In the whirlwind of the holidays, it’s easy to become inundated with requests from many worthy organizations.
Yet sometimes we forget that it is our friends and neighbors who have driven those requests — friends and neighbors who need a little extra help to get through hard times.
We hope you will take five minutes to consider our annual Catholic Courier/Catholic Charities Christmas Appeal, which provides small, emergency grants to people — regardless of faith, race, and ethnic or economic background — who are in financial crisis.
Funds generated by this annual campaign have been used to cover utility bills, security deposits, rent or mortgage payments, urgent home repairs, gas, prescriptions and other expenses for individuals and families who are either awaiting or are ineligible for other types of assistance.
We are asking you to take five minutes from your day to contribute $5 — or any amount you can spare — to help your neighbors facing hard times. On Dec. 8, during the one-day, communitywide fundraising event called ROC the Day, you can give online. On other days, you can visit www.catholiccourier.com/christmas-appeal/ and print out a coupon to mail in with your donation.
Even if writing a check is not possible in this economic climate, there are many ways you can support our campaign, which runs through the end of February. Organize a nickel drive at a local school or among a church youth group. Like our page on Facebook and share with your friends and neighbors the stories of how the Christmas Appeal has helped people in our community. Tell your friends about our new donor challenge: For each new donor to this year’s appeal, an anonymous donor will contribute $10.
If we work together, we can give people hope, and get them back on the road to independence.
