Catholic Charities
Providing help. Creating hope.

Services provided to the community in 2007

With your support, Catholic Charities during 2007 served 38,468 of your southwest Florida neighbors in need. Through 32 program locations, Catholic Charities assisted people in the 10 counties of the Diocese of Venice. The daunting task of serving needy children, struggling families, lonely elderly, refugees, migrant workers and their families was accomplished by the hard work of a small but committed professional staff supported by a corps of dedicated volunteers and the assistance of thousands of donors, benefactors and friends.  

Catholic Charities helps all people regardless of race, nationality or creed.  A full 93 cents of every dollar donated was used to support those who need it the most. Last year your help:

• Assisted 26,947 individuals in economic hardship by providing social services including direct assistance, food, clothing, prescription medicines, and case management.
• Promoted freedom of opportunity for 4,835 immigrants and migrants by assisting them with the compliance of U.S. Government regulations.
• Offered educational support to 1,062 children and 127 adults through one-on-one tutoring and group classes.
• Provided hurricane-related assistance to 527 families devastated by the storms of the last several years.
• Sponsored 335 refugees and their families in their resettlement in Southwest Florida and provided job training and placement for 811 refugees.  
• Provided professional, compassionate HIV/AIDS supportive services and education to 336 infected clients and 831 affected family members. 
• Encouraged 941 birth mothers, homeless moms and their children on the road to self-sufficiency.
• Dispensed affordable, professional counseling and addiction services for 1,074 individuals and families in crisis.
• Provided home ownership classes and housing counseling to 302 families.
• Offered elderly outreach to 229 clients.
• Ensured quality day care and early learning experiences for 55 struggling families.  
• Provided affordable housing to 20 mothers and 22 infants/toddlers and 14 HIV/AIDS clients. Managed four housing corporations for working poor, low income and farm workers in need of an affordable, safe place to live.