The national collection to support the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) marks 50 years this November, and with the continued global pandemic, help is needed more than ever.

Coinciding with the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, on Nov. 21-22, the U.S. Catholic bishops’ domestic anti-poverty program is primarily funded by this annual collection.

Of the amount collected, 75 percent is sent to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops national CCHD office for  grants and programs that foster hope in communities across the country. The remaining 25 percent is retained by each diocese to support local anti-poverty projects.

Previous grant recipients in the Diocese of Trenton, for example, have included parish-based St. Vincent de Paul conferences and other diocesan agencies such as Mount Carmel Guild, a Trenton-based outreach agency; the Mercer County CYO, which provides athletic and educational programs for youth of Mercer County, and parish-based food pantries.

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“A half-century ago, the U.S. bishops had the prophetic vision of developing a program to empower low-income people as they participate in the decisions that affect their lives,” said Bishop David G. O’Connell, auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles and chairman of the USCCB’s Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

“We are excited to celebrate this important milestone, remember the accomplishments of the past 50 years of CCHD, and prepare the campaign to continue its good work into the future,” he continued. “Our goal is to work together to transform society into one which supports the flourishing of all our brothers and sisters.”

CCHD-supported projects include expanding access to affordable housing, promoting access to education, developing worker-owned businesses, and reforming the criminal justice system. The campaign also assists low-income people in making decisions that affect their lives, families, and communities, as well as nurturing solidarity between people living in poverty and their neighbors.

Resources that clearly describe the collection and can be used to promote it can be found at www.usccb.org/about/catholic-campaign-for-human-development/collection/collection-resources.cfm.

 Learn more about poverty in the United States at povertyusa.org and access fact sheets on poverty, a poverty map and stories of hope from groups supported through the annual collection.