‘The Gospel in action’
Catholic Charities Week, which is being celebrated May 5-9, highlights the tangible ways in which people across western North Carolina are giving back to people in need, offering a glimmer of hope and inspiration to overcome the difficulties they are experiencing.
Catholic Charities is committed to helping our brothers and sisters who are struggling and living on the peripheries, the most vulnerable among us. For more than 75 years, the agency has provided assistance and resources to strengthen families, build communities and reduce poverty in Western North Carolina. Last year alone, Catholic Charities served more than 24,000 people across the 46 counties of the Diocese of Charlotte.
Catholic Charities’ food pantries in Asheville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem are among its most in-demand services. Last year, the agency distributed more than 556,000 pounds of food to 16,693 people in need.
Agency staff and volunteers also provided people with a range of individualized support services designed to help them escape poverty, including educational and employment opportunities, help connecting to healthcare, parenting and life skills coaching, overcoming barriers to transportation and childcare, and more.
Catholic Charities has also risen to the challenge of aiding people in the path of Tropical Storm Helene, with more than $12.3 million raised to date for ongoing recovery efforts across western North Carolina. From the moment the storm struck on Sept. 27, 2024, Catholic Charities sprang into action, delivering emergency supplies and now managing long-term recovery for more than 1,400 households. That includes rebuilding homes, offering case management, and supporting small businesses and mental health needs in hard-hit mountain communities.
The agency has already spent $5.1 million on direct aid, rehabilitating 53 homes and committing to repair or rebuild 50 more. Another $5 million is earmarked for long-term support like job assistance, mental health care and restoring an additional 150 homes. Collaborations with organizations such as Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) and referrals from parishes ensure resources reach those most in need, especially those overlooked by government relief programs.
Catholic Charities routinely offers a comprehensive array of services to meet the needs of our communities, including mental health counseling, support for teens in crisis, legal immigration services, help for homeless veterans, and social advocacy.
The agency also assists elderly individuals through its Elder Ministry, offering classes and workshops to address the needs and challenges of aging.
All of these services are made available to people regardless of their race, ethnicity or religion.
Dr. Gerard Carter, executive director and CEO of Catholic Charities, expressed deep gratitude for the volunteers and donors who make the mission possible.
“We couldn’t do this work without them,” he said. “They step up for people they’ll never meet, simply because they’re neighbors in need – and that’s the Gospel in action.”
— David Long, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte
