Catholic Charities Celebrates 75 Years of Helping People in Need

Catholic Charities celebrates 75 years of helping people in need

Caridades Católicas celebra 75 años ayudando a personas necesitadas

Formore than seven decades, hundreds of thousands of people have found help and hope thanks to Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.

As it launches its 75th anniversary celebrations during Catholic Charities Week (April 28-May 4), Catholic Charities continues to inspire hope and advance the Church’s mission of serving the most vulnerable among us with more than two dozen specialized services – from weekly food pantries, to help for homeless veterans and pregnant women in need, to refugee resettlement, to mental health counseling, to social advocacy and more.

Catholic Charities’ work impacts the 46 counties of the diocese through its strategic locations in Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Lenoir, North Wilkesboro, Asheville and Murphy. In the past year alone, the agency served nearly 23,000 people, distributing over 600,000 pounds of food and aiding nearly 900 refugees. Numerous other highlights are detailed on pages 18 and 19.

“Catholic Charities exists because of the dedicated efforts and sacrifices of thousands of volunteers, donors and staff over the past seven decades,” says Executive Director Gerard Carter. “Our commitment today is to continue that legacy of authentic, charitable ministry by living out our passion statement: ‘The love of Christ impels us to serve our neighbors in need – we cannot do otherwise.’”

ROOTED IN CHARITY

Catholic Charities’ roots were planted in 1948, when Raleigh Bishop Vincent Waters founded the first Bureau of Catholic Charities to provide social services and assistance across all of North Carolina.

Within a year, sisters from the Missionary Servants of the Blessed Trinity (MSBT) opened a Charlotte branch to provide pregnancy support, maternity care, foster care and adoption services to people living in the western half of the state. In those early years, the agency also helped resettle

Celebrating 75 years of charity

As Catholic Charities celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2024, the Catholic News Herald is launching a special series showcasing the many ways that Catholic Charities impacts the lives of thousands of people across our diocese – strengthening families, building communities and reducing poverty.

Over the coming months, we invite you to learn more about how Catholic Charities puts into practice the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. We hope you are inspired to join the mission, sharing the love of Christ with your neighbors in need. Go to www.ccdoc.org/volunteer to learn more about how you can get involved.

Durante

más de siete décadas, cientos de miles de personas han encontrado ayuda y esperanza gracias a Caridades Católicas de la Diócesis de Charlotte.

Al iniciar las celebraciones de su 75º aniversario durante la Semana de Caridades Católicas, del 28 de abril al 4 de mayo, Caridades Católicas de la Diócesis de Charlotte continúa inspirando esperanza y avanzando en la misión de la Iglesia de servir a los más vulnerables entre nosotros con más de una veintena de servicios especializados, desde despensas semanales de alimentos hasta ayuda para veteranos sin hogar y mujeres embarazadas en necesidad, reasentamiento de refugiados, asesoramiento en salud mental, defensa social y mucho más.

El trabajo de Caridades Católicas impacta en los 46 condados de la diócesis a través de sus ubicaciones estratégicas en Charlotte, Greensboro, WinstonSalem, Lenoir, North Wilkesboro, Asheville y Murphy.

Solamente el año pasado, la agencia atendió a casi 23,000 personas, distribuyendo más de 600,000 libras de alimentos, y ayudó a casi 900 refugiados, entre muchos otros aspectos destacados detallados en las páginas 18 y 19.

“Caridades Católicas existe gracias a los esfuerzos dedicados y sacrificios de miles de voluntarios, donantes y personal durante las últimas siete décadas”, dijo el director ejecutivo, Gerard A. Carter. “Nuestro compromiso es continuar ese legado de ministerio auténtico y caritativo viviendo nuestro apasionado lema: ‘El amor de Cristo nos impulsa a servir a nuestro prójimo necesitado, no podemos hacer otra cosa’”.

ARRAIGADOS EN LA CARIDAD

Las raíces de Caridades Católicas se plantaron en 1948, cuando el Obispo de Raleigh, Vincent S. Waters, fundó la primera Oficina de Caridades Católicas para proporcionar servicios sociales y asistencia en toda Carolina del Norte.

Al cabo de un año, las Hermanas de las Misioneras Siervas de la Santísima Trinidad, MSBT por sus

CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Catholic Charities’ staff and volunteers improve the lives of people across 46 counties in western North Carolina through their work at locations in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Lenoir, Murphy, North Wilkesboro and Winston-Salem.

CHARITIES

more than 1,900 refugees from war-torn Europe after World War II.

