One of the 2017 Catholic Charities local CCHD grant recipients is the St. Marguerite Sewing Project of St. William Church in Murphy. The grant helped purchase sewing machines and supplies to teach sewing skills. Project teachers (all volunteers from the parish and the surrounding community) and students also make clothing for low-income children. Project Coordinator Sister Terry Martin, CND, sees the project as an opportunity for volunteer service for those with sewing skills, and an opportunity for students to learn sewing skills, express their creativity, develop confidence and learn a trade, which can be a source of income. She is pictured with Joseph Purello of Catholic Charities and project team members Joann Moore, Rosemary Wright, Carolyn Sams and Kay Morgan. (Photo provided by Joseph Purello)
Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte annually offers local Catholic Campaign for Human Development grants to non-profits in the Diocese of Charlotte that are targeting the root causes of poverty and related social concerns. Many of the CCHD grant-funded projects work in partnership with, or under the auspices of, diocesan parishes. All grant applicants and projects are reviewed for their conformity to Catholic social doctrine and receive a local parish endorsement. Funded projects build community, empower people economically, and support those who are marginalized in society.
This annual grant program distributes grants from funds obtained through the 25 percent of the November CCHD parish-based collection that is retained for use in the diocese. Last spring, 14 local CCHD grants totaling $38,700 were distributed to organizations from 13 cities located in eight of the diocese’s 10 vicariates.
The 2018 grant application and guidelines can be found at www.ccdoc.org/cchdcrs. The email submission deadline for receipt of applications is Thursday, Feb. 15.
CCHD, a program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops founded in 1969, works to break the cycle of poverty by helping low-income people participate in decisions that affect their lives, families and communities. CCHD has a complementary mission to expand knowledge of domestic poverty and has designated January as Poverty Awareness Month. PovertyUSA.org is the online educational initiative of CCHD that seeks to educate and promote understanding about poverty in the U.S. and its root causes.
Visit PovertyUSA.org for resources such as prayers, a poverty quiz, K-12 educational resources, a Poverty USA Tour video about the struggles of living at the poverty line, and an interactive map of the U.S. that illustrates the extent of poverty at state and county levels.
— Joseph Purello, Special to the Catholic News Herald. Joseph Purello is Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s director of Social Concerns and Advocacy.