Growing up as a young girl in Mexico, Maty Ferrer Hoppmann had dreams of becoming a school teacher. Little did she know that she would go on to become a champion for educating her community. In January, Maty began her tenure as President of the Alianza Latina Pro-Educación en Salud (ALPES). Maty’s journey began in 2008 when she moved to North Carolina, where she became a leasing consultant in Durham. She says this experience played… Read More
Roberto and Elizabeth own and run Copa, a popular farm-to-table Cuban restaurant and living wage employer in Durham. Copa has been a key supporter of the Durham Community Food Pantry (DCFP) and clients over the last two years. The husband-and-wife team began working with the DCFP at the beginning of the pandemic by participating in a program that provided hot meals to clients. The program was a partnership with the nonprofit Upstream Works Collaborative, and… Read More
We are deeply saddened by the recent news reports which have caused confusion and fear regarding the work of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh within our 54 counties of central and eastern North Carolina. In Matthew 25: 35, Jesus states, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.” Responding to this call, our immigration legal services program provides… Read More
On October 8, 2016, Hurricane Matthew impacted much of eastern North Carolina. For days, an unprecedented amount of rain fell, with up to 16 inches falling in many areas, setting state records. The damage from this rain was devastating. Roofs were damaged, homes were flooded, mold grew everywhere. Then, just two years later in September 2018, many families went through another traumatic experience with Hurricane Florence again bringing record breaking flooding. Facing back to back… Read More
On Thursday, September 9th, the “Triangle Business Journal” hosted an awards luncheon for their class of 2021 Leaders in Diversity at The Umstead Hotel and Spa. Among this year’s winners was Lisa Perkins, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh. As Perkins was on stage accepting her award, she shared the quote by Audre Lorde, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate… Read More
Each year, the Catholic Charities Board of Directors gathers to welcome new members. This September, for the first time in two years due to COVID-19, the Catholic Charities Board was able to gather in person to celebrate this event. On Sept. 2 a commissioning ceremony was held in the chapel of the Catholic Center, which is the main office for the Diocese of Raleigh. Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama presided over the ceremony and thanked the… Read More
Message from the Executive Director Thousands of Afghan refugees are resettling in the U.S. because of the dangerous situation in their home country. They helped the U.S. military for 20 years and now they need the help of others. At Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, we work to provide help, create hope, and serve all, including these recent Afghan refugees. However, providing refugee specific services is a complex process and requires a specific… Read More
RALEIGH – The Triangle Business Journal announced its 2021 class of Leaders in Diversity awards July 27, and Lisa Perkins, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, was among the 12 individual winners. According to a TBJ online news story, the program is designed to “recognize the accomplishments of Triangle businesses, individuals and nonprofits as they come together to weave a diverse foundational fabric into the heart of the local community.” The… Read More
Fayetteville Region: Parish Highlight Series Support from local parishes is vital for Catholic Charities offices to meet the many and various needs of individuals and families within the Diocese of Raleigh. Each year, the staff at the Catholic Charities Office in Fayetteville witness the enthusiasm for helping others displayed by local parishes which supports them in providing high quality services to the community. This week, we are featuring the incredible work of Good Shepherd Catholic… Read More
In summer 2020, the produce-packing room at the Durham Community Food Pantry filled with the smells of oregano, cilantro, parsley, thyme, and basil. Local organizations such as the Scrap Exchange and churches such as Holy Cross kindly donated bundles of herbs and vegetables every week fresh from their community gardens. Each Tuesday, volunteers marveled at the bright peppers and bulbous tomatoes. Families received boxes filled to the brim with local produce and flavors of North… Read More
