees participating. Funds raised were designated by employees for six participating agencies. Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri received a total of $16,242.50, making the "Employees of Saint Francis Medical Center" a Charter Member of CCSOMO!

Charter Members are those individuals, groups or businesses that make an unrestricted donation of $10,000 or more as a foundational gift in support of the establishment of CCSOMO. The opportunity for this permanent designation ends on December 31, 2013.

We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Saint Francis' employees. Thank you for partnering with us in our mission to serve those in need throughout southern Missouri.

Click here to view scenes from our Rebuilding Homes/Rebuilding Lives Program in Joplin:

Rebuilding Homes/Rebuilding Lives Program

On Saturday, April 27, approximately sixty ladies from the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women toured the former Carmelite Monastery in Springfield. This site will soon house the administrative offices of Catholic Charities and LifeHouse, a crisis maternity home. All agreed that the facility is perfectly suited to be a maternity home. The Carmelite sisters had twenty-four small bedrooms, a large kitchen and dining room and many rooms for large gatherings. The fact that the site recently became available presented a once-in-a lifetime opportunity.

The goals of the LifeHouse program are to provide a home for pregnant, homeless young women and provide them with the skills they need to become self-sufficient and nurturing mothers.

After touring the facility, the Women’s Council of St Mary’s Church in West Plains presented a donation to LifeHouse in the amount of $876.00. This donation was the proceeds of a special Mardi Gras fundraiser held on Saturday, February 9, 2013. The event included a Dinner and Dance and Silent Auction. Maura Taylor, Executive Director of CCSOMO, thanked the ladies for their hard work and generosity. The donation will be used to help supply some of the many start-up costs associated with LifeHouse.

 Women’s Council members from St. Mary’s Church in West Plains present donation to Catholic Charities. Pictured are Paula Coal, Connie Shelley, Waynita Cahoj (Women’s Council President), Maura Taylor (Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri), Angela Anderson, and Beth Anne Schneider.

Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri’s (CCSOMO) annual dinner event, A Night Out with Catholic Charities-A Celebration of Caring, was held in Cape Girardeau on Friday, November 2, 2012. The evening began with Mass at 5:15 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Parish celebrated by Bishop James Johnston. Con-celebrating with Bishop Johnston were Bishop Emeritus John Leibrecht, Father Mark Binder, Father John Harth, Father William Hennecke, Father Dave Hulshof, Msgr. Thomas Reidy, Msgr. Richard Rolwing, and Msgr. William Stanton.