Four years after Hurricane Florence, many are still struggling with housing instability. In Wilmington, Aaron Etheridge lost his home and struggled to find resources that would get him back inside. Damage from the storm caused his roof to collapse and rendered the house unlivable. While he searched for ways to get back into his home, he spent many nights in his car or at a friend’s house. It was an uncomfortable situation made worse by… Read More
The Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services Program helps individuals improve their immigration status and navigate the complicated network of processes and paperwork. In most cases, these individuals have already made many difficult decisions coming to the United States and feel overwhelmed by the immigration process. In addition, moving to a new country leaves many immigrants isolated and vulnerable. Dilcia Martinez, a native of Honduras, came to Catholic Charities in March 2006, requesting information about the… Read More
Food insecurity is often accompanied by other issues which exacerbate the challenges individuals are facing. The Healthy Opportunities Pilot, or HOP for short, is a new holistic approach undertaken by the NC Department of Health and Human Services to address shortcomings in housing, food, transportation, and interpersonal safety and toxic stress. This program is designed to help struggling, high-needs Medicaid enrollees by providing non-medical interventions to improve health outcomes. Many of the enrolled individuals have… Read More
Staff Spotlight: Sue Williams In the heart of Durham, North Carolina, Catholic Charities is making a significant impact on the lives of individuals and families in need. At the forefront of this regional office is Sue Williams, the Program Director of the Durham Community Food Pantry. Since joining Catholic Charities in December 2022, Sue has brought her passion, experience, and unwavering dedication to providing help and creating hope for the community. Before her role at… Read More
This April, Catholic Charities staff took an extra moment to thank the volunteers who are critical to making Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh the best Catholic Charities in the country! National Volunteer Week was celebrated during the week of April 16-22 and provided a special opportunity to highlight the countless hours of service that volunteers dedicate to our community. In her letter to volunteers, Lisa Perkins, CEO, praised the impact volunteers make by… Read More
More than 300 people gathered at Catholic Parish Outreach (CPO) Food Pantry in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Saturday, April 22, 2023, for the 11th Annual Pig Pickin’ and Open House! The fundraiser was a resounding success, with attendees enjoying delicious food, lively entertainment, and the opportunity to support a worthy cause. The annual celebratory event helps raise funds to support CPO’s work to distribute nutritious groceries to the community. The event featured a pop-up bake… Read More
Two months into hurricane season, on July 21 and 22, over 30 individuals gathered in New Bern for two days to learn essential steps for conducting effective disaster case management following a storm. Co-hosted by Catholic Charities and the Craven County Disaster Recovery Alliance (CCDRA), the training worked to increase the resiliency of coastal communities and increase the speed with which they recover from storms. Participants traveled from nine counties including Beaufort, Brunswick, Columbus, Craven,… Read More
Sister Anne has been serving the Diocese of Raleigh for over 35 years. In her time here, she has served the community both as a clinical counselor and as a teacher. In both roles, she has helped countless children and adults work through grief, emotional distress, or other personal issues they might have faced. As her time working with Catholic Charities comes to an end and she begins transitioning into retirement, she reflects on all… Read More
Through the immigration process, qualifying immigrants can be reunited with their family living in the United States and seek improved economic opportunities. However, this process can be confusing, complex, and expensive, making it challenging for immigrants to achieve. For over 25 years, the Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services have assisted families in the completion and submission of various immigration related processes. Each year, the program assists approximately 3,000 families with the following: naturalization and citizenship,… Read More
The Catholic Charities Annual Pig Pickin’ returned to an in-person format this year on Saturday, May 21st, 2022, after being held as virtual events in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. The event was adapted to a drive-thru event due to continued concerns around the pandemic and raised over $20,000 with over 200 guests enjoying a delicious meal of pulled pork, coleslaw, hush puppies, and baked beans. Former CPO director and occasional volunteer, Terry Foley,… Read More
