THE GLOBE
PO BOX 5079 (51102)
1825 JACKSON ST.
SIOUX CITY, IA (51105)
712.255.2550
800.352.9035
WWW.CATHOLICGLOBE.ORG

Help Catholic Charities help others

By Jerry Eaton, LMSW
Executive Director
Catholic Charities

In the month of June there will be a special collection for Catholic Charities within the diocese to help make up the cost of the reduction of our fees to our clients by one-third. We are all aware of the economic crisis and most of us have felt the impact within our own lives. We all know it increases the stress and tension in our marriages and in our families.

Simply looking at the quarterly “earnings” report for retirement “savings” relentlessly going down quarter after quarter and seeing the amount of our investments lose 30, 40, or 50 percent of their value increases tension and stress that can, and often does lead to “We should have taken that money out a year ago when we saw it going steadily down.” “It is like flushing our life savings down the toilet.” “I knew we should have taken it out and you wouldn’t do anything; you never do. Now look at what you’ve done.” “Our investment advisor is making money as he is losing our money, something is terribly wrong with this picture.” “How could we be so stupid?”

We could go through the same with credit card debt, with job loss, with the increased cost of health care, and with all of the other “normal” things that add tension and stress in our lives. It can all get overwhelming at times.

Catholic Charities’ mission is uniquely suited to meet the needs of the people in this crisis. They can’t replace lost income, they can’t replace the millions of dollars lost in financial markets, and they can’t change what has happened. Yet, day in and day out they have been providing services to help people adjust to and overcome problems that are overwhelming them by respecting and honoring what lies within each person.

Catholic Charities helps people regain their sense of stability, regain access to their strengths, build upon them as they learn new strengths so they can develop a plan to work through their problems and lead a happy, healthy and successful life while listening and being there with them as they grieve and deal productively with their losses. Far more than a handout is offered; what is offered is a belief, a love, and honor for what lies deep within each of us and for what people can accomplish with Catholic Charities support.

Catholic Charities has bravely stepped forward to offer help in this financial crisis by lowering their fees for service by one-third with a potential loss of $100,000 in income from fees as a result. It is a bold, and much needed, step centered on the needs of the people of our diocese. Yet, this crisis isn’t all that easy for people to see. It isn’t like a hurricane or flood or an earthquake where we see pictures on television. When we see the obvious devastation our hearts naturally go out to all those involved and we easily respond when we are asked to help in a special collection.

Something major like a hurricane happening outside of our own diocese is easier to respond to than is this present crisis happening right here at home in our own diocese because of the quiet, private and very intimate nature of how people in marriages and families deal with tension and stress that are overwhelming them in this financial crisis. People pride themselves on being able to handle things on our own so they don’t often tell others when they are seeking outside help because of marital problems, or other problems within their families. The help that is received at Catholic Charities is confidential, respecting the privacy and intimacy of the people of our diocese with marital and family problems made worse by the financial crisis.

The people coming to Catholic Charities greatly appreciate the reduction of fees; some say they couldn’t have afforded to come in if they had to pay the regular fees. Reducing the fees was the right thing to do, but will we be able to raise enough money in the special collection to cover the costs of lowering the fees?

If we have 10,000 active families in our diocese each willing to give $10 in the special collection to meet the very real needs of people in our own diocese then we will be able to raise the $100,000 the reduction of fees is costing Catholic Charities. We really need your help if we are to sustain this one-third reduction of fees. $10.00 isn’t a small sum to ask of people, it is a real commitment.

I’m willing to ask for this commitment just like I’m willing to ask those I see in treatment to commit to bring out the best in themselves to overcome their problem so that they can become happier, healthier and more successful. As counselors and therapists we have to dig deep in our work, the people we work with have to dig deep as well. I’m willing to ask the people of the diocese to dig deep so we can all be part of accomplishing what is the thing I believe Christ himself would want us to do at Catholic Charities given the economic circumstances of the people of our diocese. Please do give, if it is $1, or 20, it is all needed if we are to respond to the needs of people right here at home in our own diocese.