Sisters on the Frontlines

The Sisters on the Frontlines initiative supports Catholic sisters in their response to the immediate needs of communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland was one of the first funders in the country to support this now national initiative operated by Catholic Extension that provides sisters with $1,000 each to help those hit hardest by the pandemic. SOCF in partnership with the Conrad N. Hilton Fund for Sisters, the Congregation of St. Joseph and the Conference of Religious Leadership has distributed more than $60,000 among applicant congregations in Northeast Ohio. "Many sisters already have great connections and trusted relationships with people who are struggling," said Margaret Eigsti, SOCF senior program officer. “It enables sisters to do what they’re best at.”

Following are just some of the stories of how the grants have been used to help those who need it most.

In Northeast Ohio, funding from Sisters on the Frontlines went to several congregations: • Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland • Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown • Sisters of Notre Dame, Christ the King Province • Congregation of St. Joseph • Sisters of the Humility of Mary • Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine • Dominican Sisters of Peace • Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis • Sisters of the Incarnate Word • Sisters of the Holy Spirit

MUCH-NEEDED HELP FOR A REFUGEE FAMILY

One sister said she was overjoyed to receive the funds. “I didn’t have to think long about how to use this money,” she said. For several years, she had been working with a refugee family of five who was seeking asylum. “I prayed for three days about how I could get help for her and her four children and then received the email about this program.” The sister had previously helped her enroll her children in school, get used furniture donated and get a free immigration lawyer. She also drove her to foodbanks each week to get food and got her help with rent. Eventually, she was able to find work, where she makes minimum wage and lives paycheck to paycheck. Not being able to work for several weeks while her children were out of school because of COVID-19 really set her back. The mother recently came to the sister with multiple concerns about money she needed for car repair, money for food and money for medication. “She is a good mother, a woman of great faith and works tirelessly for her family. She is extremely grateful for these funds to help address these needs through these trying times.”

KEEPING FOOD ON THE TABLE

One sister serves in a parish located in an area where a large percentage of residents have jobs deemed “essential” during the pandemic. When COVID-19 hit, the parish was forced to close its emergency food pantry because of the risk to volunteers and patrons. The food pantry had been open weekly, providing basic, non-perishable food items to the neighborhoods around the church, including families of undocumented immigrants who do not qualify for food stamps. It is also a lifeline for permanent resident immigrants who do not want to use public assistance, which could jeopardize their ability to apply for citizenship in the future. With funding from Sisters on the Frontlines, the parish was able to re-stock the food pantry and reopen it on a limited basis, as well as purchase gift cards at a neighborhood grocery store to distribute to families.

“I am most grateful for the funding from the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland and the confidence the foundation has put in the mission-driven sisters on the frontlines in the city of Cleveland, especially in our poorest neighborhoods so we can help these families to put food on their tables during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

SISTERS ON THE FRONTLINE GRANTEE

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Sisters of Charity Foundation for making these funds available. Your generosity and initiatives on behalf of all people, especially women and children on the margins, are a living witness to the mission of the Catholic Church, to each local Congregation of Women Religious in Northeast Ohio, and ultimately to all God’s people in the greater Cleveland area.”

SISTERS ON THE FRONTLINE GRANTEE

THANKING CAREGIVERS

One sister used her funding to support two caregivers at a Cleveland-area hospital after learning of the unique hardships they faced in serving on the front lines of the pandemic. The first, a medical assistant, is the caretaker for her several grandchildren. When COVID-19 hit, her hours were only cut a small amount, but her grandson was also affected by cut hours at his job, limiting the money he brought home to help raise his siblings. “She was very grateful for the help to put food on the table each day for her grandchildren,” said the sister.

The second person was a nurse whose husband had to close his company because of COVID-19. Her husband also had an accident, leaving him needing surgery. “When I called her to tell her of the project, there was dead silence. She was trying to process what I said. She said no, saying, ‘Our life is to give as Jesus gives, not to receive.’ I convinced her that she should at least pray about the offer,” said the sister. Two days later, the nurse called and said yes. She said that she had heard the sister say that receiving is as much of a sacrifice as is giving. “At times God asks us to open our hearts to God’s love and receive people’s generosity. She was truly grateful for the financial help,” said the sister.

A HOPE FOR SAFE HOUSING

For many years, one sister has worked with women experiencing homelessness. She reached out to the director of a women’s center in Cleveland to determine how best to use the Sisters on the Frontlines grant to help individuals suffering from the impact of COVID-19. The director suggested the sister offer the funds to help a few of the women who were ready to move out of the center and did not qualify for existing rental assistance programs. The money would help with rent down payments. “COVID has made living at the shelter — and in some cases hotels — and subsequently moving out into stable housing so much harder. This gift made their transition a little easier,” she said. “Just having the gift of financial assistance for the women was remarkable. Those women who I work with at the shelter were ecstatic.”