Catherine McAuley Center received a First Federal Charitable Foundation grant to help support the personnel expenses and general operating costs for its Catherine McAuley House in Plymouth, the organization’s emergency shelter residence for women and children experiencing homelessness in Luzerne County.
Since 1989, the Catherine McAuley House has provided emergency shelter and supportive services for homeless women and children in Luzerne County. The Catherine McAuley Center’s primary sources of unrestricted income are generally derived from special events and fundraisers, which were all canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as donations.
Jenny Blanchard, development coordinator for the Catherine McAuley Center, said, “We are deeply grateful for this generous grant award, particularly during such a stressful time. To address public health concerns during the COVID-19 crisis, the Catherine McAuley Center has been compelled to cancel special events and postpone fundraising appeals that normally generate significant income. At the same time, the demand for emergency shelter has not diminished and continues to grow. The economic impact of COVID-19 in Luzerne County has made it increasingly difficult for our clients to secure and sustain employment. The generous support of First Federal Charitable Foundation will help us to provide stable housing and supportive services for families struggling with homelessness in Luzerne County.”
The Catherine McAuley House provides temporary housing for women and their children who are in a crisis which leaves them homeless. Its Emergency Shelter Program helps these families transition from homelessness to economic independence and self-sufficiency. Additionally, these families need supportive services that go beyond a physical house, including life skills training; budgeting and financial literacy; parenting and child safety; and access to health care, transportation, childcare, school and educational services and employment and training opportunities.
These supportive services and intensive case managements assists these women and children in overcoming the trauma of homelessness and stable housing for families experiencing homelessness in Luzerne County helps to mitigate the adverse effects of homelessness on the local community.
The First Federal Charitable Foundation was established to support worthwhile community causes. It strives to nurture nonprofit institutions and programs that will effectively serve those in need from the community, empower nonprofit institutions and programs that will expand their presence in services to the area, and promote opportunities for new nonprofit institutions and programs that will serve the unserved.
Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) IRS designation that are located in Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon and Columbia counties are eligible to apply. Any organization whose headquarters is in another county but services either Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon or Columbia counties may apply for a grant to be used in one of those counties.