Group seeks donations to pay utilities for the needy

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Youngstown is calling upon Catholics and others of good will to support a special parish and community collection for winter-utility assistance for families in need.

“Keep the Kids Warm” is a special second collection to take place between the Feast of the Holy Family (Dec. 25-26) and the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (Jan. 8-9) in parishes and in the community.

One hundred percent of the funds raised through this special effort will be returned to the counties in which they were collected to provide direct assistance to families in need.

“Keep the Kids Warm” specifically aims to assist those “working poor” families who do not qualify for government assistance, as well as those families who have no resources after government- subsidized programs such as HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) have lapsed.

The need for utility assistance has been a growing one for Catholic Charities, particularly over the past five years.

In 2009, Catholic Charities provided utility assistance to more than 5,632 people throughout the diocese.

Donations to support Catholic Charities’ “Keep the Kids Warm” collection can be sent to: Catholic Charities, Keep the Kids Warm, P.O. Box 614, Youngstown, OH 44501.

Donations also can be made on Catholic Charities’ website at www.ccdoy.org.

For more information, contact Brian Corbin, executive director of Catholic Charities Services, at 330-744-8451, ext. 320.