Diocese collects supplies for humanitarian aid

PRESS RELEASE

The Diocese of Sioux City Office of Multicultural Ministries announced that Bishop Walker Nickless has authorized second load of food and supplies be collected and shipped to Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas, to assist the staff and volunteers at the center in serving the many people in need that they encounter.

In 2023, the diocese shipped 171,000 pre-prepared meals and eight pallets of clothing and supplies to the respite center in response to the humanitarian needs crisis.

The Diocese is again partnering with the “Then Feed Just One Program” that uses volunteer labor from across the area to package the pre-prepared healthy meals for distribution across the world. Hundreds of thousands of meals are packaged by the students in diocesan Catholic schools as well as other regional Catholic schools.

In addition to the meals the diocese is requesting diocesan parishes to organize drives to collect hygiene products beginning immediately and running through July 15.  

Diocesan parishes have been asked to participate in this project and collect the items and either bag or box them and then contact Deacon Mark Prosser, director of multicultural ministries, at (712) 233-7536 or [email protected]  to arrange for pick up.  After the July 15 deadline those products will be added to the shipment of food and transportation will be arranged.

Requested items:

Toiletries for men and women (deodorant, razors and combs)
Undergarments for children (sizes 4T to 11), men (small, medium and large) and women (small and medium)

Baby bottles

Nido powdered milk
 Ziploc bag in gallon, quart, sandwich and snack sizes
 Bath towels
 Paper goods, including paper towels and toilet paper
 Foam bowls, utensils, and 39-gallon trash bags
 Germ X Hand sanitizer, Clorox, Lysol and Febreeze
 Shoelaces

Chapstick

(This listing is also available in English and Spanish at scdiocese.org/border.)

For additional information, contact Deacon Prosser at the Central Catholic Offices at (712) 233-7536 or [email protected].

Cutline: Bishop Walker Nickless and Richard Sievert of Then Feed Just One with the boxes of food and supplies sent to the border in July 2023.