Catholic Charities holds its Christmas Collection

Catholic Charities has assisted more than 44,000 people so far this year. To continue helping the needy, the Spokane nonprofit recently launched its annual Christmas Collection with the goal of raising $675,000.

“Providing Help, Creating Hope” is the theme for the 2004 collection. Every dollar contributed will assist homeless mothers and children, transient men, senior citizens, the developmentally disabled and others throughout Eastern Washington. More than 80 percent of the people who benefit from Catholic Charities’ services aren’t Catholic.

The charity serves the needy through 12 programs including: House of Charity, which provides hot lunches, a free medical clinic for the homeless and an emergency winter sleeping program for more than 100 men every night of the winter; St. Margaret’s Shelter, which offers housing and parenting classes to women with children; and Volunteer Chore Services, a program that matches volunteers with low-income elderly to help them remain independent for as long as possible.

Catholic Charities has garnered the highest rating possible from Charity Navigator, the country’s largest independent evaluator of charities. That means the organization has effectively managed its finances and has earned the trust of donors. Catholic Charities is also separately incorporated from the Diocese of Spokane and receives no money from the annual Catholic Appeal.

Donations can be mailed to Catholic Charities, P.O. Box 1453, Spokane, WA 99210-1453; brought directly to the Catholic Charities offices on the first floor of the Catholic Pastoral Center, 1023 W. Riverside Ave. in Spokane; or made online at www.catholiccharitiesspokane.org. For more information, call 358-4253.