Requests Reveal Areas of Greatest Need in our Communities
As always, winter is a difficult time for the most vulnerable individuals and families across our 8-county Diocesan area. All three of Catholic Charities offices are receiving requests for emergency financial assistance to help in three key areas. Here they are.
Nominations Open for Annual Recognition Dinner
Do you know someone in our Diocese—an adult or young person—who lives out their faith regularly through acts of service, volunteerism and charity? Send your nomination for the Annual Recognition Dinner. Find out how.
Save the Date: Annual Recognition Dinner
Mark your calendar for this year’s Annual Recognition Dinner and the presentation of the Msgr. William M. Griffin Humanitarian Award and the Matthew 25 Youth Humanitarian Award. Get the details.
Sharing Christ's Love at Christmas
Your generosity helps individuals and families in your community afford basic necessities—food, shelter, heat, electricity. It also does something much more profound. Your generosity shares Christ’s love.
Save the Date for Giving Tuesday
You’re already getting fliers and emails for Black Friday and Cyber Monday—remember to save the date for another special day. Catholic Charities is part of Giving Tuesday 2019—a chance to live your faith by giving back to neighbors in need.
Generous Supporters Partner to Bring Thanksgiving Joy to Blair County Families
Thanks to generous donors and sponsors, Catholic Charities is delighted to help provide Thanksgiving celebrations to Blair County families.
Cambria County’s Only Emergency Shelter Offers Safe, Secure Housing as Winter Arrives
There’s no good time of the year to be homeless. Everyone deserves to live with dignity in safe, secure housing, year-round. But as colder months arrive, the availability of emergency shelter is especially important.
Don’t Forget to Give While You Shop!
Remember that there’s an easy way to contribute to Catholic Charities through Amazon Smile. Start your shopping at Amazon at Smile.Amazon.com and search and select Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown from the Charity List section. The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases.
Give for the Holidays, Even While You Shop
You can give to Catholic Charities directly year-round, and in one of these two ways, which are especially popular during the Christmas season. Learn about Giving Tuesday and Amazon Smile.
When Other Doors are Closed, Catholic Charities Gives Help and Hope
Like most non-profits, Catholic Charities writes to you every year, usually more than once, asking for donations. There are many worthwhile causes and organizations seeking your help—Catholic Charities is one of many.
Lack of Affordable Housing Reaches Crisis Level in Our Region
When rent equals or exceeds 30% of an individual’s income, they face an increased risk of homelessness, and struggle to afford other basic necessities. This is the grim reality facing residents in all 8 counties in our area, and it disproportionately affects seniors, families and individuals with disabilities.
How a Thousand Moments Changed the World: A Thank You Letter from Jean Johnstone
You’ve heard the analogy that helping another person has the same impact as dropping a pebble into a pond—a ripple effect where the results of one act continue to spread. This is how you, Catholic Charities— and thousand moments—changed the world. Please read on.
The Most Pressing Issues in our Region
When you give to Catholic Charities, your donations directly support an individual or family in the county where you live. The average request for assistance is just $232, but this support changes lives. Find out what issues our eight-county area is facing.
Update on Wine Tasting Benefit
Catholic Charities extends its thanks and apologies to everyone who registered for our most recent Wine Tasting Event in Johnstown, which was ultimately postponed. Here’s a quick update on this event and others throughout the 8-county region.
Popular Wine Tasting Benefit Coming to Johnstown
Friends of Catholic Charities in Blair and Centre counties have already enjoyed this unique fundraising event—now it’s coming to Johnstown. Get the details and register today!
Extreme heat impacts seniors, the poor
As waves of extreme hot temperatures become more common during the summer months, some neighbors are more vulnerable to the effects—seniors and the poor. Find out how you can help.
What it means to be Catholic
Some of us were born into the faith, while others among us chose to become part of it. But there is a common thread, a belief we share, as brothers and sisters in the Catholic faith.
New Centre County Location Improves Accessibility
Catholic Charities has left the building! During the last week of June, Catholic Charities moved from its original Centre County office location in downtown Bellefonte to new space on the Benner Pike.
Why Your Neighbors are Still Struggling if the Economy is Thriving
While the U.S. economy is expanding and overall employment numbers in Pennsylvania are strong, not all households are escaping the tight grip of poverty. Why?
Nearly Half a Million Pennsylvania Children Live in Poverty
A new report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks Pennsylvania as the 17th state overall in regard to child wellbeing. This ranking comes from the 2019 Kids Count Data Book which compares state trends in child wellbeing.
Changing the life of a homeless teen: young man without support system now has stable job, safe housing
Imagine being just 18 and alone in a new city, without a home, a family or any kind of support system. This is where one teen found himself when he turned to the Martha and Mary House Emergency Homeless Shelter for help.
Hidden costs of summer months hit working parents hard
With summer finally here, some of us are getting ready for vacations, days at the pool, and barbecuing with friends. For struggling families, summer could mean deeper financial setbacks and a lot more stress.
Annual Recognition Dinner Honors Awardees
Catholic Charities Annual Recognition Dinner was held Thursday, June 6, 2019 at The Casino at Lakemont. It was a wonderful affair where friends, family and members of the community came together to recognize this year's award winners.
