2011-2012 Annual Report - Catholic Charities

The Food Program
Food from our Food Pantry is provided to clients receiving
emergency financial assistance. It is also distributed to the
public on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Enough food for
at least nine meals is provided to each family member. Pantry
shelves are kept stocked with USDA provisions through Second
Harvest Food Bank, in-kind donations and food drives by local
businesses and our Catholic Schools and parishes. Purchases
are made possible through grants and individual contributions
such as our Feed a Family appeal. The Food Pantry is run almost
exclusively by volunteers who participate in every aspect of the
program from ordering and delivery to bagging and distribution.
— Meals distributed: 46,035
Pregnancy/
Adoption
Services
Counseling and support to
women and their families facing
unplanned pregnancies is provided
through our Pregnancy Program.
Ongoing support is also provided,
through our Adoption Program,
to birth families, adoptive
Photo by Scott Smith
families and adoptees throughout
their lives. As a licensed Child
Placing Agency by the Florida Department of Children and
Families, services include: home studies, support, guidance,
referrals, placement, post-placement supervision and education.
In addition, Catholic Charities releases non-identifying information
in accordance with Florida Statutes and acts as an intermediary
in searches for adult adoptees and birth parents.
Anyone in need of pregnancy or adoption services should call 1-866-
901-9647. Services are provided at the Catholic Charities’ offices
in Jacksonville, Gainesville, and St. Augustine by appointment.
— Individuals served: 59
Our Programs
Emergency Assistance
Catholic Charities is the largest non government provider of
emergency financial assistance in our community. Our goal is to
prevent homelessness by helping families, who are facing eviction or
loss of utilities due to a recent financial crisis. Short-term assistance
with rent, mortgage, utilities, and food is provided. Other services
may include: school supplies, temporary lodging, Traveler’s Aid,
Angel Kits of basic hygiene or housekeeping essentials, Christmas
gifts, bus tickets or gas cards. We serve all persons regardless of
race or religion; in fact, more than 75% of those who share their
religious affiliation with us are not Catholic.
Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, government and
foundation grants, and special events support our Emergency
Assistance program. JEA’s Neighbor to Neighbor program is
another resource. JEA collects donations pledged through customer
bills and forwards every dollar to Catholic Charities for families
in urgent need of help with their utilities. The federally-funded
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program
is also a source of short-term emergency financial assistance.
Persons in crisis are asked to call United Way 2-1-1 at 1-904-
632-0600 (or simply 2-1-1) for a referral. Catholic Charities
maintains a formal partnership with 2-1-1 as our primary
referral source.
Emergency Financial Assistance is provided at the Jacksonville
office, at three satellite sites in Clay County and locations at
our Beaches.
— Individuals served: 13,762
The Donna Foundation
The Donna Foundation, founded by Donna Deegan, raises
money that is used exclusively to help persons living with
breast cancer on the First Coast. Catholic Charities assists the
Foundation as its fiscal agent. Our staff works directly with
clients who have been referred to us by the Donna Foundation.
Persons with a diagnosis of breast cancer who are currently
in or recently completed treatment and have experienced a
financial hardship related to their diagnosis may be eligible
for assistance. The first step for those needing assistance is to
place a call to the Donna Foundation at 904-242-0034.
— Individuals served: 181
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