Archive for the ‘Agencies’ Category
Monday, May 13th, 2013
Dennis Scimone, Director of Residential Services for Beacon of Hope House with Denise Bauer Director, Beacon of Hope House
By Alice Kenny
Hosted by and for consumers with mental illness, the Catholic Charities Beacon of Hope annual talent show and dinner theatre– now in its twenty-eighth year — is always packed with creativity, comedy and fun.
But this year’s show held at the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Center in Harlem on May 1 went over the top thanks to a last-minute rendition of “God Bless America” belted out by the Harlem Alumni Boys and Girls Choir.
Catholic Charities Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Center is always a hopping place. Dance classes, music, theatre and social service programs fill this central Harlem meeting spot day in and day out from its basement to its top floor.
Sometimes the synergy morphs into magic, as it did on Talent Show night.
Ninety consumers along with family and friends from Beacon of Hope residential programs and its vocational club house had already feasted at the dinner theatre event as fellow consumers emceed and regaled them with a fashion show, songs, dances, original poetry, and outstanding music played on the guitar, drums and harmonica.
A special night like this, however, seemed to need something extra, said Damian Buzzerio, who helped coordinate a team of five volunteers that helped at the event. That’s when the Harlem Alumni Boys and Girls Choir that had been training in their usual rehearsal room, made their surprise appearance. As their special gift to this special group, the choir trooped on stage and belted out God Bless America.
“It is becoming more and more difficult to find such a special and safe place for events such as these to flourish,” says Debbie Ciraolo, an American Sign Language interpreter with Beacon of Hope who assisted with the show. “I cherish this experience.”
Join us to find a “special, safe place” that recognizes your talents and creativity.
Click here to find a volunteer opportunity tailored just for you.
Tags: American Sign Language interpreter, annual talent show, Beacon of Hope, Damian Buzzerio, Dance classes, dances, Debbie Ciraolo, Harlem, Harlem Alumni Boys and Girls Choir, Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Center, mental illness, Music, poetry, social service programs, songs, theatre
Posted in Agencies, New York City, Policy and Advocacy, Supporting the Physically and Emotionally Challenged, Volunteering | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 7th, 2013
From Left to Right: George Rodriguez, Fidelis Care NY Director of Marketing; Mark Sclafani, Vice President, Marketing; Pamela Hassan, Chief Marketing Officer; Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, Catholic Charities Executive Director; Beatriz Diaz Taveras, Executive Director CCCS
By Alice Kenny
Fidelis Care, a partner with Catholic Charities Community Services (CCCS) for nearly a decade, donated $509,000 to Catholic Charities on May 3, 2013 to further the two agencies’ aligned mission to serve the poor and needy of New York.
This partnership has proved particularly important in light of the punishing impact the lasting effects the economic recession and deep cuts in social service programs have had on families in need.
- One in every six New Yorkers – 1.4 million of our neighbors – now relies on daily emergency food.
- More than half are employed yet still cannot manage to make ends meet with their earnings. Close to 9,700 families with 15,000 children sleep in homeless shelters.
These numbers indicate what Catholic Charities already knows. Poverty is not merely the lack of adequate financial resources. Instead, it entails a profound deprivation, a denial of full participation in the economic, social and political life of society and an inability to influence decisions that affect one’s own life. It means being powerless in a way that assaults not only one’s pocketbook but also one’s fundamental human dignity.
Fidelis Care is the New York State Catholic Health Plan, providing health coverage to children and adults in 58 counties statewide. The mission of Fidelis Care is to ensure that every resident, regardless of income, age, religion, gender, or ethnic background, has access to quality health care and is provided with dignity and respect. Through partnerships with providers, schools, and community agencies like Catholic Charities New York, Fidelis Care works to foster healthier futures for members and their families.
Now as more and more individuals and families seek help, the Fidelis Care grant assists Catholic Charities Community Services as we continue to respond as we always have, with professional case management services across the ten counties of the Archdiocese of New York that alleviate crises and set families and individuals on a path toward stability.
