St. Vincent de Paul responds to storm-stricken areas

Oklahomans are no stranger to violent spring storms. Damaging winds, flooding, hail and tornadoes are often part of the transition from winter into spring.

And when disasters occur, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVdP) responds to mother nature's wrath.

Vincentians regularly step forward to seek and help those who were impacted by the storms. This year, the members of the society volunteered for five-days at the four Multi Agency Resource Centers (MARC). The MARC is an arm of the Oklahoma Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (OKVOAD).

Agencies like the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Legal Aide Services and the Insurance Commission work together to help to impacted households and assist with their initial recovery efforts.

The Society provided gift cards. 

“We couldn’t have helped the disaster survivors without the financial support from SVdP-USA Disaster Services” said Jim Ray, Oklahoma City archdiocesan council president.  

Twenty-five Vincentians from six parish conferences assisted in Sulphur, Ardmore, Marietta and Barnsdall, areas impacted by storms. The Sulphur Conference even had Vincentians working the Marietta MARC.  

Among those receiving help were the family of George and Rosalina Aglialoro, whose home in Sulphur was destroyed. Rosalina serves as secretary at Saint Francis of Xavier Catholic Church in Sulphur. George also lost his business.

Yet, according to Rosalina, they trust the Lord is leading them in their recovery process.  

The Vincentians were busy at the Marietta MARC. The destruction of the Dollar Tree Distribution Center put the community at risk with the potential loss of a major employer. Families in Marietta are uncertain if the center will.

Like SVdP home visits, the volunteers sat with the survivors, shared stories and supported them with care, concern and a Walmart gift card. SVdP served 257 households totaling 776 people.

For more information about SVdP, visit svdpokc.org.


Photos: (Top) Kay Fike, from St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sulphur, working Marietta MARC. Photos provided.


Above: alph and Emaline Pohlmeier from St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church in Oklahoma City accepted a bag of gift cards to distribute to tornado victims from Donna Zahl of St. James the Greater Catholic Church in Oklahoma City.