Credits: YOMIURI/REUTERS/Alertnet.org

In the wake of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake, subsequent tsunami and aftershocks in Japan, Catholic Relief Services needs your help.

In the Archdiocese of New Orleans, we understand how devastating disasters can be, and we stand in solidarity and prayer with our brothers and sisters suffering in Japan.

If you would like to donate to help the Japanese recover from this disaster, please visit the CRS website.

The Archbishop’s Community Appeal (ACA), the annual campaign to support the programs of Catholic Charities, exceeded its 2010 goal by $32,866 for a total of $1,759,866.

The ACA, headed by Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond and 2010 Chairman Mark J. Spansel, is driven by the work of more than 100 volunteer fundraisers in the Greater New Orleans Area. The funds raised will provide unrestricted support to Catholic Charities so that it is able to respond to the most urgent needs in the community.

The ACA was founded in the 1965 by former Archbishop Philip M. Hannan in response to community need after Hurricane Betsy.

Operation Helping Hands volunteer coordinator Bethany Billman recently welcomed her parents on a visit to New Orleans from their native Wisconsin. But the Billmans didn’t come empty-handed – they brought slightly used work boots from Mr. Billman’s co-workers at Grande Cheese to donate to Catholic Charities Community Centers.

Want to make an in-kind donation like the Billmans did? Call Cathy Gomez in our Development Department at  (504) 592-5694.

In just two weeks, the Archbishop’s Community Appeal (ACA) campaign will end. Our volunteer fundraisers have helped bring in $1,505,260 or 87% of our $1.727M goal, all of which will help to fund the work of Catholic Charities in 2011.

We need your help to meet our goal – there’s just $221,742 left to raise and every dollar you give gets us a little bit closer.

Please open your heart and give generously today >

Learn more about the Archbishop’s Community Appeal >

A group of 48 employees from Kluber Lubrication came to volunteer with our Operation Helping Hands program this week. (Some are pictured here at a home in the Ninth Ward.) The group donated enough paint to allow three lucky homeowners to customize their homes’ paint colors. The team from Kluber also gave a monetary donation to enable our volunteers to continue rebuilding homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Learn more about Operation Helping Hands >

The Archbishop’s Community Appeal (ACA) is in its last month and we need YOU to help us finish out the campaign.

Our volunteer fundraisers have helped us raise $1,351,237 or 78% of our $1.727M goal. This leaves us with just over $375,000 to raise by January 31. These last few weeks can be the toughest of the campaign, so please make your gift today and encourage your friends and family to give as well.

Remember, these funds will be used throughout 2011 to help fund the work of Catholic Charities in the eight civil parishes of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Why should you give to the ACA? Here are five good reasons>

Recently, three young men (seated in the photo) from the New York area cycled from New York to New Orleans to raise money for Catholic Charities’ oil spill relief efforts on a trip they called “Ride to Heal.” The trip took about 20 days, spanned 1,500 miles and raised $10,000 for families still facing economic uncertainty in the wake of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

These three young men visited the Catholic Charities oil spill leadership team on Tuesday. Since May 1, Catholic Charities has served 35,277 people and our mental health counselors have logged 10,829 visits with people suffering from the spill.

Catholic Charities is offering a uniquely New Orleans way of helping out residents affected by the oil spill. It’s called the Shrimp Boot Fundraiser and now through October 23, you can purchase raffle tickets online for the opportunity to win one of our celebrity designed and autographed shrimp boots.

For more information please visit the New Orleans Home + Interior Show website and click on the white shrimp boot.

More than twenty of the country’s most notable jewelry artists have come together to support victims of the oil spill in the Gulf through Catholic Charities.

The diverse group of jewelers has organized a charity auction on eBay to raise money for our relief efforts. Please click here to visit the eBay site, Jewelers for the Gulf.

Photo: Color of Water Series Pendant by Chris Hierholzer

Print our activation coupon here and give it to your cashier with your Customer Reward Card next time you shop at Winn-Dixie. From then on, a percentage of your purchase will be donated to Catholic Charities — it’s that easy!

As the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico stretches into a third month,  more fishermen and their families find themselves caught in an economic and mental health crisis.   Those needing crisis counseling can get it, free of charge, at any of our five oil spill relief centers.  Catholic Charities Care Line, 1-866-891-2210, is available 24 hours a day.  The National Suicide Prevention Hotline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), is also available 24 hours a day.

Since May 1, almost 14,000 individuals have received emergency assistance through Catholic Charities.  By the numbers, through June 28, 2010:

• 13,696 people (5,203 families) have received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities;
• $236,900 in food vouchers have been distributed to affected families, $72,840 in emergency food boxes from Second Harvest Food Bank have been distributed at the relief centers, in addition to regular distributions through the SHFB partner pantries in the area;
• 353 cans of baby formula and 966 packages of diapers have been distributed;
• Total food assistance: $401,370
• 2,667 people have received individual counseling and 58 have taken part in group counseling with Catholic Charities crisis counselors;
• $115,948 in direct assistance and baby supplies has been distributed to families;
• $1,044,423 raised;
• $855,316 spent.

Those wanting to help can make donations to the Catholic Charities Oil Spill Relief Fund by clicking the link to the right.

Director Spike Lee, third from right, with Catholic Charities clients

Director Spike Lee interviewed a group of Vietmanese-American fishermen who have been left unemployed by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  The fishermen are receiving services through Catholic Charities oil spill response center in New Orleans.

Since May 1, more than 9,800 individuals affected by the oil spill have received emergency assistance  through Catholic Charities. 

In order to serve the affected communities we have partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank,  local governments and state agencies (Dept of Social Services and Health and Hospitals) and other local non-profits such as United Way.  We are also very grateful to BP for its $1 million gift that has enabled us to expand our services.

By the numbers, through June 14, 2010:

• 9,819 people (3,283 families) have received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities;
• $185,500 in gift cards and/or food vouchers have been distributed to affected families;
• 1,600 emergency food boxes from Second Harvest Food Bank have been distributed through our oil spill centers, additional food has been distributed by Second Harvest through regular partner food pantries;
• 190 cans of baby formula have been distributed along with 102  boxes of diapers and 291 ½ packs of diapers;
• 1,535 people have received individual counseling and 58 have taken part in group counseling with Catholic Charities crisis counselors;
• $68,459 in direct assistance has been distributed to families.

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Since May 1, more than 7,800 individuals have received emergency assistance from the local Catholic Church through Catholic Charities.  By the numbers, through June 7, 2010:

• 7,803 people (2,369 families) have received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities;
• $140,600 in gift cards and/or food vouchers have been distributed to affected families;
• 952 emergency food boxes from Second Harvest Food Bank have been distributed;
• 177 cans of baby formula have been distributed along with 77 boxes of diapers and 186 ½ packs of diapers;
• 902 people have undergone mental health assessments; and
• 737 people have received individual counseling and 58 have taken part in group counseling with Catholic Charities crisis counselors.

Those wanting to help, can make donations  directly to Catholic Charities at www.ccano.org. 

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       Since May 1, more than 6200 individuals who have been affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico have received emergency assistance from the local Catholic Church through Catholic Charities.  By the numbers, through June 1, 2010:

• 6227 people (1883 families) have received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities;
• $102,900 in gift cards and/or food vouchers have been distributed to affected families;
• 845 emergency food boxes from Second Harvest Food Bank have been distributed;
• 173 cans of baby formula have been distributed along with 77 boxes of diapers and 186 ½ packs of diapers;
• 748 people have undergone mental health assessments; and
• 503 people have received individual counseling and 28 have taken part in group counseling with Catholic Charities crisis counselors.