By Sharon Abercrombie
Staff writer

“Everybody’s hurting out there,”’ and like other charitable groups, Catholic Charities of the East Bay is striving to help as many families and individuals as they can, reports Colleen Miller, director of development, marketing and public policy for the social service agency.

The problem is, pleas for material assistance from CCEB are up by 25 percent and donations are down by 33 percent, she said. To complicate matters even more, requests for housing and rental assistance have increased 45 percent.

Miller said that between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, 2007, CCEB received 632 requests for back rent, security deposits and foreclosure assistance. For 2008, “we’ve received 946.”

“We need to help many more this year so we are requesting and welcoming donations even more than ever,” said Miller.

A recent foundation grant of $25,000 has been earmarked for the agency’s Holiday Emergency Link Program — the HELP fund. This gift will enable CCEB to make $250 available for 100 people, some of whom are agency clients. CCEB is also partnering with other organizations so they can provide funds to people needing emergency assistance.

To encourage additional contributions, a few major CCEB donors have given a challenge gift of $100,000. Miller hopes that people in the Oakland Diocese will respond generously so the agency can address the growing need.

Donations can be sent to Catholic Charities of the East Bay, 433 Jefferson St., Oakland, CA 94607. For more information contact Colleen Miller at (510) 768-3115.

Next Front Page Article

back to top

home