Catholic Charities USA Collecting Donations for Hurricane Gustav Recovery Efforts

BATON ROGUE, La.--(Business Wire)--
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is collecting financial donations
to help communities along the Gulf Coast recover from the damage
caused by Hurricane Gustav. Donations will be used to fund local
Catholic Charities agencies' emergency and long-term humanitarian
relief efforts.

Catholic Charities initial recovery work will focus on directing
critical resources and supplies to hurricane victims.

Local Catholic Charities plan to open community resource sites
throughout the impacted region where families can access food, water,
toiletries, cleanup supplies, and other resources provided by partner
agencies.

In addition, response teams will fan out across the region to make
damage assessments and identify communities' unmet needs. These
assessments will help Catholic Charities determine how best to tailor
their response efforts in the days, weeks, and months to come.

"With compassion and commitment, we are here to help our brothers
and sisters in the Gulf Coast," said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of
Catholic Charities USA. "Catholic Charities USA is firmly dedicated to
rebuilding lives, rebuilding communities, providing help, and creating
hope."

Since last week, CCUSA's disaster response team has been on the
ground in the Gulf Coast, helping the local Catholic Charities
agencies implement their disaster response plans.

-0-
*T
To contribute to Catholic Charities USA's response efforts:

Call (800) 919-9338

Visit www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org

Send checks to
Catholic Charities USA
2008 Hurricanes
PO Box 17066, Baltimore, MD 21297-1066
*T

Catholic Charities USA's members--more than 1,700 local agencies
and institutions nationwide--provide help and create hope for nearly 8
million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic
backgrounds. For more than 275 years, local Catholic Charities
agencies have been providing a myriad of vital services in their
communities, ranging from day care and counseling to food and housing.
For more information, visit www.CatholicCharitiesUSA.org.

Catholic Charities USA
Shelley Borysiewicz, 703-236-6218
sborysiewicz@catholiccharitiesusa.org

Copyright Business Wire 2008