Tags: Archdiocese of New York, Beatriz Diaz Taveras, case management services, Catholic Charities Community Services, Catholic Charities New York, economic recession, emergency food, Fidelis Care, health coverage, homeless shelters, New York State Catholic Health Plan, quality health care, social service programs
Posted in Agencies, Feeding the Hungry and Sheltering the Homeless, Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, New York City, Protecting and Nurturing Children and Youth, Staten Island, Strengthening Families and Resolving Crises, Supporting the Physically and Emotionally Challenged, What We Do at Catholic Charities | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013
By Alice Kenny
The widow of a Marine Corps veteran, Tanya Thomas knows firsthand about pain and loss. Now as the first graduate of Grace Institute’s training program for female veterans and their families — and after landing a job at Catholic Charities — she knows firsthand about success.
Tanya stands among a growing number of female veterans and military spouses who took a disproportionate hit during the Great Recession and battle homelessness and unemployment. The jobless rate for female Gulf-War era veterans has been stuck at nearly 13 percent for the past two years, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“I can’t begin to say what a gift going to Grace and getting a job like this is,” Tanya said. ”It’s helping me build my future.”
When her children were ages two and four, her husband, U.S. Marine Dwight Anthony Thomas, developed a blood clot in his brain that ultimately killed him.
“I couldn’t get out of bed after he died,” she said. “It’s been a long road back to enjoying life.”
Then, when cancer claimed the life of Tanya’s aunt, Tanya took on the responsibility of caring for her aunt’s two teenage children as well.
“We were basically a house of widows and orphans,” Tanya said.
Fortunately Tanya found out about Grace Institute’s new program for female veterans and their families. The program, supported in part by the Clinton Global Initiative, is designed to hone the work skills of this underserved population and help them find work.
“Our commitment to helping veterans, never ends” says Jolene Varley Handy, a Senior Director at Catholic Charities affiliate Grace Institute, “because their commitment to our country never ends.”
Grace Institute, an affiliate of Catholic Charities, has been providing tuition-free job training skills for women in New York City for more than 100 years. Its new program builds on this success, working with military spouses and family members to assist with the transition to life off the base. The program includes intensive computer, business writing and career development classes. It prepares students for interviews and draws on its extensive lists of employer contacts to arrange meetings and help the students find work.
Tanya landed a job as soon as she graduated. She now works as a case manager with Catholic Charities. Her specialty is eviction prevention.
“It’s great to assist people with empowering themselves,” she said. “I know the feeling from both ends.”
If you are a female veteran or family member and would like to take advantage of this tuition-free program:
If you are a New York City employer seeking trained, responsible staff:
Tags: Blue Star program, Clinton Global Initiative, Dwight Anthony Thomas, eviction prevention, grace institute, Great Recession, Gulf-War, homelessness, job training, Jolene Varley Handy, Marine Corps, Tanya Thomas, training program, Tuition Free, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Marine, unemployment, veteran
Posted in Agencies, Policy and Advocacy, Strengthening Families and Resolving Crises, Supporting the Physically and Emotionally Challenged, Uncategorized, What We Do at Catholic Charities | No Comments »
Monday, April 22nd, 2013
By Alice Kenny
Tapping in on Earth Day, Catholic Community Services of Rockland (CCSR) announces its new program, “Produce the Produce,” to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to hungry children, individuals and families in Rockland County.
“Whether from our own garden, grocery store or farmers’ market, most of us have access we take for granted to fresh fruits and vegetables but those who are poor have neither,” says CCSR Executive Director Martha Robles.
“We are committed to changing that in Rockland with a bold, new and fresh initiative,” she adds, “and invite you to be a part of it.”
This proactive effort will put more freshly grown fruits and vegetables on the tables of people in need. CCSR plans to serve as a catalyst to engage other community and parish gardens to participate in “Produce the Produce.” It will also provide a central location where local farmers markets and common citizens can donate the fresh fruits and vegetables they grow.
