‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
                                                                                                                                     Mt 25:40

Among this tumultuous time of COVID-19, Catholic Charities is assisting anyone who comes to us in need. Although the giving season is year-round for us, this is that special time of year when Thanksgiving and Christmas are on the minds of our families and friends. During this time of the pandemic, more families than ever need our help, and as the holiday season nears, many people are beginning to worry. Families are starting to wonder how they will be able to manage putting food on the table for Thanksgiving, but also how their children will be able to enjoy Christmas.

As we gather a little differently this year for Thanksgiving and Christmas, we still are grateful for all of the gifts and blessings God has given to us. Catholic Charities would like to help families in need during this holiday season by providing food, Christmas toys and gift cards for those who are struggling and who need a helping hand. We are seeking donations of nonperishable food items for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner such as boxed stuffing mix, instant mashed potatoes, gravy, canned vegetables and macaroni and cheese, or a grocery gift card. For our families with children, we are requesting donations of unwrapped toys and gift cards for boys and girls of all ages.

While we are all attempting to navigate through these trying times, Catholic Charities is hoping to create a stable and traditional time of Christmas celebrations, especially for the children. This is an important goal for our agency this year, and we know we would not be able to assist those individuals and families who come to us in crisis without your help. As witnessed by a client last year, your donations make a huge impact:

“Christmas can be a very stressful time of year for anyone. This year was very different for our family due to some financial obstacles, unemployment because of illness, and finding out we were expecting another member to our family. We had never needed assistance but this year we could not have had a Christmas without seeking out help from Catholic Charities. I could not be more grateful for the support this program provided for my family. Everyone involved was welcoming and made us feel like we were worth it! My six-year-old boy will wake up on Christmas morning with a smile on his face because of everything Catholic Charities has done for us.”- R.R.

Catholic Charities would like to thank you for being a light in a dark and difficult time for so many, and we wish you all a very blessed, healthy and peaceful Thanksgiving holiday.

By Laura Malone