by Rev. Michael M. Boland
Neighbors in Need
“I’ve never had to ask for help before! It’s embarrassing. I’m ashamed to ask for help, because I’ve worked all my life to take care of myself and my family.”
These heartbreaking words have been heard countless times in the last year by Christene Dykes-Sorrells, Director of Catholic Charities’ Emergency Assistance Program, and her staff at Catholic Charities’ 10 food pantries located throughout Chicago, the suburbs, and Lake County.
Fortunately, our food pantry staff reassure all visitors that there is nothing wrong with being in need—at some time, we all have to reach out and ask for a helping hand. Then our staff work with the first-time clients to ensure that the heads of households have the knowledge they need to sustain themselves and their families during this period of crisis in their lives.
At Catholic Charities, we provide more than nutritious food. We treat these brothers and sisters of ours with respect and compassion at this difficult, frightening time in their lives. We try to stabilize them by offering helpful information—dispelling myths regarding eligibility for unemployment benefits and food stamps—and we do the necessary screenings right in our food pantries and offices. We enable each family or individual to maintain their dignity and balance in this temporary crisis, until they can get “back to normal.”
From July, 2008 through June, 2009, the total number of Catholic Charities’ Food Pantries’ clients soared from more than 155,000 in fiscal year 2008 to nearly 226,000 by July of 2009; an increase of 46 percent.
I’m sure everyone realizes that 2009 was not a good year for families, working people and retirees across our nation. Economic crises such as the downsizing of companies, layoffs and loss of jobs, as well as loss of investment income and savings, have taken a terrible toll on everyone of ordinary means, but especially on retirees and others living on fixed or low-incomes. Unemployment is at its highest level since the Great Depression.
Because Catholic Charities is a place of refuge for people who are in trouble, we see first-hand the suffering of our neighbors. Our food pantries and emergency assistance centers are experiencing great increases in clients, because people can’t pay their utility bills and/or rent.
People from all walks of life are finding that they need to go to a food pantry. A lot of families who recently considered themselves middle-class are no longer able to make ends meet. Many two-income families have suddenly become one-income households. And if individuals and families have always lived from paycheck to paycheck, they are now in a very painful situation indeed.
But at Catholic Charities we embrace people suffering with these problems and say: “We will do our best to help you.” We say it with confidence because we see the great generosity of people who believe in giving more during this difficult time. Even those who are worried about their own finances give a little, because Catholics, and generous donors of all faiths, are well known for giving at least a little all the time – even when they are struggling themselves.
As a result, Catholic Charities has welcomed over 1,000 new donors this past year. Because of the struggling economy, everyone is giving less—but more people are giving!
We have wonderful stories to tell of this great generosity of heart. For example, people who have no money themselves are coming to serve at our six weekly suppers for hungry and low-income individuals in the city and suburbs. A few weeks ago, a family came in with their daughter to volunteer. The father had lost his full-time job and was working two part-time jobs, but it wasn’t enough: they were three months behind in rent. Fortunately, they had a very compassionate landlord who said he would give the father as long as it took to find his next job. Catholic Charities was able to help him find a full-time job.
In early December, two elderly women who had each recovered from strokes drove up to the Catholic Charities “Celebration of Giving” truck where volunteers were collecting Christmas gifts from eight parishes in the Southwest suburbs. They delivered bags of new toys and clothing for families who were too poor to afford them.
These heartwarming tales seem especially appropriate this month as we celebrate St. Valentine’s Day—because they show that everyone has something to give. And that the spirit of charity—love for our neighbor in need—thrives even in the most difficult of times.
Right now, food is especially important to people in crisis. Because of the great numbers of foreclosures and evictions, we cannot always help financially with rents or mortgages, but we can provide healthy food so that the struggling person or family can use their cash resources to pay for their utilities or housing and thus forestall homelessness. At our food pantries, a donated canned ham or canned goods such as green beans, macaroni and cereal are very important, but we also need cash donations so that we can buy milk and other perishables. Then a family can really make a nutritious meal out of the food. So, just a $25 donation to our food pantries can make a big difference to hungry families.
May God bless each of you and your families during these winter months with health and happiness, and may you continue to open your hearts to those in need.
To make donations to our food pantries, or to find out more about Catholic Charities, please visit www.catholiccharities.net.