The idea was “cultivated” from CCSR’s expanded community produce garden in Haverstraw. This garden, nicknamed the “Garden of Love,” has already produced more than 6,000 lbs. of fresh produce that has been distributed to participants enrolled in the CCSR Food Pantry. In addition to saving money, the Garden of Love helps feed our neighbors, while teaching members of the community how to grow their own food.
To ensure a plentiful bounty, Produce the Produce was formally announced during the 4th Annual Blessing of the Soil at CCSR, 78 Hudson Ave in Haverstraw, New York on April 20.
During this time of economic uncertainty, demand for the food pantries continues to grow. Fortunately, the CCSR garden’s bounty is growing as well. Seasonal cooking demonstrations that use fresh ingredients from the bounty harvested from the “Garden of Love” are also available.
At Catholic Community Services of Rockland, no one is ever turned away from receiving food. Please call 845 942-5791 during office hours to register.
Tags: Catholic Community Services of Rockland, community gardening, community produce, Executive Director Martha Robles, families, Food Pantry, Garden of Love, gardening, Haverstraw, hungry children, individuals, parish gardens, Produce the Produce, Rockland
Posted in Agencies, Events, Feeding the Hungry and Sheltering the Homeless, Hudson Valley, Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Parishes, Protecting and Nurturing Children and Youth, Strengthening Families and Resolving Crises, What We Do at Catholic Charities | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013
By Alice Kenny
Rappers, fans of rap and all who oppose gun violence packed the Catholic Charities Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Center for a 12-hour nonstop Rapathon on April 6.
“Put your guns down: go to peace side up,” marchers chanted as they joined the End Gun Violence Rapathon.
The Rapathon was open to anyone with a love for Hip Hop, a determination to end gun violence and – the tricky part – the ability to rhyme for 90 seconds straight without cursing.
The community event showcased talented Emcees focused on helping change the current culture of gun violence. Sponsored by the Hip Hop Culture Center in Harlem, it supported Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E., an organization of mothers and fathers who lost children to gun violence.
“We can’t bring our kids back but we can certainly try to help another mother and another mother’s child by doing prevention and education,” says organization cofounder Jackie Rowe Adams.
Rapper Homeboy Sandman offered a sample. “Five weeks you were alive,” he rapped. “Had full curly hair; big beautiful eyes.”
Ms. Adams, unfortunately, knows firsthand what this type of loss feels like.
“I’ve lost two kids to gun violence,” she said. “The pain never goes away.”
For more information:
- Contact Catholic Charities Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Center at 212-862-6401.
- Check out Harlem Mothers Save.
Tags: End Gun Violence, Harlem Mothers Save, Hip Hop Culture Center, Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Center, rap, Rapathon
Posted in Agencies, New York City, Protecting and Nurturing Children and Youth, Strengthening Families and Resolving Crises, What We Do at Catholic Charities | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 10th, 2013
By Alice Kenny
After witnessing tens of thousands of starving children and families, Mother Teresa, a Catholic activist and saint, decided to keep her advice simple to fight these overwhelming odds.
“If you can’t feed a hundred people,” she told followers, “then just feed one.”
Inspired by this advice, St. Catherine’s Parish in Rockland County decided to make feeding the hungry their Lenten Challenge. Mobilized by the New York Archdiocesan Feeding Our Neighbors campaign to shore up food pantries’ dwindling supplies, the parish asked children that attend the church to donate shopping bags filled with food from February 13 through March 30 during Lent.
Students broke into teams that competed to bring in the most food donations. All told, the students brought in nearly two tons– 3,799 pounds – of food.
They donated this bounty to the food pantry run by Rockland Catholic Community Services.
“I was thrilled when I saw the amount of food the youth were able to collect,” said Catholic Community Services of Rockland Executive Director Martha Robles. “I told them – and I’m sure – that ‘Mother Teresa is so proud of you.’”
