Recently the Catholic Courier/Catholic Charities Christmas Appeal quite literally brought light to a Southern Tier family.
The electricity in the family’s home had been disconnected, and although the family had a reinstatement agreement with the power company, it did not have enough money to make the required down payment, according to Wendy Recktenwald, executive director of Catholic Charities of Steuben/Livingston. The adults in the family were working full-time jobs, and their income placed them just above the threshold to receive assistance from the Department of Social Services, “leaving them with no options for immediate help,” Recktenwald said.
Unsure of where else to turn, the family approached Catholic Charities of Steuben/Livingston for help, and the agency tapped into its portion of the proceeds from last year’s Christmas Appeal campaign.
“We were able to cover the reconnect fee, allowing the utility company to restore service the same day,” Recktenwald said. “This prevented further hardship and gave the family the ability to enter into a sustainable payment plan.”
Annual appeal helps agencies support people in emergency situations
Now in its 56th year, the annual Christmas Appeal is run by the Catholic Courier and is supported by the newspaper’s readers. The appeal raises money for the unrestricted emergency funds of Catholic Charities agencies across the Diocese of Rochester’s 12 counties. Organizers hope the current appeal — which began in late November — will raise $50,000 by the campaign’s conclusion at the end of February 2026.
“The Christmas Appeal helps us to help others through the hardest months of the year. We are so thankful and grateful to those who support it,” Recktenwald said.
Catholic Charities agencies use Christmas Appeal funds to help people with utility needs
Catholic Charities of Steuben/Livingston’s portion of the appeal proceeds are used to fund the agency’s crisis financial assistance program and often are used specifically to help individuals and families with short-term utility needs, Recktenwald said.
“The appeal allows us to assist with initial deposits for utility payment agreements, down payments to start utility services and re-connection fees when utilities have been shut off due to non-payment,” she explained. “We most frequently provided this support when someone has been denied assistance through DSS due to being over income guidelines.”
Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes also relies on Christmas Appeal proceeds to help fund its emergency-assistance programs, including those that aid households facing utility shut-offs, according to Frank Capozzi Jr., the agency’s executive director. And Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga divides its share of Christmas Appeal proceeds between its two emergency-assistance programs, noted Renee Spear, executive director. In Tompkins County, the agency provides emergency assistance through its Samaritan Center, while in Tioga County, this assistance is offered through the Tioga Outreach Center, she said.
“We provide rental assistance, security deposits, utility assistance, transportation, small car repairs and more,” Spear said.
The agency relies on funding from a variety of sources — including local foundations, grants and donations — to allow it to support people in need who are experiencing emergency situations, she added.
“We are also very grateful for the funding through the Christmas Appeal … to help support the thousands of requests that Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga assist with each year,” Spear said.
Tags: Catholic Charities
