As we know, many in southern Nebraska were dealt a blow last Mother’s Day. Multiple tornadoes struck several communities and farmsteads including Sutton, Cordova and Beaver Crossing.
Immediately after the storm, I attempted to call the affected pastors who are ‘on the ground.’ Father William Holoubek, the pastor of St. Mary Parish in Sutton, was one such pastor. I caught him before he went to the fire station in downtown Sutton, which was hit. He noticed many trees and power lines down and the damage the downtown section sustained.
Once there he informed the emergency personnel that Catholic Social Services was there to help. His beautiful new parish hall became the ‘command and control’ center in Sutton.
The morning after the storms, Jill McMahon and Christine Cook were there taking names and helping those in need. During my visit, I noticed a young woman who had lost her house. She woke up Mother’s Day in her home and before the day was over, had lost it all. She appeared to me in what can only be described as a daze.
She was in a state of shock. Another family lost their home and its contents. This included medicines which totaled $1,000. They were told Catholic Social Services was there to help.
Another priest on the ground immediately was Father Thomas Kuffel, pastor of St. Stephen in Exeter, who informed me of the damage in Cordova. Soon Curt Krueger was there with a vanload of generators and offers to help. He also visited Beaver Crossing which was more severely affected.
Catholic Social Services is a part of a multi-agency relief effort that is addressing the immediate and long-term needs with staff in Sutton and Beaver Crossing. We are helping with food, water, blankets, clothing, generators, housing, rent assistance, help with medicines, furniture, appliances, houseware goods and other items.
What other items? Christine Cook overheard a little girl say to her mother, “Mommy, who would do this to us, who would take everything from us?” Some of the other ‘stuff’ includes toys for they were blown away too.
In addition to your prayers for the victims, and for the success of the relief effort, please consider helping us with a cash donation according to your means (because, in addition to the immediate needs there will be many long-term housing and emergency service needs), and materially with items around your house and farms not needed, such as furniture and household goods.
Please know in addition to the many victims of this latest tragedy, we at CSS will keep you and your families in our prayers.
Finally, please also pray for the happy repose of a man who collapsed and died during the clean-up effort. He truly gave his life for the sake of others. May he rest in peace.
