Help Catholic Charities make a difference
Contributions now accepted for Catholic Charities Spring Appeal

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
March 29, 2007

Each year Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Sioux City serves thousands of people. While the need for services increases each year, the agency's budget has tightened for several years mainly do to cuts in government funding.

According to Steve Elbert, director of development at Catholic Charities, in the year 2000, 50 percent of Catholic Charities budget came from government funding but now the agency only receives about 27.7 percent.

"Now, we depend on the generosity of others that much more," he stressed.

To make up for these cuts, for about the last seven years the agency has held the Catholic Charities Spring Appeal.

"Each spring we reach out to individuals to appeal to them to help us continue our services at Catholic Charities," said Elbert.

Jerry Eaton, executive director of Catholic Charities, pointed out that the agency offers its services to people on a sliding fee scale based on circumstances, the number of people in the family and income level. In most cases the scale ranges from about $10 to the full fee. Services relating to unwed parents are offered at no charge.

"The effort is to give people the highest quality care. All of our people are licensed at the master's degree level," he said.

He pointed out that many of the agency's therapists have been at Catholic Charities for many years and have "a good sense of mission and understand what it is that we do. We are fortunate that we can offer people the highest quality of service that they can find in any community that we are located."

"Catholic Charities provides a very good service. We are about building and supporting the family unit, which is the foundation of our society," said Elbert.

The agency offers a variety of counseling services to individuals - adult and youth, couples and families.

One of Catholic Charities counselors had recently told Elbert the story of one of their clients. The person had experienced abuse, drifted in and out of depression and struggled to find purpose and meaning in their life. The individual worked outside and had the opportunity to be surrounded by nature, God's beauty, but their heart was empty.

"One day this person was sitting down on a rock, taking a break and they looked down and of all things they saw a little black ant carrying a twig. The little ant was moving and it had purpose. All of a sudden a big red ant came along and took the twig from the black ant. The black ant didn't know what to do and began to go in circles," noted Elbert. "After a while the person noticed that the ant had stopped. It went over and got another stick and kept moving on in the direction that was."

That small experience impacted the life of the client.

"Those are the types of things that happen with support," he said.

A major part of what Catholic Charities does is stir a renewed sense of hope in the people along with promotion of healing and understanding.

How can your gift make an impact?

A gift of $1,000 can provide one year of conflict resolution counseling for a parent/child.

A gift of $400 can provide 40 one-hour counseling sessions for a child.

A gift of $100 can provide for the purchase of a grocery card to feed a needy family of four for two weeks.

A gift of $35 can be used to purchase a gas card that enables a single mother to provide transportation for her child's counseling services and school activities.

In addition to counseling services, Catholic Charities provides adoption services and services to unwed parents. It offers monetary support to families for emergency needs through the Families in Crisis Program and provides counseling for Project Rachel, a national pro-life ministry that is designed to help persons who have been wounded through abortions.

"When people give to Catholic Charities, they are helping us help others," said Elbert.

Eaton mentioned that when people contribute to Catholic Charities, they know the agency, its mission and are assured that their donations will be used effectively.

"We are a known quantity with a good reputation," he said.

Eaton expressed gratitude to all of the people who have contributed to Catholic Charities, especially the individuals who have opted to give a monthly donation to the agency.

If people wish to make a donation they can use the form below or they can send a contribution to 1601 Military Rd., Sioux City, IA, 51103. Donations to this appeal benefit not only the Catholic Charities in Sioux City but also the branch offices in Algona, Carroll, Fort Dodge and Storm Lake.

Along with donations of all sizes, Elbert encouraged people to offer prayers for Catholic Charities and its clients.