West Warwick flood victims turn to diocese for help

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WEST WARWICK— At midnight on March 14, Margaret Wood heard a knock on the door. She was told that she and her children needed to evacuate their home immediately. She grabbed her children, their sneakers, school-clothes and whatever diapers she had and left her home with little more than the clothes on her back.

Like many others who have been affected by the flood waters in Southern New England, Wood has lost everything including clothes, beds, toys, and food.

Along with her five children, including a set of triplets, Wood lived in a basement apartment in West Warwick, which has been condemned since the devastating flood.

“We went back on Monday to get some food out of the fridge,” she explained. “We couldn’t go back into the building. I had just bought five gallons of milk. We went through a gallon of milk a day, and I just tried to go back to retrieve the food that I purchased.”

The young mother was directed to Westbay Community Action, who provided a week’s stay at a local hotel for Wood and her children, so that they could all stay together.

“Trying to house five kids is not easy,” she said. “Even if I visit with friends, some people can’t tolerate five kids. I explained to them if I had to keep moving around, I would probably have to split up my kids. I really didn’t want that because I am not used to being away from my children.”

Westbay Community Action directed Wood to the Diocese of Providence, which provided more resources for her family.

"They helped out a lot,” she said. “They found some pajamas for my children, brand new stuff that had been donated. They let me get some emergency food and a $25 Walmart gift-card. They were trying to help me with clothing because we lost everything.”

Bishop Thomas J. Tobin recently awarded a $10,000 grant to the diocesan West Warwick Catholic Charity and Social Ministry satellite office to help those with immediate needs as the flood waters began to recede.

The funds were made available from the Diocesan Emergency Assistance Fund to help provide for immediate needs such as clothing, shelter and food for those whose homes have been damaged or who have suffered other losses.

“The heavy rains have damaged homes and businesses creating a very difficult and worrisome situation for many in the West Warwick area,” said Bishop Tobin. “Through a grant awarded to the Catholic Charities and Social Ministry office, the Church is prepared to help those with immediate needs such as shelter and clothing. The emergency funds will not address all needs of those affected, however they will provide some short-term comfort to those who have been most impacted as a result of the recent flood.”

The flooding was not limited to the West Warwick area. Catholic schools in Wakefield and Bristol canceled classes on Tuesday. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Bristol, and both Monsignor Matthew F. Clarke Catholic Regional School, and Prout located in Wakefield were closed due to local flooding.

Announcements were also made at Masses throughout West Warwick and some pastors included information in parish bulletins with details on how individuals and families may apply for assistance.

Father Charles Downing, pastor of St. Joseph, West Warwick said that people have been stopping by the rectory and asking about what they can do to help.

“Some of our parishioners have been out of their homes so we are doing anything we can,” Father Downing said. “On Wednesday of last week the parish staff made about 70 sandwiches and gave them to the individuals who have been meeting in the schoolyard. The big thing is people asking where to send donations.”

Woods never expected this could happen to her family. She explained that she is hoping that more resources will become available so that she and her children can get back on their feet.

“I have to check out of the hotel today,” she said. “Everything is just up in the air. It’s really hard and it’s really frustrating. I don’t want to be away from my kids. I just don’t know what we are going to do. We have lost our place to live, our food, our clothes. Anything will help. I am doing what I can to get by and make sure my family is okay.”

For more information on assistance, call the West Warwick Social Ministry satellite office at 823-6211. Assistance is provided in a timely manner based upon need.