Bishop's appeal aiming for $4.2M to provide food, clothes, housing to needy

YOUNGSTOWN

Words from Bishop George V. Murry, a balloon release and cupcake celebration Tuesday launched the 20th year of the annual Bishop’s Appeal for Catholic Charities and Church on the theme “Changing Lives ... One Family at a Time.”

Bishop Murry spoke briefly in St. Columba Cathedral Hall, 144 W. Wood St., emphasizing the work of Catholic Charities that “reaches out to the poor and needy.” He noted programs offered through Catholic Charities “touch so many lives.”

The bishop then turned the podium over to the Rev. John-Michael Lavelle, director of the Bishop’s Appeal, who announced the 2016 goal of $4.2 million, the highest amount of the appeal to date. Last year’s goal was $4 million, which was achieved as the final money arrived.

“The hallmark of the Church and the Church of Youngstown is its service to the poor,” Father Lavelle said. The appeal depends on the generosity of members of the 88 parishes in the diocese and “other people of good will,” he said.

The funds from the Bishop’s Appeal benefit the work of Catholic Charities in the six-county diocese of Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning, Portage, Stark and Trumbull counties. Last year, Catholic Charities assisted more than 46,000 people with food, clothing, housing, rental and utility assistance, professional case-management services and other programs to meet local needs. Catholic Charities serves all qualifying people, no matter what their faith.

“The greatest need is with basic necessities of food and utilities and with children and seniors,” Father Lavelle said. He added that “food insecurity” remains a “day-to-day” issue for many Valley residents.

Read more about the program in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.