Catholic Charities helps Midwest poor through cold weather [CNA]

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Chicago, Ill., Jan 7, 2014 / 04:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- As intense cold weather in the Midwest nears record low temperatures, local Catholic Charities affiliates are reaching out to those who are most in need.
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“Chicago is experiencing extremely dangerous and cold weather. We are anticipating some of the coldest weather on record,” Kristine Kappel, communications director for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, told CNA Jan. 6.

“In weather like this our top priority is ensuring that everyone who needs a warm place to stay has someplace to go,” she said.

The National Weather Service said Jan. 5 that temperatures in Chicago could fall to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit, with a wind chill ranging from minus 30 to minus 50.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago has added more staff to its outreach program, which does well-being checks, delivers emergency food boxes and helps those in need find temporary shelter or a warming center.

Kappel said the Chicago agency has 227 shelter beds for men, women and families and is now at full capacity. Its mobile outreach program works with shelters around to city to ensure that all needs for shelter are met.

The agency works “very closely” with the City of Chicago and other social service agencies and shelters.

The National Weather Service has warned that wind chill readings so cold to be “life-threatening” will be widespread across Wisconsin.

Justine Lodl, director of communications for the Diocese of Green Bay, Wis., said everyone is vulnerable in such weather conditions.

“Catholic Charities is helping with any housing related emergencies by assisting in getting persons connected to resources within the communities we serve,” she told CNA.

The Green Bay Catholic Charities affiliate has a temporary wintertime shelter with 84 beds. The gym at St. Norbert College or several churches can help host any overflow.

Minnesota is also suffering from the extreme weather.

“It’s cold. This is probably the coldest it’s been in quite a while,” said Julia Jenson, a spokeswoman for Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. “With the wind chill, it makes it so much colder.”

Jenson said the agency has four to five shelters, including one for families and another for homeless youth. The shelters have a total capacity of about 1,000.

“Basically we’re just trying to keep people safe and off the streets and provide help where we can,” Jenson told CNA Jan. 6.

The agency has opened its shelters for a longer period. Its care coordinators and case managers are also checking on the vulnerable elderly to see if they have heat or need help for applying for heat assistance. The agency is also making food deliveries through programs like Meals on Wheels.

“We have a lot of these clients who are living at the poverty level,” she said. “We want to check in on them, especially the elderly folks to make sure that they are staying warm and keeping their apartments at the appropriate temperature.”
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Full article…
 
Doing what we should all be doing all year round regardless of weather…helping our neighbour is loving our neighbour.
 
I live in a condo building with multiple units, pay to live here, am unemployed and have to take care of my elderly parent ( drive over 3/4 times a week and take her out with her walker and wheelchair, clean her house and provide other services). My mother cannot walk stairs.

Meanwhile, a Catholic Charities client, who has two healthy, adult sons living with her on the second floor (she CAN walk stairs) of our building receives Catholic Charity maid service 3 times a week, gets the Catholic Charity bus several times a week (with an aid to help her) to take her to her mosque ( they came, putting their own life in danger, during this bitter cold) or anywhere else she likes to go.

In addition, every day (including these bitter cold days), a Meals on Wheels truck delivers a hot meal to her . The driver is an old gentleman who looks to be in worse shape than she is.

Her son has told us that he gets $18/ week from CC to take car of her. He has told us several times that his mom is up their frying catfish for him.

Oh - and by the way this son, during the recent snow event, smoked and just watched as OTHER people in the building shoveled.

I am sure Catholic Charities does provide some truly needed services, but this ridiculous situation in my building will forever keep me from contributing to Catholic Charities.
 
Monica02 said:
I live in a condo building with multiple units, pay to live here, am unemployed and have to take care of my elderly parent ( drive over 3/4 times a week and take her out with her walker and wheelchair, clean her house and provide other services). My mother cannot walk stairs.

Meanwhile, a Catholic Charities client, who has two healthy, adult sons living with her on the second floor (she CAN walk stairs) of our building receives Catholic Charity maid service 3 times a week, gets the Catholic Charity bus several times a week (with an aid to help her) to take her to her mosque ( they came, putting their own life in danger, during this bitter cold) or anywhere else she likes to go.

In addition, every day (including these bitter cold days), a Meals on Wheels truck delivers a hot meal to her . The driver is an old gentleman who looks to be in worse shape than she is.

Her son has told us that he gets $18/ week from CC to take car of her. He has told us several times that his mom is up their frying catfish for him.

