Impact
Your Support Changes Lives
Thanks to you and our community of donors, Catholic Charities Boston has been on the front lines addressing major crises facing our communities. Guided by our commitment to social justice, we continue to respond to the needs of the times including poverty, food and housing insecurity, mental health, affordable childcare, and so much more. View a downloadable 2024 Impact Report here.
From Front Lines to Headlines: Addressing the Humanitarian Crisis
For many of our clients, post-pandemic financial challenges persist or have worsened with the lingering effects of high inflation. In addition, the humanitarian crisis stretching from our borders to Boston compelled us to act quickly, coordinating with government leaders and other nonprofit partners to help families in urgent need of housing, English classes, and work authorization.
130%
Increase in shelter beds for unhoused families this past year including opening two emergency shelters.
473
Clients received legal services for work authorization and pro se asylum applications from Immigrant Legal Services team.
2,000
Migrants received case management and refugee assistance.
Boston Globe: For Families Seeking Emergency Shelter, Limbo Looks Like a Safe Place to Sleep
‘This is Completely Different: Hotel Shelter Housing Over 40 Migrant, Homeless Families Reflects Growing Need.
The Boston Globe shared a look at life for families living at Catholic Charities Inn, a temporary emergency shelter that opened the last week of June in partnership with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to address the increasing demand for shelter across the state. As a right to shelter state, Massachusetts has a legal obligation to provide care for families experiencing homelessness.
We know that there is a need. We have been called to help, and we are doing it, whether it be trying to find someone a double stroller, having diapers on hand, or calling on volunteers or calling on our parishes to help out. And people are coming forward and doing that.
-Beth Chambers, Vice President of Basic Needs
Providing Help and Hope
Your generosity to Catholic Charities Boston enables us to provide support to our neighbors as they work toward building brighter, more hopeful futures for their families. Read on to see how your partnership helps us to do just that.
Basic Needs
With state shelters at capacity and an increase of 75% in food pantry visits since 2019, Catholic Charities Boston continues to provide critical basic needs services to address hunger, mental health, and homelessness.
At a Glance
2.6 Million
Meals distributed to more than 11,000 households through Catholic Charities Food Network.
61,376
People received food assistance through one of Catholic Charities’ four food pantries.
400
Children, adolescents, and adults received mental health support from Catholic Charities Family Counseling and Guidance Center.
Sister Maryadele, Linchpin of Recovery in South Boston
At 80 years young, Sister Maryadele Robinson, longtime Outreach Social Worker at the Labouré Center, has been a cornerstone of South Boston’s recovery community for decades. The Boston Globe’s Adrian Walker spoke with her on the impact of her work overseeing Catholic Charities’ Recovering Connection program for families affected by substance use disorder. “If you ever wanted to call a person a cure, I’d say it was her. She just has such a special heart.”
The stress of knowing you are homeless and not in control is a huge culture shock. It is amazing how much paperwork finding housing requires, but my case managers made it possible. They helped me to really focus.
-Amber, Former Resident of Catholic Charities St. Ambrose Shelter
Adult Education & Workforce Development
People with limited English proficiency tend to earn lower salaries in the United States, with an earning gap of approximately $12,000 less per year, and the Massachusetts healthcare industry is facing a critical workforce shortage in nearly all areas. Catholic Charities expanded to six education centers, providing courses that advance skills and strengthen Boston’s workforce while doubling our capacity for youth educational services through the absorption of the Notre Dame Education Center in South Boston.
At a Glance
1,118
Students enrolled in one of 60 Catholic Charities’ English language classes (ESOL).
892
Students graduated, secured employment, or advanced academically.
164
Students enrolled in the Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide program with a full scholarship in partnership with Commonwealth Corporation. 94% of the students have completed the program and achieved a credential.
Catholic Charities Boston and the Notre Dame Education Center in South Boston Join Together to Preserve Programs and Expand Services
In an effort to preserve the programs provided by the Notre Dame Education Center in South Boston, Catholic Charities Boston (CCAB) has announced it will absorb its portfolio and continue to operate for staff and students.
If you get on, it will take you where you want to go, but you have to be willing to take the opportunities first. Catholic Charities programs are an opportunity to change your life.
-Luis, El Centro Adult Education Center IT Program Graduate
Family & Youth Services
In Eastern Massachusetts, the average cost to enroll an infant and preschooler is more than $34,000, and only 25% of Boston children under 5 years old have access to childcare due to affordability and shortages.
At a Glance
1,280
Children enrolled across five Early Education Centers and Family Childcare Programs. The 3- and 4-year-old preschool classrooms in Boston were awarded universal preschool seats to work with Boston Public Schools (BPS).
