NEW ORLEANS – Catholic Charities says it is waiting on more money from BP to continue its counseling and food voucher services for those in need following the effects of the oil spill disaster.
A spokesperson for the group said that it hasn’t received any additional funding from BP since June.
Lines at St. Patrick’s Church in Port Sulphur make up one of the five oil spill relief centers along the Louisiana Coast operated by Catholic Charities.
Victims at the centers can get free counseling and food vouchers.
"The real danger is that our ability to put food on people's tables, to counsel those in need, and to pay outstanding bills for fishing families with no income could come to an end,” said William Dinkins of the Fisher Center. “We have a covenant with these brave and hard working people, but our work is not sustainable without new funding."
Dr. Mary Blue, a professor of communications at Tulane, said BP might need more time since they are a multi-national corporation, but she notes that they were able to quickly get out their print, online and TV ads.
“They have absolute control over their advertisements,” she said. “They can say exactly what they want. They certainly don’t have that control when they’re responsive or not to a non-profit or to all the other entities that they are trying to get money from.”
"According to Catholic Charities, it wasn't until BP requested they come up with a proposal, that they began working with 25 other non-profits to form a plan to help those suffering from the Gulf Oil Spill.
Despite calls and e-mails, the oil giant has yet to respond to Eyewitness News request for comment.
Catholic Charities says it has a clear track record of success utilizing BP’s initial $1.1 million allotment.
They say they have provided counseling to over 7,000 people, have distributed 393 cans of baby formula, 1,051 packages of diaper and $587,247 in food vouchers.
