By Sr. Donna Franklin, DC
Diocesan director, Catholic Charities

“I don’t know what I would have done without Catholic Charities. Your counselor was kind and understanding.” (A counseling client)

“Thank you for helping us with the house repairs. Catholic Charities makes us proud to be Catholics.” (Retired Couple)

“My children and I are now safe and we were able to take our belongings with us. The caseworker at Catholic Charities stuck with us until we had everything ready. She listened to me and helped me find the strength I needed to change my life for me and my children. Thank you Catholic Charities. (Victim of Domestic Violence);

 “Catholic Charities caseworker was kind, nonjudgmental and so helpful. She treated us with respect and gave us back our hope” (Recently unemployed couple)

Healthy families are the foundation of healthy communities. Supporting individuals and families during times of crisis and stress is the measure of a community’s commitment to care and concern for all of its members.
It is no secret that we are faced with the reality of economic challenges. The newspapers and the TV news programs are filled with reports and stories of high unemployment and growing numbers of individuals and families who are becoming stressed and depressed as they face the new economic reality of their lives.
Think about it. How many of us know of a relative, friend neighbor or coworker who is struggling financially and/or emotionally? Catholic Charities is committed to responding to the needs of the most vulnerable members of our communities.

The individual or family, who is working hard, at a low income job, they are vulnerable. 

The retiree who is adjusting to a new income level and lifestyle, they are vulnerable.

The single mother with a child who is experiencing difficulty in school, they are vulnerable.

The teen who has been the victim of childhood abuse, he/she is vulnerable.

The list goes on and on. Catholic Charities is there to respond, support and help individuals and families build bridges to healthier lives.

Government, on all levels, is reducing its support for social protection programs. As the funds dry up, agencies like Catholic Charities are compelled to seek additional sources of funding for important and effective services and programs. Counseling, financial assistance, community and parish outreach, adoption, maternity services and advocacy are all core services of Catholic Charities. Through networking and collaboration with other agencies and organizations, Catholic Charities identifies gaps in the continuum of services. Catholic Charities, then, works to design and implement programs that assure all of our people access to the support services they need.

Catholic Charities staff and volunteers served over 18,000 people throughout the 12,000 square miles of the North Country.  Modern technology assists Catholic Charities in responding to individuals and families in the remotest parts of the North Country. A phone call, a fax or an e-mail can connect the agency with a parish, agency or individual/family needing assistance. A caseworker from Catholic Charities, always responds. The agency is committed to responding to 100% of appropriate referrals/requests. But the ability to respond depends on the resources available.

You can help.
The 2012 Catholic Charities Mother’s Day Appeal will take place on the weekend of May 13. Your gift of $25, $50, $75, $100, $500 or more will be used to make a difference in the lives of our brothers and sisters.

Every person is worthwhile. Each individual life, from conception to death, is sacred. Individuals and families deserve support and compassion during the crisis times of their lives. You can help them regain their dignity and their hope.

Your gift to Catholic Charities says that you understand that those in need are not invisible or mere statistics.
The challenge contained in the question,” Lord, when did I see you?”is for each of us.

Please consider your own resources and then be as generous as possible in your gift to Catholic Charities.
For more information, you are invited to visit our website: www.cathcharities.org. You can make a donation online. Catholic Charities accepts credit card donations (MasterCard/VISA). You can mail in your donation. Please remember to identify your parish.  All mail in or online donations will be credited to the identified parishes. Consider a larger donation by making a pledge. By pledging, you can make your donation in 3 or 4 payments. 

Whichever way you choose to make your donation, Catholic Charities will be grateful for your support. If you have any questions, please call Catholic Charities at: (315) 393-2255.