*Client name changed to protect their privacy in this story. In September of 2018, Hurricane Florence ravaged Renee’s home of 20 years. The storm tore her home apart, causing the ceiling to cave in and floodwaters to rise through the floors. Devastated as she was, this is the home she shared with her late husband and Renee refused to abandon it – she worked hard to salvage what she could. By the time Renee reached out to Catholic Charities for assistance, the mold and mildew in the home were starting… Read More
Ten days ago I shared that we were temporarily suspending food pantry services. During this time, we have been working tirelessly with a pandemic expert and team of volunteers who have successfully created a plan that allows Catholic Charities to move forward during this pandemic. The team focused its efforts on four key areas: • COVID-19 education and training for staff and volunteers • Evaluating the client in-take process • Cleaning and safety practices • Adapting best practices for all offices In addition, a virtual training program has been… Read More
March 25, 2020 Dear Friends, In just a short time, daily life has been disrupted by COVID-19, altering how we interact with our neighbors and how our churches, schools, and workplaces operate. During this unprecedented time, dedicated Catholic Charities staff and volunteers have been proud to continue serving the most vulnerable of our neighbors. Last week, we issued a statement pledging to continue providing our much-needed services to the community as long as were able to do so in an environment which was safe for our volunteers, clients, and staff. As the… Read More
Dear Friends, I am writing to share with you an update regarding our work in serving the community during this Coronavirus outbreak. We care deeply about ensuring a safe environment for our staff, volunteers, and the families we serve. We also realize the critical role of our programs for our neighbors in need, including our food pantries which help families put meals on their table. We are balancing these two objectives by implementing increased steps to maintain clean work environments. Some examples include having employees, whenever possible, work remotely or… Read More
The Catholic Charities Cape Fear Regional Office food pantry is undergoing a special type of makeover this month focused on improving the food that is distributed. “Health and poverty are inextricably linked,” shared Emilie Hart, Cape Fear Regional Director. “We see the snowball effects of this every day.” Food insecurity is a key factor in chronic diseases. At Catholic Charities, 37% of the clients served have someone in their household with diabetes and 69% have someone with high blood pressure. To address the connection between hunger and poor health outcomes,… Read More
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh recently named David Juarez Torres program director for the Durham Community Food Pantry. David has a long history of supporting the mission of Catholic Charities. Nine years ago, he first started as an American Corps member serving in Centro La Comunidad, a Catholic Charities Hispanic family center in Burlington. Once he finished his internship in 2011, David was hired to be part of the Catholic Charities Hispanic family center in Raleigh, Centro Para Familias Hispanas, where he worked as a case management coordinator…. Read More
For many people, the holidays are a season filled with good tidings and cheer. But for others, the holidays can be a time of anxiety, unhappiness, and a mix of other emotions when they’re unable to provide gifts for their families. In the spirit of the season, many volunteers and supporters from various Catholic Charities offices across the diocese collaborated to share cheer with families in need. In Raleigh, the Support Circle Program, which empowers families experiencing homelessness secure and maintain permanent housing, partnered with Pride for Parents, a program… Read More
Temperatures were dropping, children were counting down the days to break, families were getting in the holiday spirit. At the Catholic Charities office in Wilmington, staff were focused on ensuring all families are able to enjoy the holiday season, through the “Wrapped with Love” Christmas Program. Families from six counties in southeastern NC: Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover, and Pender, are able to access gifts for their children through this program. In the week leading up to Christmas, Catholic Charities staff, along with the help of volunteers from local… Read More
El Centro para Familias Hispanas was honored to welcome Bishop Rafael Zarama for the final class of The Language is the Key program which teaches parents how to read to their children. The Language is Key is designed to improve the language and reading ability of preschool children. The program does this through also teaching parents effective strategies that promote language development and help children learn to love reading. The Bishop was warmly welcomed by the young students and their parents and spent the morning reading books to the students…. Read More
The 9th Annual Catholic Charities Gala provided the opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the work of Catholic Charities while also providing vital funding to foster continued growth. The theme of the evening was “Be the Light” and the committed individuals who supported the Catholic Charities Gala certainly were a light for their community. Through the generosity of 400 donors, the event raised over $257,000 to support Catholic Charities programming across the Diocese of Raleigh. Over 330 guests gathered at the Crabtree Marriot in Raleigh and shared… Read More
