Annual appeal helps Finger Lakes agency meet needs

Related Content (1)

Donate to the 2025-26 Christmas Appeal

When a devastating fire destroyed four buildings on Main Street in the Seneca County Village of Ovid last January, the staff of Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes sprang into action, helping those affected to obtain groceries, gas and household essentials.

Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes does this type of work every day, and proceeds from the Catholic Courier/Catholic Charities Christmas Appeal help the agency provide such emergency relief to people experiencing crises, according to Frank Capozzi Jr., executive director.

“Proceeds from the Christmas Appeal are hugely beneficial to help us make sure we can help folks in every town in the counties we serve,” said Capozzi, whose agency operates in Ontario, Yates, Wayne, Cayuga and Seneca counties.

Appeal helps agency meet individuals’ basic needs

The annual appeal, now in its 56th year, is run by the Catholic Courier and supported by the newspaper’s readers, raising money for the unrestricted emergency funds of Catholic Charities agencies across the Diocese of Rochester’s 12 counties. The current appeal began in late November, and organizers hope to raise $50,000 by the campaign’s conclusion at the end of February 2026.

Christmas Appeal proceeds fuel Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes’ ability to help people meet basic needs, Capozzi said. For example, the agency uses appeal funds to help people in crisis pay rent or utility bills or purchase gas so they can drive to work, he noted. The agency also uses Christmas Appeal proceeds to provide food vouchers to individuals in need.

“We work in partnership with a variety of grocery stores, markets and other food outlets that accept our vouchers. Across our entire service area, we have the ability to assist with food vouchers,” he explained.

The unrestricted nature of appeal proceeds allows the agency to use them in a variety of ways to meet needs as they arise, Capozzi said. And while appeal proceeds are specifically earmarked for emergency needs, they can have long-lasting effects, he said. During initial interactions with people needing immediate assistance, Catholic Charities staffers also work with them to find long-term solutions, he explained.

“We are here to help, and we’re going to help in every way we can,” Capozzi said.

Donors’ generosity helps agency during challenging times

The months leading up to the holidays are financially challenging times for many people, and this year is no exception, Capozzi noted. The agency’s staff members observed an increase in local need due to the recent pause in federal food-assistance funding, he said, and they anticipate potential delays in other federal funding due to the temporary shutdown of the federal government.

“We have seen and we continue to project increases across all of our emergency financial-assistance programs,” he said. “We will help everyone who comes through our doors. Support from the generosity of donors to the Christmas Appeal is huge to help us ensure we have a continuity of service delivery.”

Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes doesn’t take donors’ generosity for granted, and Capozzi acknowledged that prospective donors have a great many options available when it comes to choosing where to direct their charitable contributions.

“(We have) great and deep appreciation for contributions to the campaign because it’s so greatly needed,” he said. “We know … there are so many ways to give. There are so many asks being made within the community. For folks to drive their charitable giving to us means so much.”