The suffering of the Haitian people following the devastating earthquake in January touched Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago so much that, as of March 22, they donated $2.8 million to Catholic Relief Services’ aid effort. “This is the largest collection we’ve ever taken up,” said Adrienne Curry, the archdiocese’s Catholic Relief Services director. She said it passed donations raised for the tsunami in Indonesia in 2004. CRS is the international aid agency of the U.S. bishops. Curry said given the state of the country’s economy it was surprising to see people give so much. Donations came from individuals, parishes, Catholic schools, some public schools and even Protestant churches, Curry said. CRS collects both through the archdiocesan office and directly out of its Baltimore, Md., headquarters. Curry said she would be e-mailing out to parishes an update of CRS’ efforts in Haiti along with some other resources the week of March 22. A recent report from CRS in Haiti said that as the rainy season approaches, the focus of the group’s relief effort is moving from food — CRS has fed some 600,000 people — to transitional shelter. Many Port-au-Prince residents, their homes either destroyed or unstable, are living beneath sheets and curtains that provide no protection against inclement weather. For updates on CRS’ work in Haiti or to donate online, visit www.crs.org. Mail donations to Catholic Relief Services, 3525 S. Lake Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60653-1402 or call (312) 534-8367.