As part of its tradition of caring for people in need, the Diocese of Allentown has awarded 23 poverty relief grants to fund humanitarian outreach and assistance in Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill counties.
Non-profit agencies and parish charitable groups are sharing in a total of $91,450 in grants for such things as hospice and medical care, food for the hungry, clothing, shelter, counseling, and aid for disadvantaged families. Care is provided to people in need regardless of their religious affiliation.
Catholics of the Diocese provide the funding for the grants through special collections held in each parish.
Here is a list of this year’s grants:
- St. Francis Home, Shillington, $9,000 for free hospice care for the needy.
- St. Benedict Parish, Mohnton, $6,000 to assist the poor.
- Holy Guardian Angels School, Reading, $500 for warm coats for people who don’t have them.
- St. Mary Parish, Kutztown, $1,000 for The Potato Project hunger program.
- St. Joseph Parish, Summit Hill, $4,000 for community outreach for the poor.
- Holy Family Manor, Bethlehem, $9,000 to pay for medical care for residents who cannot afford it.
- Kolbe Academy, Bethlehem, $700 to start a community garden.
- St. Anne Parish, Bethlehem, $3,250 to help families with utility payments and rent.
- Stephen’s Place, Bethlehem, $2,000 for life skills training.
- Notre Dame of Bethlehem Parish, $5,000 to prevent eviction, homelessness and utility shutoffs.
- St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Allentown, $2,000 to help families in crisis.
- Valley Against Sex Trafficking, Allentown, $5,000 to help survivors obtain their high school diplomas.
- Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative, $4,000 to help establish a food pantry.
- Central Catholic High School, Allentown, $2,000 for their urban garden project.
- Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena Parish, Allentown, $6,000 to fight poverty in the city.
- St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Orefield, $1,000 to support their food pantry.
- Family Promise of Lehigh Valley, $5,000 for family housing.
- Catholic Charities, Allentown, $6,000 for mental health counseling.
- Slater Family Network, Bangor, $5,000 to support families in need.
- Holy Family School, Nazareth, $1,000 to provide clothing to families in need.
- Servants to All, Pottsville, $6,500 for emergency shelter for the homeless.
- St. John XXIII Parish, Tamaqua, $5,000 to buy baby food for those who cannot afford it.
- Immaculate Conception Parish, Jim Thorpe, $2,500 to assist the needy.
The next Poverty Relief Collection will be taken up in all churches of the Diocese November 20-21, the weekend before Thanksgiving, providing the opportunity for the faithful to use charity as a means of giving thanks to God for His blessings.
