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Prince of Peace Catholic Church First Responder Tornado Relief Drive
Dolores Milazzo-Hicks
Alabama, April 27, 2011 proved to be a devastating day in the lives of the people in the southeastern part of the United States.
When there are sirens going off and weather radios beeping and TV weather forecasters sounding the alarms of e4 and e5 tornadoes heading your way the first thing you think about is getting yourself and all those you love to safety. Then you find yourself calling friends and relative to warn them of the impending disaster.
Some of us watched these terrible scenes on television as the huge plume swirled in the air over Tuscaloosa knowing that is where many of our children and relative were in school. Cars and objects darted out of this mass of destruction and our hearts sank as we continued to watch the tornado move from community to community bringing the same death and destruction as we watched, praying and hoping it would stop.
After watching and praying we feel helpless and don’t know what o do but for two young women at the same time were prompted to action, one nurse Elizabeth Miranda-Cross and Cyndi Hodges, strangers to one another both felt that they should begin to collect donations of food, clothing, tarps, and household items to help those in need. Though they did not know it they both went to the same church. Elizabeth called pastor Father John Fallon and other members of the parish and explained what they wanted to do for the community and the state of Alabama.
They began by calling he American Red Cross and the Director Colleen Lenz, RN, who helped them organize a Relief Drive. The Salvation Army directed them to a “POD” employee Ken Pullamni, who attends St. Aloysius Church in Baton Rouge, LA. Went though Hurricane Katrina, Ken donated the “POD’ for as long as they needed it to store the items.
Cyndi and Elizabeth continued to call radio and TV stations and send out emails and Facebook pages through Sarah Mizerany, student at John Carroll Catholic High School-to all in the parish and friends. Then they gathered and organized groups of volunteers and armed them with markers making signs to the destinations of the items that were pouring in from all over. PACE company donated their trucks to deliver the food and items to Hueytown, Garywood Assembly of God for relief for that city and Pleasant Grove area. On Saturday and Sunday they delivered to St. Patrick’s Catholic church in Adamsville, water, food, clothing, cleaning supplies, blankets, sheets towel, TV’s, microwaves and personal hygiene Packets, Personal volunteers lined up with 6-8 SUV’S, trucks and delivered them directly to the community.
“This outcome was so overwhelming that we decided to keep going,” said Mrs. Cross. The last drop was May 4th, 2011, Elizabeth Cross and Cyndi Hodges sent out by volunteers truck loads of donations to 1) Holy Spirit Church – Tuscaloosa- Fr. Deasy pastor, 2) St. Patrick’s Church Adamsville, pastor Fr. Vernon Hughley for Pratt City area; 3)Holy Family, Ensley, 4) Foundry – Bessemer 5)American Red Cross at Academy Sports in Hoover, Al Relief Drive; 6) Catholic Center of Concern was notified 7) St. Francis of Assisi Church, Bessemer, AL pastor Fr. Paul Asih; and to many individuals in 8)Prince of Peace Parish contented to deliver to Cordova through Pelham Police officers who brought the items directly into the area.
Prince of Peace collected relief funds at each mass on May 1st;other parishes are now accepting good and financial donations to continue the growing needs in our community.
Most Reverend Robert J. Baker, S.T.D., Bishop of Birmingham ask that Diocese of Birmingham contact “First Responders” through Catholic Social Service Offices at 205-838-8316 to disaster confronting the diocese.
Elizabeth Miranda Cross and Cyndi Hodges wanted to express their thanks to God for the privilege of serving Him through serving others and everyone that participated in this wonderful outpouring of love and concern to “Love one another.”