EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

Emergency Assistance serves a network of parish partners throughout Eastern Washington, allowing pastors and their delegates to respond quickly to basic needs, from groceries and gas to utilities and rent.

CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (CCHD)

CCHD is the domestic anti-poverty program of the U.S. Catholic Bishops working to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ "...to bring good news to the poor...release to captives...sight to the blind, and let the oppressed go free." (Luke 4:18) The belief that those who are directly affected by unjust systems and structures have the best insight into knowing how to change them is central to CCHD. CCHD works to break the cycle of poverty by helping low-income people participate in decisions that affect their lives, families, and communities. CCHD offers a hand up, not a handout.

The program offers an annual small grant opportunity for human service non-profits in Eastern Washington.  Our grant work has funded organizations involved in neighborhood safety, legal services for the poor, outreach to cancer patients, organizing residents to advocate for property rights, and English-as-a-Second-Language programs. CCHD criteria prioritizes efforts focused on institutional change rather than direct service, and on efforts with significant low-income leadership. Community organizing and economic development groups are preferred partners.

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES

The Catholic Relief Services is the U.S. Catholic Bishops' official overseas relief and development agency. The CRS effort in our diocese focuses on CRS domestic programs, in particular CRS Rice Bowl, a parish and school-based Lenten journey of prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and education, and the CRS Fair Trade Program which encourages the support of economic justice and global solidarity through fair trade craft, coffee and chocolate sales.

The Parish Social Ministry office offers an annual small grant opportunity for both parish partners and non-profits in Eastern Washington focused on hunger and nutrition funded by a percentage of CRS Rice Bowl contributions. Throughout the year, Fair Trade education and product sales are made available across the Diocese.

For more information, visit www.crs.org or www.crsespanol.org.

DISASTER RELIEF SERVICES

Disaster Relief comes alongside parishes and community partners after natural disasters such as wildfires, floods and windstorms, to address immediate needs,and also to walk with communities for months afterward to meet needs of rebuilding and recovery.  Following 2015 wildfires in Okanogan County, we employed a Disaster Case Manager who provided help with utilities, rent, replacement of tires and furniture, to dozens of low-income households.  We pledge to be in your community within 24 hours of a call for help with water, food, diapers and other resources.