When the Diocese of Charlotte was carved out of the statewide Diocese of Raleigh in 1972, a new chapter in Catholic Charities’ history began with Charlotte Bishop Michael Begley, an ardent advocate and supporter of Catholic Charities. Under his leadership, the Charlotte bureau was transformed into a full-fledged Catholic Social Services agency for the new diocese. The agency quickly grew thanks to Bishop Begley’s support and the hard work of the MSBT sisters, who opened a Western Office in Asheville in 1982 and a Piedmont Triad Office in Winston-Salem in 1983.

outreach even further and, in 2013, renaming the agency to Catholic Charities.

Elizabeth Thurbee, the first layperson to run the agency’s adoption program, later led the agency until her retirement in 2010. She oversaw Catholic Charities’ expansion to encompass food pantries, burial assistance for the poor, counseling, refugee resettlement and elder ministry programs.

SERVING IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM

As North Carolina’s population soared during the 1990s and 2000s, the need for social services also grew, and Catholic Social Services was there to help – expanding its

Since then, Catholic Charities has continued responding to the shifting needs of a growing population, mounting economic inequalities, and lingering impacts of the global pandemic. Now the agency has even more ways to help people living on the margins – including legal immigration and translation assistance, citizenship training, help for pregnant women in need and youth in crisis (particularly teenage moms), environmental advocacy, human trafficking awareness, support services for veterans, mentoring for at-risk college students, and emergency help with rent and utility bills. Its continued mission? To lift people out of poverty, strengthen families and build communities – serving all of God’s people regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation or socioeconomic background.

“At Catholic Charities, we are dedicated to meeting the changing needs of our community,” says David Long, Catholic Charities’ spokesperson. “That’s why we continue to expand our infrastructure and services, driven by our history of charitable outreach rooted in the Church. We are honored to serve our community with love, compassion and dignity, and we are committed to fulfilling the Church’s mission to uplift those in need. Our work continues as long as there are people in need.”

— Catholic News Herald

How can you help?

Financial donations to enable Catholic Charities to assist participants and buy food are an effective way to help serve people in need. Make donations online at www.ccdoc.org (click on “Donate”), or by mail to: Catholic Charities, Central Processing, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203-4003.

Need assistance?

Catholic Charities offers services to people across western North Carolina. Email info@ ccdoc.org or reach out to your local Catholic Charities office: Asheville 828-255-0146 Charlotte 704-370-3262 Greensboro 336-288-1984 Lenoir 828-434-5710 Murphy 828-835-3535 North Wilkesboro 828-434-5710 Winston-Salem 336-727-0705

People who need assistance can also call 2-1-1 to find up-todate information on available community services that may be available. 2-1-1 helps connect people to information about local food pantries, medical resources and possible changes to government benefits.

Services offered

Catholic Charities assists individuals and families and providing homelessness prevention, family enrichment, immigration, burial assistance and more. All services are provided either free of charge or ethnicity or religion.

BASIC NEEDS

n Food and Clothing Assistance

n Transition Out of Poverty Program

n Services for Homeless Veterans

n Mental Health Counseling

n Burial Assistance

n Disaster Relief

FAMILY & YOUTH SERVICES

n Pregnancy Support

n Adoption Referral Services

n Runaway and Homeless Youth

n Elder Ministry

ADULT EDUCATION

n Stay the Course Program

In

Endowments benefit Catholic Charities and its

n FFHL Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte Endowment Fund: Established through the diocese-wide “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign and provides general financial support for Catholic Charities.

n Catholic Charities Endowment Fund: Provides for the general needs of Catholic Charities across the

Diocese of Charlotte.

n Catholic Charities Asheville Endowment Fund: Provides for the general needs of this ministry in Asheville.

n Catholic Charities Burial Assistance Endowment Fund: Provides for the burial assistance program.

n Catholic Charities Charlotte Endowment Fund: Provides for the general needs of this ministry in Charlotte.

n Catholic Charities Refugee Endowment Fund: Provides for the general needs of this ministry across the Diocese of Charlotte.

n Catholic Charities Winston-Salem Endowment Fund: Provides for the general needs of this ministry in Winston-Salem.

n Beatrice A. Chase Endowment Fund: Established

through a bequest and provides general financial support for Catholic Charities.

n Maureen Reinehr Gigler Endowment Fund

n Elizabeth Grace Endowment Fund: Provides for the programmatic needs of Catholic Charities.

n Aurelia I. Guffey Catholic Charities Endowment Fund: Established through a bequest and provides for

