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August 23, 2012
bishops
 SUMMER 2012
Greetings!

The poor may always be with us (cf. Mt 26:11), but that doesn't mean they must remain poor. Catholic Charities' programs do not replace charity and almsgiving, they create sustainable ways for us to ensure that every person has "all that is necessary for living a genuinely human life," including food, clothing, housing, mental health and productive work.

 

Together we can:

  • Develop mental models of the environments of poverty, middle class, and wealth,
  • Examine the causes of poverty, begin to understand how the different environments can produce different hidden rules of class,
  • Define resources that are necessary for a high quality life and explore community action and policies that can enhance resources,
  • Explore how information can be used to create relationships between and among classes so that all can participate in solving problems at the community and systemic levels.

 Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County and Catholic Charities have organized a day-long dialogue to explore holistic approaches to attack root causes of poverty.

  

Are there any Bridges Out of Poverty?

Join us on August 23, 2012 for a unique and powerful all day workshop designed for faith-based, social, health, and legal service professionals.

 

"My desire is to really begin to pull together a group of agencies and leaders who are committed to dialog about ending poverty in our local communities." Willy Elliott-McCrea, CEO,Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County.
Live Long and Prosper?

Check out where you live to compare how long you will live if you or anyone you know is suffering from obesity. Catholic Charities of California has developed a county by county list of longevity as it relates to obesity. Poverty Data read more

What is CalFresh?
California lost out on an estimated $4.9 billion a year in federal nutrition benefits and as much as $8.7 billion in annual economic activity, according to the CA Food Policy Advocates' Lost Dollars, Empty Plates report in FFY 2007.

 

CalFresh is the new name of California's Food Stamp program. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides matching funds to agencies performing this outreach work. 

 

The CalFresh Outreach staff/volunteers give direct assistance to clients with enrollment in the CalFresh program by screening for potential eligibility and following-up to preserve their enrollment. Read more 

Over 100 Years of Service

Catholic Charities USA (originally the National Conference of Catholic Charities) was founded in 1910 at Catholic University in Washington D.C. where this vision statement was ratified: 

 
Believing in the presence of God in our midst, we proclaim the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the person by sharing in the mission of Jesus given to the Church. To this end, Catholic Charities works with individuals, families and communities regardless of their beliefs to help them meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society. 
 
Across the nation more than 1,700 agencies and institutions, involving thousands of programs, over 62,000 staff, and more than 240,000 volunteers, make up the Catholic Charities network. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA provided help and created hope for 10,207,292 people across the nation.

In Thanksgiving for Our Funders:

Many, many thanks to the following funding organizations, whose generosity has made it possible for Catholic Charities to continue its mission of reducing poverty throughout our Diocese:

 

The United Way of Monterey County, for Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) funding through FEMA, and for a grant to provide Financial Stability for Farmworker Families;  the United Way of Santa Cruz County, for EFSP and Financial Stability for Farmworker Families grant funding;  the Monterey Peninsula Foundation for the Family Empowerment Project grant; the Community Foundation of Monterey County, for our Farmworker Outreach and Education Project;  the United Way of San Luis Obispo County, for EFSP funding; Catholic Charities of California, for the CalFresh Outreach Project, the Yellow Brick Road Benefit Shop, for rental assistance; the Order of Malta, for the Tattoo Removal grant; the Hospice Foundation, for funding to provide hospice counseling services; the Monterey Peninsula Council of St. Vincent de Paul, for rental assistance; and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Monterey, for additional subsidies.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Monterey Program Services
 

Many clients are served by more than one program. For the thousands of other individuals who call or walk-in to one of our offices, staff listens carefully and makes referrals to other agencies and services in our community when funds are depleted or they are in need of programs others than what we provide.

 

Catholic Charities Program Services touch more than 20,000 individuals and families in Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito and San Luis Obispo counties.              

              

 

2011 -12 Service Statistics

Family Supportive Services

7,168 - calls and walk-ins 

449 families - direct rental and utility assistance 2,264 families pre-screened for CalFresh

Mental Health Counseling

463 - calls

1,122 clients without health insurance

62 individuals enrolled in Tattoo Removal

Immigration and Citizenship

9,015 - calls and walk -ins

526 - individuals/families for direct services with documents/forms

1,300+ open case files

Opus
You Can Never Say Thank You Too Many Times
Waligora's Donors who make $1,000 annual contributions or more are invited to join our Opus Christi Society.
The Opus Christi Society held it's annual Mass and dinner celebration April 29, 2012 at Carmel Mission and Mission Ranch in Carmel Valley.
 Opus

 

 
TopLeft: Mila Ramirez; Dolores Hagey; and Maria Anderson, Boardmember.
Top Right: Honorees Mrs.Peggy Waligora and Dr. Dan Walligora accepting the Catholic Charities 2012 Ambassador Award.
Left: Terrie Iacino, Executie Director; John Calcagno; Teresa Calcagno; John King; and Eileen King.

 

Whether we are helping people meet their most basic needs or advocating for social change to reduce poverty in America, our Catholic values, teachings, and traditions provide the foundation for the work we do in Catholic Charities. We are called to witness the love of God through compassionate care of all.
 
Change a life for good - Volunteer with one of our program or Donate now
Sincerely,

 

Terrie Iacino
Catholic Charities Executive Director - Providing Help. Creating Hope.