It’s 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the time when doors to the Durham Community Food Pantry open to the public. Inside, dozens of volunteers are eager to help families. Since opening in May, the Durham Community Food Pantry has increased access to healthy foods for hundreds of families in the area. “Things are going very well at the DCFP! We have been serving an average of 70 families weekly and we served 104 families on our first day,” said Elise Mudd, program director of the Durham Community Food Pantry. “In the… Read More
Para Español The 3rd Annual Dancing for a Cause was another successful event in support of Centro para Familias Hispanas. For the third consecutive year, the event took place at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Raleigh. The evening was filled with joy and entertainment for participants while providing Centro para Familias Hispanas with critical financial contributions to support programming. Centro para Familias Hispanas, a program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, has been serving the Hispanic community since 1997. Today, Centro para Familias Hispanas offers services… Read More
Statement from Catholic Charities USA on USCIS Public Charge Final Rule Alexandria, Va. (August 12, 2019)–Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is deeply concerned with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) final rule on public charge, scheduled for formal publication in the Federal Register on August 14, 2019.1 The rule will harm vulnerable immigrant communities and families by limiting access to social safety net programs and further impact them by removing access to basic needs services, diminishing public health & increasing the risk of death, and threatening family unity and stability, among… Read More
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, With much sadness we learned of a new shooting, of another massacre, this time in El Paso, Texas and in Dayton, Ohio. They were innocent victims of people who were destroying and killing out of hatred, racism, revenge, supremacy, or who knows why else. These were innocent lives who were killed by hate – which is the complete absence of Love and the tool of destruction. How sad! In our country we say: “In God We Trust” but we have gradually taken God out… Read More
“You know what was a fun hurricane? Hurricane Bertha.” The Inscore family sits around the living room, reminiscing on past disasters. “No,” their son chimes in, “you went to your parents’ for Bertha. You’re thinking of Floyd.” “That’s right,” answers David. “Hurricane Floyd, we stayed at the motel. The power went out, and we were the only ones with a battery. The whole building was dark, and we had the only light. All the kids were running up and down the hall when the manager showed up with a news… Read More
Para Español Most people celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, parades, and barbecues. For Faviana Franco de Zuñiga, this July 4th is particularly special. Faviana, who was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, has been living in the United States for the past twelve years and has been working to become a naturalized United States citizen. After a long, slow process, she finally obtained approval the week before the 4th of July. Faviana lived a great part of her life in Mexico where she raised her children. As they grew older, some of… Read More
Summer is here, the days are stretching longer, the sun is shining brighter and many kids are enjoying a break from school. A community food pantry full of senior volunteers may be the last place you would expect to see teenagers spending their summer free time. However, Catholic Parish Outreach (CPO), a program of Catholic Charities, the largest food pantry in Wake County, NC, is an exception. Now that students have been out of school for a few weeks, CPO is seeing an uptick in inquiries from parents and teens…. Read More
Roughly three-quarters of a mile down a dusty dirt road sits a home. This home has raised three children into adults, and seen a few hurricanes in its 13 years, but nothing like Florence. Ms. Ingrid, the owner, told us that the road it sits on runs through family land. As soon as her ancestors got off the boat at Ellis Island they made their way to coastal NC to settle. They were fisherman by trade, shrimpers to be exact, and the land they lived on bumps right up to… Read More
During the City of Raleigh’s 16th Annual Fair Housing Community Conference, members of the Fair Housing Board recognized Catholic Charities for their work around housing, both in helping survivors of Hurricane Florence, as well as their everyday work through the Support Circle Program, a critical resource for local communities in ending homelessness in Wake County. The award ceremony took place at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. The Annual Conference brought together housing advocates, community members, government officials, and experts on civil and human rights, housing, lending and community development. Rick… Read More
The air was crisp. The sun was shining. It was a perfect day for golf. On Monday, April 29th, over 160 golfers supported the 2nd Annual Catholic Charities Drive Out Hunger Golf Outing at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary. Proceeds from the Drive Out Hunger Golf Outing will benefit the six Catholic Charities food pantries throughout the Diocese of Raleigh. “Being able to share in a nutritious meal is such a basic need that every family should have met,” shared Ms. Lisa Perkins, Executive Director. “We are grateful to everyone… Read More
