Catholic social service agencies awarded grants from CCHD collection
December 7, 2022 at 3:55 p.m.
This year, four Catholic social service organizations and parish ministries of the Diocese of Trenton will benefit from funds collected during the 2021 Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
The annual CCHD collection – sponsored by the U.S. Catholic Bishops and taken up each November before Thanksgiving – allocates 75 percent of the collected funds to the USCCB’s national CCHD office for programs across the country; 25 percent of the collection is retained by each Diocese to support local anti-poverty projects.
The 2021 collection improved upon the amount collected during 2020, but still was not enough to cover all the needs listed by the agencies who applied for grants. The total amount requested by the organizations that applied was $38,750, but 2021 garnered just $21,853.63 in donations retained by the Diocese.
“So, determining who we could give a grant to was difficult,” said Brenda Rascher, acting diocesan director for CCHD-DOT. “The goal of the CCHD grants is to promote projects that can lead to family self-sufficiency to the greatest extent possible.”
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This year’s recipients include:
CYO Mercer County, Trenton • The organization received a $5,000 CCHD grant toward its Broad Street Center After School Program, which has operated since 1976 during the school year for children ages 5-12, providing transportation from school, snacks and after school hours supervised care. Activities include athletics, educational and recreational enrichment, as well as homework assistance, structured tutoring services and Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH). Children are taught life skills, and have the opportunity to work with Lego building and design, participate in science workshops, table games and access a computer lab.
Mercy Center, Asbury Park • The agency was awarded $5,000 in CCHD funds for its development of a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) taxes preparation program. Partnering with the Internal Revenue Service, the Bankers Association and local accoutants, the program will serve those who need assistance in preparing their tax returns free of charge. Those eligible include low-income families, the disabled, senior citizens and limited English-speaking taxpayers, many of whom are eligible for much needed tax refunds during a time of historically high inflation.
Mount Carmel Guild, Trenton • $4,750 in CCHD funds will help support the social service agency’s Summer Feeding Families Project, which is crucial for children who no longer have access to food provided at school during the summer months. The SFF project’s goals are “to increase food security, promote healthy eating and encourage family meals and togetherness,” the agency’s application stated. Families will select their own groceries in an open pantry setting, which will include items for breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacks, fresh fruits and vegetables. Resources from the national Family Dinner Project will help create a family meal kit with all the ingredients, recipe and family activities.
St. Vincent de Paul St. John Conference, Lakehurst • Three SVDP conference programs will be assisted by a $7,000 CCHD grant: Dynamic Budgeting, which works with recipients to help them learn how they can plan the use of their limited income through a personalized budgeting process addressing both expenses and outstanding balances; Homelessness Assistance, which actively helps those without homes find shelter; and Mortgage/Rent/Utility Assistance, which supplements the payment of rent or mortgage and utility bills for qualified recipients.
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This year, four Catholic social service organizations and parish ministries of the Diocese of Trenton will benefit from funds collected during the 2021 Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
The annual CCHD collection – sponsored by the U.S. Catholic Bishops and taken up each November before Thanksgiving – allocates 75 percent of the collected funds to the USCCB’s national CCHD office for programs across the country; 25 percent of the collection is retained by each Diocese to support local anti-poverty projects.
The 2021 collection improved upon the amount collected during 2020, but still was not enough to cover all the needs listed by the agencies who applied for grants. The total amount requested by the organizations that applied was $38,750, but 2021 garnered just $21,853.63 in donations retained by the Diocese.
“So, determining who we could give a grant to was difficult,” said Brenda Rascher, acting diocesan director for CCHD-DOT. “The goal of the CCHD grants is to promote projects that can lead to family self-sufficiency to the greatest extent possible.”
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This year’s recipients include:
CYO Mercer County, Trenton • The organization received a $5,000 CCHD grant toward its Broad Street Center After School Program, which has operated since 1976 during the school year for children ages 5-12, providing transportation from school, snacks and after school hours supervised care. Activities include athletics, educational and recreational enrichment, as well as homework assistance, structured tutoring services and Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH). Children are taught life skills, and have the opportunity to work with Lego building and design, participate in science workshops, table games and access a computer lab.
Mercy Center, Asbury Park • The agency was awarded $5,000 in CCHD funds for its development of a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) taxes preparation program. Partnering with the Internal Revenue Service, the Bankers Association and local accoutants, the program will serve those who need assistance in preparing their tax returns free of charge. Those eligible include low-income families, the disabled, senior citizens and limited English-speaking taxpayers, many of whom are eligible for much needed tax refunds during a time of historically high inflation.
Mount Carmel Guild, Trenton • $4,750 in CCHD funds will help support the social service agency’s Summer Feeding Families Project, which is crucial for children who no longer have access to food provided at school during the summer months. The SFF project’s goals are “to increase food security, promote healthy eating and encourage family meals and togetherness,” the agency’s application stated. Families will select their own groceries in an open pantry setting, which will include items for breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacks, fresh fruits and vegetables. Resources from the national Family Dinner Project will help create a family meal kit with all the ingredients, recipe and family activities.
St. Vincent de Paul St. John Conference, Lakehurst • Three SVDP conference programs will be assisted by a $7,000 CCHD grant: Dynamic Budgeting, which works with recipients to help them learn how they can plan the use of their limited income through a personalized budgeting process addressing both expenses and outstanding balances; Homelessness Assistance, which actively helps those without homes find shelter; and Mortgage/Rent/Utility Assistance, which supplements the payment of rent or mortgage and utility bills for qualified recipients.