Tags: Catholic activist, feeding our neighbors, food donations, food pantries, Lenten Challenge, Mother Teresa, Rockland Catholic Community Services, Rockland County, St. Catherine’s Parish
Posted in Agencies, Archdiocese News, Events, Feeding the Hungry and Sheltering the Homeless, Parishes, Strengthening Families and Resolving Crises, What We Do at Catholic Charities | 1 Comment »
Monday, April 1st, 2013
By Alice Kenny
His Excellency Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan will make his first New York Archdiocesan tour since returning to New York after helping to elect Pope Francis.
Cardinal Dolan has scheduled three events on Thursday, April 4, 2013 that celebrate the work of Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange County. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York Executive Director Monsignor Kevin Sullivan will join him.
At 3 p.m. on April 4, Cardinal Dolan will bless tour and cut the ribbon at Catholic Charities’ new locations at 305 North Street in Middletown, NY. This location consolidates several programs into a single location: housing an OASAS licensed Substance Abuse Clinic, Case Management staff, Immigration Services, and our Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The Substance Abuse Clinic provides assessments and individual and group counseling to individuals and families to help ensure a lasting recovery from substance abuse. Case Management and Immigration provide a variety of bi-lingual services to individuals in need. The EAP works with businesses, municipalities, organizations, and parishes, providing support and counseling services to over 65,000 covered employees and their family members.
The next stop at 4:15 p.m. will be a tour where Cardinal Dolan will give a special blessing to children that attend Catholic Charities Early Learning Center at 59 St. John Street in the Village of Goshen, NY. The Early Learning Center offers a full-day program for children ages six weeks to five years focused on early childhood learning, socialization skills and kindergarten readiness skills.
Cardinal Dolan’s final destination at 6 p.m. will be a cocktail reception at the 7th Annual Celebration of Charity held at Anthony’s Pier 9, 2975 Route 9W in New Windsor, NY. This annual event also includes a dinner and silent auction. 2013 Caritas Award Honorees include Reverend Jeffrey Maurer, Pastor at St Mary’s Church in Washingtonville, Scott Batulis, President and Chief Executive Officer at Orange Regional Medical Center and the Eva Fini Fund for Rett Syndrome Research.
“We are honored by Cardinal Dolan’s visit and the significant statement it makes,” says Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange County Executive Director Dean Scher. “By opening our new clinic in Middletown, Catholic Charities highlights the value we place on providing a wide range of accessible services to our local community and on providing help and hope for those struggling with substance abuse. In the Early Learning Center, we underline the importance of daycare and early education for preschoolers to ease the minds of working parents. And we gratefully acknowledge the key role of donors whose continuing support enables us to provide help and create hope for those in need.”
For information about purchasing a ticket for the upcoming 7th Annual Celebration of Charity contact Catholic Charities Community Services at 845-294-5124 ext. 303.
About Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange County
Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange County, one of the human service agencies of the Federation of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, is committed to building a compassionate and just society. It is dedicated to serving the homeless, the hungry, the emotionally and physically handicapped, immigrants and the marginalized and vulnerable of Orange County regardless of religion. It collaborates with parishes, individuals, government and other agencies.
Tags: 2013 Caritas Award Honorees, 7th Annual Celebration of Charity, bi-lingual services, businesses, Case Management staff, Catholic Charities Community Services, Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange County, Catholic Charities Early Learning Center, childhood learning, daycare, Dean Scher, early education, Employee Assistance Program, Eva Fini Fund, Federation of the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, human service agencies, Immigration Services, kindergarten readiness skills, Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, municipalities, New Windsor, New York Archdiocesan, OASAS, orange county, organizations, parishes, Pastor at St Mary’s Church, preschoolers, President and Chief Executive Officer at Orange Regional Medical Center, Rett Syndrome Research, Reverend Jeffrey Maurer, Scott Batulis, socialization skills, substance abuse, Substance Abuse Clinic, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Village of Goshen
Posted in Agencies, Cardinal Dolan, Events, Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Parishes, Protecting and Nurturing Children and Youth, Strengthening Families and Resolving Crises, Supporting the Physically and Emotionally Challenged, What We Do at Catholic Charities | No Comments »
Monday, March 25th, 2013
Julissa Matias
By Alice Kenny
As housing prices continue rising in New York City while salaries at the low end of the pay scale stagnate, homelessness among working families has hit an all-time high. Augustina and her three toddlers, ages two, three and six, were about to join these homeless ranks.
