Dear Friends,
As we journey through this Lenten season, I am inspired by the generosity and commitment of those who give their time in service to others. We are grateful that our program attracts volunteer groups from across the country. Recently, students from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee's Catholic Newman Center and their chaplain, Fr. Andrew Phay, were in town to help us serve our neighbors in need.
We are also celebrating the opening of our Cookeville Family Resource Center. Our successful expansion into four counties has garnered national attention. After visiting our Maury County location recently, Catholic Charities USA leadership invited us to present at their annual conference in October to share our model for providing essential services to rural communities that greatly need resources. Read more about the Cookeville center here.
While we celebrate our successes, we face significant challenges. Recent federal funding cuts are straining our capacity to provide vital services. Virtually all of the 26,000 neighbors we serve are affected by layoffs and cuts to basic needs funding, such as food resources, health care, and much more.
For decades, Catholic Charities has helped both native-born citizens and those legally admitted to the U.S. to find stability—providing housing assistance, job training, and connections to community support. Now, many of our neighbors face uncertainty. Your support is more important than ever.
Thank you to The Tennessean for shedding light on our role in these critical issues—read more here—and to Nashville’s NewsChannel5 Nashville for illuminating the impact on those in need. Watch their report here.
Your prayers, generosity, and advocacy change lives every day. Thank you to all people of goodwill for joining us and being the hands and feet of Christ.