NEWS HERALD

From housing and clothing assistance to food pantries and pregnancy support, Catholic Charities offers over two dozen services to people in need across the diocese.

the early years of Catholic Charities (known then as Catholic of the Blessed Trinity assisted with running the agency’s Charlotte

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

A child tries on Bishop William Curlin’s zucchetto (skullcap) as the bishop visits with refugee families in the diocese.

families in need by distributing food and clothing enrichment, refugee resettlement and or on a sliding scale, regardless of race,

IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES

n Immigration and Citizenship

n Refugee Resettlement

n After-School and Summer Programs for Refugee Children

SOCIAL CONCERNS & ADVOCACY

n Social Concerns and Advocacy

n Catholic Social Teaching

n Education

n Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Relief Services

n Public Policy

n Care of Creation

Each year, Catholic

hosts summer camps for refugee children in grades K-12, where the campers have a chance to explore museums and take day trips to parks, pools and other exciting locations.

CHARITIES

VIENE

siglas en inglés, abrieron una sucursal en Charlotte para proporcionar apoyo durante el embarazo, atención de maternidad, cuidado de crianza y servicios de adopción a las personas que viven en la mitad occidental del estado. En esos primeros años, la agencia también ayudó a reasentar a más de 1.900 refugiados de la Europa devastada después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

Cuando la Diócesis de Charlotte se escindió de la Diócesis estatal de Raleigh en 1972, comenzó un nuevo capítulo en la historia de Caridades Católicas con el Obispo de Charlotte, Michael J. Begley, un ferviente defensor y partidario de Caridades Católicas. Bajo su liderazgo, la oficina de Charlotte se transformó en una agencia de Servicios Sociales Católicos de pleno derecho para la nueva diócesis. La agencia creció rápidamente gracias al apoyo del Obispo Begley y al arduo trabajo de las hermanas MSBT, quienes abrieron una oficina occidental en Asheville en 1982 y la oficina de Piedmont Triad en Winston-Salem en 1983. Elizabeth Thurbee, primera laica en dirigir el programa de adopción de la Caridades Católicas, más tarde dirigió la agencia hasta su jubilación en 2010. Supervisó la expansión de Caridades Católicas para abarcar despensas de alimentos, asistencia para el entierro de personas en necesidad económica, asesoramiento, reasentamiento de refugiados y programas de ministerio de ancianos.

SIRVIENDO EN EL NUEVO MILENIO

A medida que la población de Carolina del Norte creció rápidamente durante las décadas de 1990 y 2000, la necesidad de servicios sociales también se extendió, y los

vital work throughout the Diocese of Charlotte

the programmatic needs of Catholic Charities.

n Peter J. and Catherine P. Hickey Endowment Fund: Provides for the adoption programs of Catholic Charities.

n Lawrence and Patricia Hollett Family Endowment Fund

n Robert H. Moeller Memorial Endowment Fund: Provides housing-related financial assistance for the elderly

across the Diocese of Charlotte.

n John S. Monahan Endowment Fund: Established through a bequest and provides for Catholic Charities’ general needs.

n John and Marlene Olenick Endowment Fund: Supports the pregnancy support services of Catholic Charities in the Piedmont Triad.

Servicios Sociales Católicos estuvieron allí para ayudar, expandiendo aún más su alcance y, en 2013, retomando su nombre original: Caridades Católicas.

Desde entonces, Caridades Católicas ha seguido respondiendo a las necesidades cambiantes de una población en crecimiento, las crecientes desigualdades económicas y los impactos persistentes de la pandemia mundial. En nuestros tiempos, la agencia tiene aún más formas de ayudar a las personas que viven marginalizadas, incluida la inmigración legal y asistencia de traducción, capacitación para la ciudadanía, ayuda para mujeres embarazadas necesitadas y jóvenes en crisis (particularmente madres adolescentes), defensa del medio ambiente, concientización sobre la trata de personas, servicios de apoyo para veteranos, tutoría para estudiantes universitarios en riesgo y ayuda económica de emergencia con el pago de los alquileres de vivienda y las facturas de servicios públicos básicos.

Es una misión continua el ayudar a salir a las personas de la pobreza, el fortalecer a las familias y la construcción de comunidades sirviendo a todo el pueblo de Dios, independientemente de su edad, raza, etnia, afiliación religiosa o antecedentes socioeconómicos.

