It’s usual at this time of year to check out food pantries around the diocese and report what they are in need of.

This year, as the economic crisis continues unabated, food isn’t the only thing that’s in short supply at agencies serving those in need. A variety of other shortages are surfacing, which leaves me with the sinking feeling that this will only be the first of such columns about critical shortages as fall approaches.

This column will address the current needs at two Catholic Charities programs: El Centro de Recursos para Familias (Family Resources Center) in Trenton and Providence House which provides shelter and help to victims of domestic violence in Burlington and Ocean counties.

Directors of both of these divisions are expressing a need for “concrete things,” as one of them, El Centro’s program director Roberto Hernandez, put it.

At El Centro, the program which serves as a multi-faceted resource for Trenton’s Latino community, “concrete things” range from a need for counselors and transportation to computers for the many subjects that are taught, including citizenship and English as a Second Language.

There’s a concrete need for all manner of infant related goods from diapers and baby wipes to carriages and cribs.

In a hard working community, it’s all fueled by the fact that there are no jobs, said Hernandez. “That’s the big issue. That is what is impacting the community on so many different levels.

“The community here is very tight knit and they help each other with food and clothing. The big problem here is the trauma that is coming out of being out of work.”

Unemployment, he said, has sparked a sense of isolation throughout the community that is impacting all generations – “dads, moms and older folks are all affected” he said.

Counseling is needed to counteract the situation, he said. “If there could be donations toward money to hire counselors, that would be a big help,” he said.

A volunteer driver is another critical need, he said. “Our driver who is so wonderful is very ill,” he said. “We need (volunteers) to drive our vans so our moms can get to the doctor, to the pediatrician to our two counseling sites and to the pharmacy…More than anything else, we need prayers.” At Providence House, the program is gearing up for the fact that half of the 2,000 people in Providence House shelters and in programs at outreach centers are children who will be heading back to school.

In so many instances, said Jean Metz, Providence House director, the kids and their mothers have fled abusive situations abruptly in search of safety and left their possessions behind. “What we are hoping for is that folks will think about donating gift cards for clothing, gym sneakers and backpacks so they have something new to start the school year with.”

Donations that could go toward snacks would also be great, she said.

“We provide sandwiches for their lunch boxes but snacks are great.”

She described gift cards as “wonderful things that enable the kids to choose for themselves items they would like. We are really trying very hard to make things as normal as possible for these families.”

Contact Hernandez at El Centro at 609-394-2056 for more information.

Reach Providence House in Ocean County by mail at P.O. Box 414 Whiting, NJ 08759 or call 732-350-2120. In Burlington County, direct mail to P.O. Box 496 Willingboro, NJ 08046 or call 856-824-0599.