440
Children from underserved communities attended Sunset Point Camp in Hull and 229 youth attended after-school programming at the Teen Center in Dorchester.
200
First-time parents received support through the Healthy Families program.
Closing the Digital Divide for Boston's Senior Citizens
At 88 years old, Mary has lived many years without feeling the need to dive into the world of Zoom, Spotify, or Chat GPT. But when she learned about a computer skills training offered to individuals in Catholic Charities Boston’s Elder Outreach Program at the apartment complex she’s lived for the past 20 years, she decided to give it a try. “Let me give this a try and give myself a step up in this world.”
Some of these children have so much trauma when they come to us and have experienced so much in their lives, even though they are still so little. Helping them see this as a safe space and providing them with that shelter and comfort and consistency is so important.
-Jamie Laurenza, Director, Lynn Child Care
Refugee & Immigrant Services
Massachusetts has experienced an unprecedented number of people fleeing political instability from other countries, and they need support in navigating complex legal paperwork, translation services, and acclimating to a new culture.
At a Glance
14,000+
Limited English speakers who had a Catholic Charities interpreter to help with education, health, or social services.
40+
Refugee families sponsored through the recruitment of training of communities of faith.
200+
Migrant children who suffered violence, abuse, or prolonged separation from their caregivers received specialized case management services.
Family escaping war finds refuge, hope through Boston Catholic Charities program
As professional musicians and music teachers, Jean Anderson and her husband David felt it was no coincidence when their paths crossed with Ruslan Ramaznov, a Ukrainian pianist who had fled the war in Ukraine with his wife and two children. Today, thanks to the support of Jean, David, and Catholic Charities Welcome Circle program, Ruslan and his family are thriving here in Boston. Channel 5 covered their incredible story.
The Catholic Charities Immigration Court Helpdesk seeks to demystify the Boston Immigration Court process.The legal and technical work is obviously important, but we are also able to pick up on when someone might be traumatized, or when they may be in need of other wraparound services. Sometimes, the greatest service we can offer is simply showing compassion.
-Carolina Espinal, Immigration Court Helpdesk Paralegal
From Enrique, an El Centro graduate who gave back to the education center through a beautiful mural that welcome newcomers, to Yadhira, a former Teen Center member enrolled at Northeastern on scholarship, and Doris, who credits the Merrimack Valley Food Pantry for helping her to feed her grandchildren, the impact of Catholic Charities Boston can be seen throughout our communities. Watch below to see how your support makes an impact.
"If it wasn't for Healthy Families I would still be in an unsafe environment"
At 19, Erika became estranged from her immediate family after discovering she was going to become a mother. A doctor introduced her to Catholic Charities Healthy Families Haverhill, a home-based parenting support program for young, first-time parents.
'My Kids Give Me Purpose'
Paula, a former resident of Catholic Charities Nazareth Family Shelter, is due to give birth to a baby boy this year. Thanks to the strong support system she found at Nazareth over the last year, Paula recently signed a lease for permanent housing. When her baby is born, she’ll bring him home to a warm, safe apartment that she can call her own.
More Stories of Hope
An Investment You Can Trust
As an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the umbrella yet separate from the Archdiocese of Boston, Catholic Charities Boston relies on philanthropic contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support our work. Catholic Charities is proud to have earned a platinum rating from Candid and a four-star rating from Charity Navigator.
$58.5 million
Catholic Charities FY24 Unaudited Operating Expenses were $58.5 million. Thanks to 6,453 donors this past year, we raised over $9 million and provided services to clients across 70 programs in Eastern Massachusetts, with 86 cents of every dollar donated going directly to programs and clients.
Spring Celebration Raises $1.5 Million
Catholic Charities welcomed more than 350 donors at Spring Celebration 2024 and was honored to present Cardinal Seán O’Malley with the John and Virginia Kaneb Justice and Compassion Award for his 20-plus years of tireless advocacy for those living on the margins and his unwavering support of Catholic Charities’ mission.
We are grateful to the Cardinal as well as our dearly departed friend and exceptional co-emcee Jack Connors Jr., for making the evening such a success.
Ways to Help
Your support makes it possible for us to continue to provide essential services to people during their times of greatest need.
Donate
Make a gift below. Interested in doubling your donation? Check with your employer to see if they offer a matching gift program.
Planned Giving
Leave a legacy of helping your neighbors in need by including Catholic Charities in your estate plan.
Volunteer
Want to make a difference while doing good and having fun? Explore volunteer opportunities across our site locations.
More Ways to Give
From donating old vehicles and stock to purchasing items for families living in shelters, see all the ways to make a difference.
For more information on how to make a gift, please contact Jerry Smith, Senior Director of Advancement, at 617.464.8825 or jerry_smith@ccab.org.
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