The young mother’s $50-per-day income from her work as a home health aide had been stretched too thin for too long. Even with food stamps, she could not earn enough to pay for child care, clothing, and her Harlem apartment’s $1100 monthly rent. She owed nearly $12,000 to her landlord.
Homelessness in New York City has reached its highest levels since the Great Depression of the 1930s, according to statistics compiled by the Coalition for the Homeless. January 2013 set an all-time record with 50,100 homeless people. Twelve thousand homeless families including 21,000 homeless children who sleep each night in the New York City municipal shelter system comprise nearly three-quarters of the homeless shelter population. The overwhelming majority of these families holds jobs, such as Augustina, and fall behind in their rent after experiencing sudden medical costs, a death in the family, or loss of a job.
When Augustina first turned for help to the Catholic Charities Eviction Prevention Program she was terrified, she said. She had already been referred from one social service program. It seemed that time had run out.
Fortunately, she met Julissa Matias, site supervisor of the Catholic Charities Eviction Prevention Program at Waverly Job Center.
“It’s very rare that a family comes in that we cannot assist either by getting them FEPs (New York City’s Family Eviction Prevention Supplement) to help cover ongoing rent, obtain funding to cover rental arrears, or help find an apartment they can afford,” Ms. Matias said.
“But paying these families’ arrears is not enough,” she added. “They must be helped on to a sound footing where they can independently meet their future expenses.”
She was determined, she said, to provide this footing for Augustina and her children.
Augustina told Ms. Matias that she had been through hard times throughout her life. She no longer held out hope that anyone would help her.
So when Augustina learned that Catholic Charities would stand by her, she began to sob, Ms. Matias said. Through Catholic Charities Eviction Prevention Program, Ms Matias arranged for Augustina to receive a $2500 grant from a private organization. She helped her successfully apply for $7000 in FEPS funding. She bolstered Augustina’s confidence to ask her extended family for a $4000 loan. And she is using $1100 in Catholic Charities funds to pay back the remaining rental deficit.
Now, thanks to this help, Augustina and her children no longer wake up at night worried they might wind up on the street. They live in an apartment they know is their home.
“I have dealt with a lot of people in human service departments and Ms. Matias is the most professional, helpful, compassionate and kind person I’ve ever encountered,” Augustina said. “She gave me hope when so many gave me despair.”
At Catholic Charities in any given year:
6,981 families are saved from homelessness
1,487 people are placed in temporary or transitional apartments
6,109 families find affordable housing.
Click here to find a Catholic Charities agency that offers eviction prevention services.
Call the Catholic Charities Help Line at 888-744-7900 for assistance finding the services you need.
Tags: affordable housing, Catholic Charities Eviction Prevention Program, child care, clothing, Coalition for the Homeless, families, food stamps, home health aide, homeless, homeless children, homeless shelter population, medical costs, municipal shelter system, New York City’s Family Eviction Prevention Supplement, social service program, temporary housing, transitional apartments, Waverly Job Center
Posted in Agencies, Feeding the Hungry and Sheltering the Homeless, New York City, Policy and Advocacy, Protecting and Nurturing Children and Youth, Staten Island, Strengthening Families and Resolving Crises, What We Do at Catholic Charities | No Comments »
Monday, March 18th, 2013
By Alice Kenny
Feeding Our Neighbors, an Archdiocesan effort throughout 10 counties to fight hunger, celebrated the tremendous participation of Catholic schools among others during its second annual campaign with an Art Exhibition and Awards Presentation at the New York Catholic Center on East 55th Street in Manhattan on March 13.
