The 46th-annual Catholic Courier/Catholic Charities Christmas Appeal has officially begun, and donations large and small are being sought to help people facing short-term financial crises.
Proceeds from the campaign, which has a goal of $40,000, support the emergency funds of Catholic Charities offices and affiliated agencies in the diocese.
There are two ways to donate to the campaign. Today only, donations will be accepted through ROC the Day, a 24-hour local online fundraising event. Prospective donors can visit www.roctheday.org/CatholicCourierCatholicCharitiesChristmasAppeal at any time today to make a donation.
And anytime during the campaign, which runs through February 2016, donations by check may be made payable to Christmas Appeal and sent to the Catholic Courier, PO Box 24379, Rochester, NY 14624. Please include your name, address, city, state, ZIP code, telephone number, and whether the gift is being made in honor or memory of someone. For more information, visit www.catholiccourier.com/christmas-appeal/.
Campaign contributions are welcomed by recipients who have nowhere else to turn due to such unanticipated circumstances as illness, injury, death, job loss or fire. Appeal funds typically cover such needs as car and home repairs, prescriptions, utility bills, food, rent, mortgage payments, clothing, household necessities and transportation.
A key facet of Christmas Appeal aid is that it provides unrestricted funds for folks who are either awaiting or ineligible for help from other sources.
"It provides funding that we couldn’t get from anyplace else," noted Jack Balinsky, diocesan director of Catholic Charities.
