Funds from upcoming CCHD collection can give a ‘hand up’ to those in need
November 13, 2025 at 11:42 a.m.
The way Brenda Rascher sees it, the call to serve those in need is based on the concept of “two feet” with one foot being for charity – a handout – and the other for social justice – a “hand up.”
“Most of the services being provided fall to the charity category,” such as food pantries, clothing, utility and rental assistance, said Rascher, diocesan executive director of Catholic Social Services.
“While this is an incredibly important foot that aims to help stabilize a person in need, we should not forget that it is difficult to walk on one foot.”
Rascher made this point while reflecting on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development annual national collection, to be taken up in parishes the weekend of Nov. 15-16.
Some funds stay in Diocese
CCHD, the U.S. Catholic bishops’ domestic anti-poverty program, aims to break the cycle of poverty by empowering low-income individuals to engage in decisions that affect their lives, families and communities. 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 have included parish-based St. Vincent de Paul conferences and other diocesan agencies, such as the Mount Carmel Guild, a Trenton-based diocesan outreach agency; the Mercer County CYO, which provides athletic and educational programs for youth of Mercer County; and parish-organized food pantries.
Rascher pointed out that while CCHD has always been about the “hands up” – the social justice foot, she cautioned that “social justice is not about radical action.”
“It’s about looking at the obstacles placed in front of people who are struggling,” she said. “It’s about removing obstacles that can be removed. It’s about creating pathways to help a person acquire the tools they individually need to take steps out of poverty. It means that CCHD is assisting people beyond the basic needs,” Rascher said, then cited an example such as grassroots organizations receiving help to get organized to start businesses that create jobs for their community.
Locally, she added, through funds received by the Diocese, grants are given out to support teaching tools that enable people to understand how to manage their budgets and “to look at how to overcome the obstacles the individual is facing that keeps them struggling.”
World Day of the Poor
Encouraging the faithful of the Diocese to support the CCHD collection, Rascher said “the more raised, the more we get to support our local organizations’ efforts.”
As the date of the CCHD collection coincides with the Church’s observance of the World Day of the Poor, Bishop Timothy Senior of Harrisburg, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, said “World Day of the Poor is an invitation for us to pray and to act, to build a world that truly recognizes the God-given dignity of our brothers and sisters who are the most vulnerable.”
“I invite you to remember the Lord’s words about the mustard seed: Even the smallest act of faith can, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, grow into something that transforms lives and renews communities, both across our nation and within your own diocese.”
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The way Brenda Rascher sees it, the call to serve those in need is based on the concept of “two feet” with one foot being for charity – a handout – and the other for social justice – a “hand up.”
“Most of the services being provided fall to the charity category,” such as food pantries, clothing, utility and rental assistance, said Rascher, diocesan executive director of Catholic Social Services.
“While this is an incredibly important foot that aims to help stabilize a person in need, we should not forget that it is difficult to walk on one foot.”
Rascher made this point while reflecting on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development annual national collection, to be taken up in parishes the weekend of Nov. 15-16.
Some funds stay in Diocese
CCHD, the U.S. Catholic bishops’ domestic anti-poverty program, aims to break the cycle of poverty by empowering low-income individuals to engage in decisions that affect their lives, families and communities. 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 have included parish-based St. Vincent de Paul conferences and other diocesan agencies, such as the Mount Carmel Guild, a Trenton-based diocesan outreach agency; the Mercer County CYO, which provides athletic and educational programs for youth of Mercer County; and parish-organized food pantries.
Rascher pointed out that while CCHD has always been about the “hands up” – the social justice foot, she cautioned that “social justice is not about radical action.”
“It’s about looking at the obstacles placed in front of people who are struggling,” she said. “It’s about removing obstacles that can be removed. It’s about creating pathways to help a person acquire the tools they individually need to take steps out of poverty. It means that CCHD is assisting people beyond the basic needs,” Rascher said, then cited an example such as grassroots organizations receiving help to get organized to start businesses that create jobs for their community.
Locally, she added, through funds received by the Diocese, grants are given out to support teaching tools that enable people to understand how to manage their budgets and “to look at how to overcome the obstacles the individual is facing that keeps them struggling.”
World Day of the Poor
Encouraging the faithful of the Diocese to support the CCHD collection, Rascher said “the more raised, the more we get to support our local organizations’ efforts.”
As the date of the CCHD collection coincides with the Church’s observance of the World Day of the Poor, Bishop Timothy Senior of Harrisburg, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, said “World Day of the Poor is an invitation for us to pray and to act, to build a world that truly recognizes the God-given dignity of our brothers and sisters who are the most vulnerable.”
“I invite you to remember the Lord’s words about the mustard seed: Even the smallest act of faith can, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, grow into something that transforms lives and renews communities, both across our nation and within your own diocese.”