FROM THE CEO
Dear Friends,
Whenever overwhelmed by the terrible news in the world, I find it helpful to remember God’s presence in our lives, through family, friends, safety, shelter, food, health, meaningful work, knowledge and the beauty of nature. I reflect on the lives of the people we serve through Catholic Charities and am so moved by their determination, courage, and resilience. For though they struggle to find safety, shelter, food, health, education, economic security, and a sense of belonging, they have the courage to ask for help, the courage to hope for a better life for themselves and their families.
In this spring of 2022 we are blessed at Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County to accompany these members of our community on their journey of hope. Our massive expansion of food distribution begun at the start of the pandemic continues through parish drive-throughs, home-delivered groceries and nutritious meals for seniors facing daily hunger. Thanks to the David & Lucile Packard Foundation we have relaunched our free tax assistance (Tax EZ) to help lower-income families access Child Tax Credits and the Earned Income Tax Credits as well as public benefits to stabilize their incomes. Our refugee resettlement efforts have expanded beyond our Refugee Foster Care to being a Community Partner to help Afghan families jump-start their new lives in the valley as part of the Afghan Placement and Assistance program.
In the face of growing income inequality in the valley, Catholic Charities continues to alleviate, reduce and prevent poverty by assisting the unhoused, preventing homelessness, finding jobs, providing immigration legal services, teaching children after school, providing senior, youth and family resources and social and mental health supports, assisting those incarcerated and re-entering society, and building a network of advocates and community volunteers through parishes and neighborhoods.
Thank you to our volunteers, staff and generous donors for enabling Catholic Charities to provide help and create hope with people of all cultures and beliefs. If you have not yet had the opportunity to help this spring, I invite you to join us by investing through Catholic Charities to make a difference in our community and to truly change lives for good.
All the best,
