Winona Community Comes Together (Fall 2007)

Many of you living outside Southeastern Minnesota have heard of the recent deadly flooding in this area. Most of our local readers know first-hand the effects of the recent flooding. A weekend of heavy rains resulted in flash flooding of many of the area streams and creeks that feed the Mississippi River. A number of small towns in the valleys around Winona were devastated by these floods. We were shocked to learn that overnight 7 people had died from the flooding.

As difficult as it was to see tragedy of this kind strike our community, the response of the local community, however, has been amazing. It was wonderful to see the generosity and out pouring of mutual support. We at the Winona Catholic Worker are glad to say that we did not feel much extra strain on our hospitality resources. (Our two houses, which were untouched by flood damage, are the only on-going emergency shelters in the immediate area.) Local churches and organizations immediately stepped in to see how they could help. An impromptu resource center was organized to give out food, cleaning supplies and referral information. Almost immediately, friends and neighbors were putting up families who had homes damaged or destroyed.

We are grateful to all those who thought of us and our guests in this time. We are grateful too to see the spirit of hospitality and the works of mercy alive and well in Winona. Truly it was a chance to see Peter Maurin and Dorothy Day’s vision of a Christ room in every house become a reality.