By Christina Leslie | Staff Writer

Four social service organizations in the Diocese of Trenton were able to celebrate Thanksgiving a bit early this year with the award of more than $36,000 in grant assistance from the national Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Collier Youth Services, Wickatunk; Good Counsel Homes, Riverside, and the Mercer County Catholic Youth Organization each received grants for $10,000, while the Trenton Diocesan Council of St. Vincent de Paul was the beneficiary of a $6,448.24 grant from the CCHD, the official anti-poverty program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The annual CCHDF campaign collection is taken up in all parishes each November during the weekend before Thanksgiving, explained Father John C. Garrett, diocesan CCHD director. While 75 percent of the money raised is directed to the national office of the USCCB, 25 percent stays within the Diocese for award to local Catholic agencies that serve the poor and needy.

Award recipients expressed their joy about the good works they might continue due to the generosity of last year’s collection by Trenton Diocese parish donations.

“We are so grateful,” exclaimed Good Shepherd Sister Debbie Drago, executive director of Collier Youth Services, a nonprofit organization which serves disadvantaged or at-risk youth from all parts of the state. Sister Debbie stated the grant will be used to continue operation of the Collier House, a transitional home in Keyport for young women ages 17-21 who are aging out of the foster care system. 

“We need to raise $80,000 per year for this program to provide the level of service that’s necessary,” Sister Debbie noted of the food, shelter and transportation services for the women residents who often have no family support. “These women have no safety net. We teach them life skills for independent living.”

Transportation is also a concern for the clients of Good Counsel Homes, Riverside; staff has struggled to fund trips to doctors, counselors, GED classes and technical schools for the resident mothers and mothers-to-be, reported JoAnn DiNoia, founding director of the home which opened in 2011.

“This will really help to offset the costs, not only for trips by staff with the mothers, but also for bus tickets,” said DiNoia, who serves as fund development specialist for the Riverside home. “We are very grateful to the Diocese for this money.”

Mercer County CYO executive director Thomas G. Mladenetz noted the grant will be used to provide breakfast, lunch and snacks to about 800 children throughout the year in pre- and-after school programs, and about 1,000 children during the summer months in all CYO sites. “This is important, especially with the low-income kids we serve,” he said. “The state doesn’t fully pay for this [program], there’s a gap.”

Mladenetz expressed appreciation for the CCHD award on behalf of the Catholic Youth Organization, and recalled his excitement when he received the award letter from Father Garrett. “I want to express appreciation to the Diocese and the parishioners who contribute to the fund,” the director said. “These are very basic needs; this is a beautiful thing.”

Joseph Williams, president of the Trenton Diocesan Council of  the St. Vincent de Paul Society noted, “We have a very specific use for the money,” as he explained how the grant will go toward a new diocesan initiative for the poor. The council plans to introduce a new program, Hope in Action, at the Burlington County St. Vincent de Paul Conference meeting early next year.

The Hope in Action project will hold twice-weekly meetings for a period of 10 to 12 weeks with impoverished individuals to develop a plan to improve their status, Williams explained. “We will still do what we do best: help people with immediate needs, but in addition to giving a hand out, we will offer a hand up,” he said.

Father Garrett, who began as diocesan director of the CCHD this October, noted he was “deeply impressed with the generosity of the people of the Diocese” during last year’s collection despite the double impact of uncertain economic times and the continuing effects of Hurricane Sandy.

“The fact that the people of the Diocese gave so much to the CCHD collection last year so that we were able to give over $36,000 to local Catholic agencies who work with the people whom Pope Francis describes as being on the fringes is a testimony our people’s great love and desire for building up the Kingdom of God,” Father Garrent stated. “All that I can do is to continue to express my gratitude to all those who participate year after year in the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, and assure them that I keep them in my prayers daily.”