Oh - and by the way this son, during the recent snow event, smoked and just watched as OTHER people in the building shoveled.

I am sure Catholic Charities does provide some truly needed services, but this ridiculous situation in my building will forever keep me from contributing to Catholic Charities.
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Dear Monica I am shocked and so sorry to read about the difficulties you are living under. It is appalling that your govt do not provide a welfare system to give you money as a carer and provide care for all its citizens in need…in this case your mother. Charity should only be an extra to help ‘top up’ what the government do not provide for.

We are blessed here in the UK that we have a welfare system as we do. I am a carer for my mother and two adult sisters. They receive disability benefits to live and I get a small income to provide for their care needs. I wish this was the case for you. I shall keep you in my prayers my friend.
May God bless you Monica…you are doing a great and wonderful thing caring for your mother.

Dear Lord please help Monica and her mother to get the financial and practical help and support they need Amen

Eternal God , in whom mercy is endless,
and the treasury of compassion inexhastible ,
look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us ,
that in difficult moments we might not despair
nor become despondent , but with great confidence ,
submit ourselves to Your Holy Will ,
which is love and mercy itself . Amen

Memorare (Prayer to Our Lady)
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen
 
tbcrawford said:
Dear Monica I am shocked and so sorry to read about the difficulties you are living under. It is appalling that your govt do not provide a welfare system to give you money as a carer and provide care for all its citizens in need…in this case your mother. Charity should only be an extra to help ‘top up’ what the government do not provide for.

We are blessed here in the UK that we have a welfare system as we do. I am a carer for my mother and two adult sisters. They receive disability benefits to live and I get a small income to provide for their care needs. I wish this was the case for you. I shall keep you in my prayers my friend.
May God bless you Monica…you are doing a great and wonderful thing caring for your mother.

Dear Lord please help Monica and her mother to get the financial and practical help and support they need Amen

Eternal God , in whom mercy is endless,
and the treasury of compassion inexhastible ,
look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us ,
that in difficult moments we might not despair
nor become despondent , but with great confidence ,
submit ourselves to Your Holy Will ,
which is love and mercy itself . Amen

Memorare (Prayer to Our Lady)
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen
Click to expand...
👍
 
tbcrawford said:
Dear Monica I am shocked and so sorry to read about the difficulties you are living under. It is appalling that your govt do not provide a welfare system to give you money as a carer and provide care for all its citizens in need…in this case your mother. Charity should only be an extra to help ‘top up’ what the government do not provide for.
Click to expand...
This is why care for the poor needs to be more organized. There are so many people who work and abuse the help availiable while others truly need it. So when it comes to us helping a stranger we have no way of knowing which group they are.
 
Michael_Mayo said:
This is why care for the poor needs to be more organized. There are so many people who work and abuse the help availiable while others truly need it. So when it comes to us helping a stranger we have no way of knowing which group they are.
Click to expand...
It is not for us to judge who is or is not worthy in our eyes…as Pope Francis says " Who am I to judge?" Therefore it does not matter which ‘group’ they are

Our purpose in life is to choose which path to follow. If we are to follow God’s narrow path then we are to exude God’s love for ALL His children through our every action or lack of when we fail to do what is required…to love God and love our neighbour.

If someone takes advantage of some kindness we offer, then so be it…far better to help someone than not as we fail to help Our Lord in doing that.

God bless
 
"You will have found Christ when you are concerned with other people’s suffering and not your own.

Mary Flannery O’Connor (March 25, 1925 – August 3, 1964)
 
tbcrawford said:
It is not for us to judge who is or is not worthy in our eyes…as Pope Francis says " Who am I to judge?" Therefore it does not matter which ‘group’ they are

Our purpose in life is to choose which path to follow. If we are to follow God’s narrow path then we are to exude God’s love for ALL His children through our every action or lack of when we fail to do what is required…to love God and love our neighbour.

If someone takes advantage of some kindness we offer, then so be it…far better to help someone than not as we fail to help Our Lord in doing that.

God bless
Click to expand...
Of course this is part of the national debate: How much does charity without accountability promote dependence which is not good for anyone?
 
Michael_Mayo said:
Of course this is part of the national debate: How much does charity without accountability promote dependence which is not good for anyone?
Click to expand...
Thankfully Jesus never asked us to decide if helping someone was a good thing or in helping it promotes dependence…He just taught us to do it…help one another that is.

Love God and love our neighbour…it truly is the hardest things we have to do, for to do one without the other is impossible. So when we help our neighbour in need we are indeed loving God through our deeds.

God bless you
 
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