Local charities see massive increase in demand for food, services

By LIZ FREEMAN
Originally published 12:55 p.m., July 13, 2009
Updated 06:59 p.m., July 13, 2009
NAPLES — The Salvation Army of Collier County and other local charities are facing an onslaught of requests for food and other aid, with numbers doubling since last summer.
And charity directors fear how much worse it will get in August and September, [...]

Can’t imagine this flying in Sanford …

HOMELESS CAMPING City considers RV parking at churches for homeless
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) Officials in Springfield, Oregon, are considering whether to let homeless families camp in recreational vehicles in church parking lots.
It would be similar to a program in nearby Eugene that’s run by the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County which allows homeless [...]

Pope Benedict’s Prayer Intentions for April 2009

Each month, Pope Benedict XVI announces his special prayer intentions–particular things that he wishes all Catholics to pray for that month. (When, for instance, we pray the rosary and say the prayers at the end for the intentions of the Holy Father, these are the intentions for which we’re praying.)
Pope Benedict offers two intentions every [...]

Teen asks special gifts for special birthday

ST. MARTIN DEANERY — Instead of new clothes, shoes or the latest bag for her 13th birthday, Marissa Miller wanted something more meaningful than material things. She celebrated becoming a teenager last month and requested canned goods from friends in place of gifts.
“I knew I had enough stuff and I didn’t need any presents,” the [...]

Catholic group provides food, gifts to more than 500 families

By HEATHER ROTH Staff Writer
Published December 23, 2008
Brown paper bags stuffed with groceries lined the sidewalk behind St. Mary’s Catholic Church Saturday morning. Black garbage bags bursting with presents were mounded in the grass; and hundreds of turkeys were piled on the asphalt.
As drivers started arriving before 8:30 a.m., high school volunteers grabbed the bags [...]

Charity Begins at Home

http://catholicism.about.com/b/2008/12/23/charity-begins-at-home.htm
Scott’s Catholicism Blog
By Scott P. Richert, About.com Guide to Catholicism
Tuesday December 23, 2008
In these uncertain economic times, many families are finding themselves this Christmas without sufficient income or in danger of losing what they have. And yet, as the Catholic News Service reports, donations to Catholic charities have declined just at the time that they’re [...]

Pantry puts food on tables during tough times

by Mary Ann Thomas
Staff Writer
December 18, 2008
Canned peas and carrots, generic macaroni and cheese and “shelf” milk help fill the cupboards of April Knoblach’s kitchen in Shaler to feed her husband and three children.
The Knoblachs are one of about 100 area families receiving help from the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s food pantry in the [...]

St. James parishioners asked to take dollar bill, turn it into act of generosity

http://www.mlive.com/news/bctimes/index.ssf?/base/news-13/1229012141305990.xml&coll=4
Bay City Times (Michigan)
Thursday, December 11, 2008
By PATTI BRANDT
pbrandt@bc-times.com | 894-9673
A dollar might not go too far these days, but at St. James Catholic Church one little greenback can mean a whole lot of generosity.
The church, 710 Columbus Ave., passed the collection basket at its Thanksgiving Day Mass, but instead of asking for the usual [...]