By Catholic News Service • Posted March 15, 2017

BOCA RATON, Fla. (CNS) — In the nearly six months since Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti, a Florida-based Catholic agency said its relief efforts have resulted in the rebuilding of 117 demolished homes and 15 damaged facilities, delivery of medicines to remote areas and distribution of tons of food.

Cross Catholic Outreach in Boca Raton issued a news release about its efforts March 14, noting that April 4 will mark six months since wind-whipped rains from Hurricane Matthew shattered Haiti’s southwest peninsula, downing trees, ripping open makeshift wooden homes and causing widespread flooding. The death toll from the storm quickly soared past 1,000.

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James J. Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, said the relief and development agency will continue its feeding, medical and rebuilding projects.

“We make results a priority because we know people who contribute to relief efforts want to see their donations having an impact,” he said in a statement. “They want to see the work on the ground — food being distributed, repairs underway, medicines helping the people in need. They want to see real results being achieved.”

In the months ahead the agency’s focus will be on nutrition, with Vitafood; health, with medicines and medical supplies; and shelter. By the Oct. 4 anniversary of the storm, Cross Catholic Outreach expects to have distributed millions of meals and treated thousands with antibiotics and other medications.

In addition, Cavnar said, its repair and construction of houses, schools and other facilities will continue.

“After a disaster, there are always cases of frustration about how donated funds have been used,” he added. “At Cross Catholic Outreach, we try to take a very practical approach to using what we have collected, finding the most efficient projects to help the Haitian people resume their normal lives.”

In its 16 years, Cross Catholic Outreach said, it has donated more than $1 billion to provide shelter, medical care, water, education, self-help programs, care for orphans, and emergency relief to the “poorest of the poor” in dioceses around the world “in the name of Christ.”