As tough as they are, the people of Joplin learned two lessons.

Barely six months old in May, Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri was a two-person operation that had yet to hire its first permanent director when it was called to respond to its first natural disaster.

There was no way to let people know in advance, but yet they dug into their wallets and purses and they gave.

Catholics and parishes throughout the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph have organized relief efforts for the victims of the May 22 tornado in Joplin. This is the story of one of them, Kathy Wittman of Holy Spirit Parish in Lee’s Summit.