Catholic Charities Executive Director Monsignor Kevin Sullivan joined with Dr. Timothy McNiff, Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of New York, and Dan Ahouse, Cablevision Area Director of Government Affairs, to welcome participants and announce awards.
“As we celebrate this wonderful transition and election of Pope Francis, we remember that one of his titles is called Pontifex, a word that simply means the builder of bridges,” said Catholic Charities Executive Director Msgr. Kevin Sullivan at the event.
“The pope builds bridges,” Msgr. Sullivan continued. “The Catholic Church builds bridges. And Feeding Our Neighbors has built bridges because of the participation of so many.”
Students at local Catholic schools competed in the Feeding Our Neighbor Art Contest. Awardees included Syleste Alexander, a student at St. Teresa School in Staten Island, Omar Reyes, a student at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx and Anna Nicotra, a student at St. Augustine School in Ossining.
High School students also competed in the Cablevision Power to Learn Competition that raised food and funds for hungry New Yorkers. Students representing Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx won the competition. They donated their $6,000 award to their favorite charities; $5,000 to their high school and $1,000 to Catholic Charities.
The Feeding Our Neighbors Campaign is a response to Timothy Cardinal Dolan’s call that we all do our part to replenish the food pantries and soup kitchens that growing numbers of families and children in our communities rely on to survive. Sponsored by Catholic organizations throughout the Archdiocese of New York and managed by Catholic Charities, contributions to the campaign support local food pantries that serve New Yorkers non-Catholic and Catholic alike. Now in its second year, Feeding Our Neighbors joined forces this season with UJA Federation of New York to fight hunger and need.
- In New York City, approximately 400,000 children rely on soup kitchens and food pantries for food.
- In New York State, more than 3 million people rely on the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP, or Food Stamps) to meet their basic food needs.
Join us in Feeding Our Neighbors.
Click here to do your part to make sure no hungry neighbor is turned away.
- $11.16 helps feed a child for one day.
- $45 helps feed a family of four.
Tags: Anna Nicotra, Archdiocesan Catholic schools, Cablevision, Cablevision Area Director of Government Affairs, Cardinal Hayes High School, Catholic Charities Federation, Dan Ahouse, Dr. Timothy McNiff, Feeding Our Neighbor Art Contest, feeding our neighbors, food pantries, local parishes, Luz Tavarez-Salazar, Omar Reyes, Power to Learn, soup kitchens, St. Augustine School in Ossining, St. Teresa School, Staten Island, Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of New York, Syleste Alexander, the Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education, The Bronx, the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO)
Posted in Agencies, Cardinal Dolan, Events, Feeding the Hungry and Sheltering the Homeless, New York City, Parishes, Policy and Advocacy, Protecting and Nurturing Children and Youth, Staten Island, Strengthening Families and Resolving Crises, What We Do at Catholic Charities | No Comments »
Thursday, March 14th, 2013
By Alice Kenny
On Wednesday, March 13th, Catholic Charities Alianza Division sponsored the Annual College and Career Day at The High School for Media & Communications to promote higher education among young people in the Washington Heights school community.
Throughout the day, volunteers spoke to classes about their careers and backgrounds and answered questions about their day-to-day work, motivating students to be excited about their education and job prospects and encouraging them to think about their futures.
On Thursday, more volunteers gave career presentations to students at the Innovation Diploma Plus High School Learning to Work program.
What advice would you give to a high school student about preparing for the future?
Tags: Career Day, Catholic Charities Alianza Division, The High School for Media, Washington Heights
Posted in Agencies, Protecting and Nurturing Children and Youth, Uncategorized, What We Do at Catholic Charities | No Comments »
