Catholics’ Social Service Fund Hits Snag Firm Finds Confusion Limits Giving, Which Again Is Just Short Of $550,000 Goal

For the third year in a row, Catholic Charities has run up against a wall with its Christmas Collection, the major fundraiser for the social service organization.

So far donors have given $485,000. The charity gets to roughly the same amount every January and then begs and pleads to raise another $60,000 or so to make ends meet. But it has yet to achieve its goal of $550,000.

“Sometimes I feel like we are operating parallel to the rest of the diocese,” said Catholic Charities Development Director Mary Ann Heskett. “If (Catholics) knew what it is we do, more would give.”

Currently, between 4,500 and 5,000 people donate to the annual money-raiser, which runs through the winter, Heskett said. That represents about 25 percent of all the Catholic households in Eastern Washington.

“On the one hand, that’s really outstanding in terms of fund-raising circles,” she said. “On the other hand it could be better.”

After interviewing a focus group of Catholics who do not contribute to Catholic Charities, Mark Westbrook, owner of Tell-Back Inc., a public opinion research firm, concluded that misinformation was behind a lot of the reluctance to donate.

Catholics were confused by the Christmas Collection, which supports the charities, and the Bishop’s Appeal at Easter, which supports the diocese, he said.

Many Catholics don’t understand that Catholic Charities gets no money from the diocese. Rather, the charity’s $3 million comes entirely from private donations and government programs.

Nor did they understand the charity’s broad role, operating 30 programs in 15 locations.

“We’re the oldest program and we’re the largest program in Eastern Washington,” Heskett said. “That should make more people want to give, basic pride.”

But many Catholics are resentful of the large number of special collections taken through the church, Westbrook said. In addition to local causes, Catholics are often asked in church or through the mail to contribute to a variety of national causes.

While a team of Catholic Charities workers toured several parishes this Christmas season touting their cause, they may not be enough, Westbrook said.

“In this age of information, talking at people seems to go in one ear and out the other,” he said. “They have to get emotionally attached.”

Getting more volunteers is a top priority in order to make those connections, Heskett said.

Annually, more than 100,000 elderly, low-income and disabled people receive help through the charity. More than 75 percent of the recipients are not Catholic.

“When people find out what we do, they say ‘Wow, what can I do to help?”’ she said. “So it’s a matter of education.”

, DataTimes