$40k in local CCHD grants awarded
CHARLOTTE — Thanks to the generosity of parishioners across western North Carolina who contributed to the annual Catholic Campaign for Human Development, 11 agencies received a total of $40,602 in grants this fall to help people in need.
The annual Catholic Campaign for Human Development second collection each November funds CCHD, founded by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to help break the cycle of poverty by funding organizations that help people help themselves.
The 2018 CCHD second collection will take place during Masses over the weekend of Nov. 17-18.
With its mission of improving education, housing situations and local economic development, the CCHD continues to make a positive impact in communities nationwide. Twenty-five percent of the funds from the collection are put to use in the Charlotte diocese.
Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte selected 11 non-profits to receive grants in 2018. These agencies will help people in Asheville, Boone, Charlotte, Forest City, Gastonia, Harrisburg, Hendersonville, Murphy, Spindale and Swannanoa.
Two agencies in particular will assist veterans: Habitat for Humanity Rutherford County and its Hammering for Heroes Project, and YMCA Gaston County for its Resource Connection Gateway.
The Hammering for Heroes Project in Rutherford County received a $4,000 grant. Hammering for Heroes assisted in the repair of the homes of seven veterans this year. Volunteers performed tasks such as door and window replacement, ceiling and wall repair, interior painting, roof replacement, stair installation, gutter repair and cleaning, and yard work.
“Catholic Campaign for Human Development grant funding through Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte was vital to the success of Hammering for Heroes 2018. Without this generous funding, veteran repairs would not have been possible,” said Sheila Cain of Habitat for Humanity Rutherford County. “We are forever grateful for the support of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte for making these grant funds, and ultimately these repairs, possible!”
A $4,500 CCHD grant will enable YMCA Gaston County, through the Resource Connection Gateway, to expand its specialized veterans services. Veterans or active military personnel who enter the Gateway receive standard connection services and also one-on-one case management from a retired, peer-certified specialist.
The grant will fund a joint Resource Connection Gateway initiative between the YMCA and St. Michael Church in Gastonia, with Deacon John Weisenhorn serving as the parish’s contact.
“We find that the needs of those inquiring of the Gateway involving veterans are often even more complicated than those of civilians,” said the YMCA’s Cynthia Walsh.
“The goal of this project is to have a certified specialist on hand at all times, in addition to our usual support team, to support these individuals and their families. The funds awarded to us by Catholic Charities supplement the services of these specialists when the needs arise.”
The Resource Connection Gateway has served 131 veterans and their families over the past 12 months.
All CCHD-funded grant projects must target the root causes of poverty and related social concerns. All grant applicants and projects are reviewed for their conformity to Catholic social doctrine and receive a local parish endorsement.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
World AIDS Day Celebration and Giving Tuesday Events Planned
BELMONT — The House of Mercy welcomes Emily E. Chambers Sharpe as its new President/CEO. Sharpe is a visionary leader who brings to the House of Mercy varied experience working to support people affected by HIV/AIDS.
She has worked for the US Department of State’s Office of the US Global AIDS Coordinator, as the Team Lead for President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in Southern Africa. Most recently she worked for the Swiss humanitarian aid organiza-tion, Medair, as a Senior Health and Nutrition Advisor, advising projects that provided community-based, primary healthcare services and therapeutic feeding for the mal-nourished in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Somalia. Her first experience with HIV/AIDS was during a college volunteer mission in which she worked in a recovery home for women. There she saw people living with HIV without access to medication to keep their disease from progressing to AIDS.
“It's been my privilege to serve many vulnerable people, including those with HIV/AIDS and those in severe crisis--such as wars or famines--through my work in global public health program management,” Sharpe said. “I'm thrilled to return to ser-vice of people living with HIV and AIDS, and to work with House of Mercy, where people are really treated with dignity and the standard of care is the highest quality. Medications for HIV have changed things for the better. But there are still many vul-nerable people without means or access to quality care, and House of Mercy fills this gap in our area.”
Sharpe lives in Charlotte with her husband Rob, three sons and their rescue dog. “As my own children were born and my family chose to live in this area, I wanted to put my experience and skills to use to help my community and to have the chance serve people I can see and interact with, like the residents at House of Mercy,” she said.
Sharpe follows Stan Patterson who served in the position for 21 years and retired in October.
The House of Mercy is gearing up for an exciting holiday season that will include the debut of its new video series. The videos highlight the lives of past and present residents, and brings to life the healing and comfort that happens at the home. “Mira-cles do happen here. This is sacred ground,” said Shirley Stowe, Director of Nursing, in an excerpt from the video.
“In the early days at House of Mercy, this was truly a hospice program, a place where people were made comfortable and treated well until their deaths” said Emily Sharpe, HOM President. “Now many residents of House of Mercy are nursed back to health and go on with their lives. This 'Lazarus effect' in House of Mercy residents is-n't possible without the loving assistance of our nursing staff and the home where residents can live without worry about their basic needs being met.”
Mel Tomlinson, renowned ballet performer, came back to the House of Mercy for filming of the video. Mel was a patient in the 1990s who had a miraculous recovery. The video shows him teaching students at the Belmont Ballet Studio.
The debut of the video will take place during an event celebrating World AIDS Day at the House of Mercy (104 McAuley Circle, Belmont) on Dec. 4th from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. The event is for all supporters and friends of the House of Mercy to show sup-port and solidarity to people affected by HIV and AIDS, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. The evening includes festive food, drink and entertainment.
For those interested in supporting House of Mercy but unable to attend the event, please support the work through Giving Tuesday, November 27. Giving Tuesday is an opportunity after Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday to collaborate with organizations like House of Mercy through financial gifts.
Donate online at www.thehouseofmercy.orgor at www.sharecharlotte.org/nonprofit/house-mercy. These sites include the House of Mercy wish list and a listing of volunteer opportunities.