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LOCKPORT, N.Y., Jan. 18, 2012 – Nearly 40 parish and community volunteers, clergy and lay leaders, and staff of Catholic Charities of Buffalo gathered today for a volunteer training workshop and reception to kick off the 2012 Appeal in eastern Niagara County.
The event was held at the Tuscarora Inn in Lockport in preparation for the 88th annual campaign, which carries a goal of $10.6 million this year.
Appeal Week 2012 will take place March 25 through April 1 to celebrate the support of Western New Yorkers who have made a contribution to the Appeal, and to encourage those who have not already donated to do so. Although Appeal Week marks the strongest push for donations, volunteers will work to achieve the final goal throughout the coming months until the conclusion of Catholic Charities’ fiscal year on June 30.
Last year, Catholic Charities provided assistance to more than 4,500 people in eastern Niagara County through its programs and services. Catholic Charities’ 70-plus programs rely on the funds raised during the Appeal.
Bishop Edward U. Kmiec speaks about the 2012 Appeal during a volunteer workshop at the Tuscarora Inn in Lockport.
At the reception, Bishop Kmiec said the theme of this year’s drive is “Protect. Strengthen. Empower.”
“The theme articulates how our many programs, services and activities benefit the community, and those who turn to us for help,” said Bishop Kmiec. “The theme also magnifies the link between the generosity of our donors and the results of our efforts.”
Bishop Kmiec was joined by Sister Mary McCarrick, OSF, diocesan director of Catholic Charities, who further explained the programs that protect, strengthen and empower individuals and the mission behind the theme, depicted by former clients in this year’s poster images.
“Catholic Charities protects children like Curtis from hunger through basic need programs like our food pantries,” said Sister Mary. “We offer nutrition assistance and education to strengthen young families like Stephanie, Bryan and their young son who struggle in today’s challenging economy. We empower and educate teens and adults like Khameela through our GED and job readiness programs.”
“When any of us give from our heart, we become a refuge to those who are poor and in distress, and we provide shelter and much-needed relief. Through this response, we empower the people Catholic Charities serves to live healthy, meaningful and productive lives. This is our mission, and when the Appeal is supported, our mission is achievable.”
Reflecting on the importance of donations to the Appeal, Bishop Kmiec recalled the words of Blessed John Paul II, the patron of Appeal 2012, who said serving the mission of the Church by means of charity is the commitment and responsibility of everyone.
“I am convinced Christian charity, in its fullest expression, is the answer to many of the challenges we face as a region, nation, and global society,” said Bishop Kmiec. “As followers of Christ we are all challenged to serve those who are poor and most vulnerable in our community, and we are all asked to support the work of Catholic Charities here in eastern Niagara County and throughout the diocese.”
David Nasca, president and chief executive officer of Evans Bancorp, Inc., and chairperson of the 2012 Appeal, commented on the difficult economic conditions of the Buffalo-Niagara region and emphasized the increased need for donations.
“The economy remains stalled and this has impacted thousands of our neighbors. However, we will not accept these challenges as an excuse,” said Nasca. “Through the hard work of our staff and volunteers, we are well positioned to attain our goal. Together, we will overcome these difficult economic times because it is critical we succeed. We are committed to continuing to provide for the more than 140,000 people Catholic Charities of Buffalo served last year.”
Other members of the 2012 Appeal leadership team include Stephen Ulrich, vice chair and parish and large gifts chair, Anthony Delmonte, Jr., corporate gifts chair, and Beth Mattimore, community chair.
Ellen,* a mother whose daughter and family were helped through Catholic Charities’ Multisystemic Therapy program, shared her story and the difference the program has made in their lives. The Multisystemic Therapy program is an effective and efficient intervention that works to empower families who are dealing with teen anti-social or delinquent behavior.
Ellen said, “Last summer, I knew I needed to find something that could offer us some help with our daughter before she started another school year. Her last year of middle school was difficult, and as a parent I was very concerned. I was getting calls from school at least twice a week and she was not listening at home.”
After learning about the MST program, their family was involved for four months. Some of the changes included: “We worked with Brenda [MST therapist] and she gave us the control back to be parents again. She gave us tools to enforce the discipline, and information so she wouldn’t be able to play Mom against Dad to get what she wanted. She gave us different tools for leverage and she helped us to put a plan in place for both of us – my husband and I as parents and one for our daughter. Since she started school this year, we haven’t gotten one phone call from the school! I am very thankful that we were told about MST. I can tell you that it helped a lot.”
In eastern Niagara County, Catholic Charities provides these services in the Bewley Building in Lockport: Family Therapy and Counseling Services, Domestic Violence Program for Men, Multisystemic Therapy, Our Kids: Parent Education Awareness Program, Suite 450; Monsignor Carr Institute Children’s Clinic, Suite 300; and the WIC (Women, Infant and Children nutrition program), Suite 200.
Catholic Charities is the most comprehensive direct human service provider serving all eight counties of Western New York, with 70 programs and 61 locations. Founded in 1923, Catholic Charities also provides, without regard to religious affiliation, comprehensive counseling services for children and families, anti-domestic violence programming and emergency services, among other social and mental health services.
For more information on the 2012 Appeal or to make a donation, contact Catholic Charities at (716) 218-1400 or go to www.ccwny.org. Check out Catholic Charities on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ccbuffalo and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ccbuffalo.
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*Name has been changed for anonymity.
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