Community Spirit Newsletter - Spring 2023

EVENT edition

At Catholic Charities, our strength comes from you –our volunteers and supporters. Thanks to you, we live out our mission to serve the poor and vulnerable.

This year, even more people are seeking our help. Job losses, rising food costs, and lack of affordable housing are just a few of the challenges they face.

Their stories of hope and resilience inspire us.

Take, for example, the homeless veteran we helped find permanent housing – and hope for his future.

Or the Ukrainian family who fled a devastating war and, in our care, found safety in Charlotte.

Or the families struggling to make ends meet who could bury their loved ones with dignity. Can you imagine being unable to honor the life of a loved one due to financial constraints?

With your support, we will continue providing compassionate and effective care. Indeed, we are doing the Lord’s work in serving the most vulnerable in western North Carolina.

On behalf of everyone at Catholic Charities, I thank you for your partnership.

Best to you, Gerry

Gerard A. Carter, Ph.D.

Inside this issue 4 5 6

“Thanks to you, we live out our mission to serve the poor and vulnerable.”

A Letter from Gerry Carter Executive Director, CEO

ACTS of Charity

We are so thankful to our 280 dedicated volunteers, who gave an incredible 7,377 hours of service, allowing Catholic Charities to make a meaningful impact in the lives of 10,950 people over the past 12 months.

Thanks to you, our services benefited:

4,263 Children

398 Refugees

23 People assisted during their Transition Out of Poverty

41 Veterans

168 People participating in

1,092 counseling sessions

14 People now living in apartments

145 People received financial assistance

442 Seniors benefited from a ministry geared toward them

61 Grieving families buried loved ones with dignity

333 Families given 148 bags of clothing/ diapers

9,006 People received

263,522 pounds of food and

7,704 pounds of supplies

Yourmadesupport it all possible. WE APPRECIATE YOU!

Thanks to You

Elsa and Hernan Sabio are rays of hope who tirelessly strive to strengthen families, build communities, and reduce poverty in the Piedmont Triad. Through their tireless dedication, Elsa and Hernan are prime examples of what it means to live out the mission of Catholic Charities with love and humility.

Elsa and Hernan offer their time and energy with dedication and enthusiasm, ensuring our services run smoothly and without interruption. From signing up regularly for tasks to assisting on short notice, they are always there for us when needed.

We are filled with admiration and gratitude for their commitment and hard work to make our mission a reality in Winston-Salem.

See event photos. Scan the QR Code.

Elsa and Hernan Sabio honored with Bishop Curlin Award

Raised $286,000

Charlotte Funeral Homes honored with the Fruit of the Vine Award

Catholic Charities was proud to recognize four funeral homes for their commitment to helping families in financial need afford the burial of loved ones. By offering free or lowcost burial services, they ensure that our neighbors can lay loved ones to rest with dignity.

Sylvia Seckle, the direct assistance coordinator, presented awards to A.E Grier and Sons Funeral, Alexander Funeral Home, Grier Funeral Service, and Roseboro’s Mortuary.

We thank them for their selfless contributions –each burial a mark of love, a gesture of respect, and a reminder that life, however fleeting, is to be cherished.

Thanks to You

See event photos. Scan the QR Code.

Raised $138,500

Thanks to You

Raised $52,500

with the Spirit of Hope Award

Judy Butler is a remarkable woman who overcame considerable odds. Through hard work, she earned a full scholarship to St. Catherine University and, after a fulfilling career, retired with her husband to Asheville. As chair of MANNA FoodBank’s board of directors and a member of the Board of Supervisors for the Town of Woodfin, Judy unceasingly works to provide food to underserved families. Catholic Charities is blessed to partner with her.

See event photos. Scan the QR Code.

Judy Butler honored

Your Support Transforms Lives

Stories of Impact and Inspiration

Donations supporting Catholic Charities are gifts of transformation. Each gift can literally change lives, as the Catholic News Herald reports.

Food Banks Expect Increased Demand this Summer

Hunger, unlike schools, doesn’t take a summer vacation. With money tight and food prices rising, too many families need help to make ends meet. Fortunately, there are Catholic Charities food pantries to lessen the pain of food insecurity.

More than food to get them through the summer months, participants find hope in the generosity of Catholic Charities volunteers and staff.

Your financial support is urgently needed to meet the increased demand at our food pantries.

Learn more at ccdoc.me/foodbanks.

Veterans Outreach ‘Puts Your Faith in People Again’

Basil Duncan’s life had been riddled with hardship. He had served in the military, gone to trade school, and eventually resorted to what he calls “fast living,” which led to prison time. So when he got out in 2020, he was homeless and living on the streets until he found salvation in Catholic Charities.

He has regained his independence and saved money, giving him hope for his future.

“It’s really hard trying to get back on my feet. When Catholic Charities offered me a place to live, it really set me up tremendously because I can save more money that way. And Catholic Charities coordinated furnishings and clothes and food. It really puts your faith in people again.’’

Catholic Charities veterans program provides supportive services specifically to very low-income veterans and their families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness –with the ultimate goal of ending homelessness among veterans in our community.

Learn more at ccdoc.me/basil.

Burial Assistance Program Offers Mercy and Love to Those in Need

The unexpected death of a loved one can have a devastating and often unbearable cost. Catholic Charities makes it possible for the financially struggling to give their departed the farewell they deserve.

You can support the Burial Assistance program so that everyone can honor the corporal work of mercy to bury the dead with dignity.

Learn more at ccdoc.me/burialassistance.