“En Caridades Católicas, nos dedicamos a satisfacer las necesidades cambiantes de nuestra comunidad”, señaló David Long, portavoz de Caridades Católicas. “Por ello continuamos expandiendo nuestra infraestructura y servicios, impulsados por nuestra historia de alcance caritativo arraigada en la Iglesia. Nos sentimos honrados de servir a nuestra comunidad con amor, compasión y dignidad, y estamos comprometidos a cumplir la misión de la Iglesia de elevar a los necesitados. Mientras existan personas necesitadas nuestro trabajo continuará”.

— Catholic News Herald

n George and Jane Pfaff Catholic Charities Endowment Fund: Established through a bequest and provides for Catholic Charities’ program needs.

n San Lorenzo Ruiz Philippine Heritage Endowment Fund: Provides for the unrestricted general needs and for refugee/immigrant assistance by Catholic Charities in Charlotte.

¿Cómo puede ayudar?

Las donaciones financieras para permitir que Caridades Católicas compre alimentos y ayude a los participantes son una forma efectiva de ayuda a las personas necesitadas. Puede realizar sus donaciones online en www.ccdoc. org (haga clic en “Donate”), o por correo a: Catholic Charities, Central Processing, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203-4003.

¿Necesita asistencia? Caridades Católicas ofrece servicios a las personas del oeste de Carolina del Norte. Envíe un correo electrónico a info@ccdoc. org o a alguna de nuestras oficinas locales de Caridades Católicas: Asheville 828-255-0146 Charlotte 704-370-3262 Greensboro 336-288-1984

Lenoir 828-434-5710 Murphy 828-835-3535 Winston-Salem 336-727-0705

Las personas que necesiten asistencia también pueden llamar al 2-1-1 para encontrar información actualizada sobre servicios comunitarios disponibles.

El servicio 2-1-1 ayuda a conectar a las personas con información sobre despensas de alimentos locales, recursos médicos y posibles cambios de beneficios gubernamentales.

n Sarmiento-Lang Family Endowment Fund: Provides for pregnancy support services at Catholic Charities across the Diocese of Charlotte.

n Lee and Allan Thurbee Memorial Endowment Fund: Provides financial support for Catholic Charities’ work in the Diocese of Charlotte.

n Kathleen A. Troy Memorial Endowment Fund

DE LA PÁGINA 15

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Charities

| CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD Catholic Social Services), sisters from the Missionary Servants Charlotte location.

146 Digni ed burials

226 Zip codes served

797 Elder Ministry participants

2,539 Counseling sessions provided to people

Supportive Services Housing Permanency participants

4 Students in Stay the Course

3 Youth Empowerment Opportunity Program participants

Individuals

634,069 pounds of food and 15,307 pounds of non-food supplies

with Transition Out of Poverty participants

256 Refugees resettled

67 Veterans helped by Supportive Services for Veteran Families Clothing and baby items given to 640 families People received nancial assistance

683 Refugees assisted

families Holiday assistance provided to

265 Immigration participants

Se realizaron de manera digna 146 enterramientos

272

Voluntarios contribuyeron 17,520 horas de servicio

1,410

Participantes de programas de Atención a Inquietudes Sociales y de Intercesión

Ropa y artículos para bebés fueron distribuidas a 640 familias

37

Participantes de los servicios de apoyo de permanecia de la vivienda

4

Estudiantes participaron en el programa “Stay the Course”

3

Participantes del programa de oportunidad de empoderamiento de los jóvenes

Personas recibieron asistencia nanciera 448

Familias recibieron asistencia por los días festivos 541

16,229

Personas recibieron

634,069 libras de alimentos y 15,307 libras de no-comestibles

Se establecieron

226 Códigos postales servidos

797

Participantes del ministerio de personas mayores

2,539

Se ofrecieron sesiones de consejería a

229

42 personas

Apartamentos

22,994

Personas recibieron asistencia

67 Veteranos recibieron servicios de apoyo para familias de veteranos

34

Participantes en el programa “Transition Out of Poverty”

Se logró el reasentamiento de 256 refugiados

683 Refugiados recibieron asistencia

265

Participantes de servicios de inmigración

Para ayudar Visite ccdoc.org para informarse más sobre el impacto de Catholic Charities y cómo usted puede ayudar a un vecino necesitado por medio del voluntariado o haciendo una donación el día de hoy. Toda contribución de tiempo, talento, o dinero ayuda a fortalecer familias, crear comunidades y reducir la pobreza a través de 46 condados donde nuestras oficinas locales ofrecen asistencia. ccdoc.org

El amor de Cristo nos apremia (II Cor. 5:14) a servir a nuestros hermanos necesitados (Mt. 25:31-46) –no podemos hacer otra cosa (Deus Caritas Est. no. 25)