Thanks to the generosity of Catholics throughout its five counties, the Diocese of Allentown has awarded 24 poverty relief grants for humanitarian outreach and assistance in Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties.
Non-profit agencies and parish charitable groups will share in a total of $109,250 in grants for such things as hospice and medical care, food for the hungry, clothing, shelter, counseling, and aid for disadvantaged families. Care is provided to people in need regardless of their religious affiliation.
Money for the grants comes from a special collection taken in each parish of the Diocese of Allentown.
Here is a list of this year’s grants:
- St. Francis Home, Shillington — $9,000 to help people suffering with terminal illness.
- Western Berks Free Medical Clinic, Robesonia — $1,500 for a new electro-cardiogram machine.
- Family Promise of Carbon County, Nesquehoning — $5,000 toward emergency shelter for families.
- Immaculate Conception Parish, Jim Thorpe — $2,500 to help needy families.
- Servants to All, Pottsville — $6,500 to help the homeless.
- Slater Family Network Foundation, Bangor — $5,000 for support of families in need.
- St. John XXIII Parish, Tamaqua — $2,500 for baby food for needy families.
- Aspire to Autonomy, Inc., Allentown — $5,000 to fund emergency shelter for women victims of human trafficking.
- Lehigh Conference of Churches, Allentown — $3,750 for food at its soup kitchen.
- Central City Project, Central Catholic High School, Allentown — $2,000 for the food pantry and urban garden.
- Assumption BVM Church, Slatington, — $2,000 to fund its work feeding the hungry through the Northern Lehigh Food Bank.
- Cathedral Parish of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown — $6,000 to help the poor in Allentown.
- Catholic Charities, Allentown — $6,000 for mental health counseling services.
- Family Promise of Lehigh Valley, Allentown — $5,000 for food and housing for the homeless.
- Holy Family Parish, Nazareth — $1,000 for job training for disabled young adults who work at our Kid's Clothing Closet
- Holy Family Senior Living, Bethlehem — $9,000 for health care and clothing that some residents are unable to afford.
- Clare of Assisi House, Reading — $7,500 for transitional housing for women ex-offenders.
- Holy Guardian Angels Parish, Reading — $5,000 to help needy families.
- St. Benedict Parish, Mohnton — $6,000 to assist the poor in the Reading area.
- Monocacy Farm Project, Bethlehem — $5,000 for its Grow Healthy community food program.
- Notre Dame Church, Bethlehem — $5,000 to help needy families facing eviction or utility shutoff.
- St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Allentown — $2,000 for needy families.
- Valley Against Sex Trafficking, Allentown — $5,000 to assist survivors of sexual exploitation.
- Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative, Whitehall — $2,000 for food for the hungry.
The next Poverty Relief Collection will be taken up in all churches of the Diocese November 19-20, the weekend before Thanksgiving, once again providing the opportunity for the faithful to use charity as a means of giving thanks to God for His blessings.
