The 2012 United Catholic
Appeal Launches
January 28 & 29

Flint, Michigan –Catholic social service agencies from across Genesee County are launching the 2012 United Catholic Appeal the weekend of January 28 and 29, through February 19, 2012. This appeal is an annual petition within the Catholic community dedicated to gathering support for agencies that serve our community’s most vulnerable citizens. Organizations benefitting from the appeal are: Catholic Charities of Genesee County, Catholic Outreach, St. Francis Prayer Center, St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center, and St. Michael Catholic Church Breakfast Program.

The agencies that comprise the United Catholic Appeal have been vital to our community, providing support and assistance to those who need food, clothing, shelter, transportation, counseling, spiritual development, and much more. It is not just Catholics who benefit from these programs; most who receive services are not Catholic.

Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties offers more than 35 health and human service programs for individuals and families of every faith. Programs include the North End, Holy Angels and South Flint Soup Kitchens, the Holy Angels Community Closet and Warming Center, the NESK Kids Summer Camp, the Mr. Rogers Garden Program, as well as counseling, substance use treatment, adoption and foster care services. Catholic Charities believes that families are the building blocks of all communities, and strives to provide services to all those in need.

Catholic Outreach continues to do the work begun by the late Sr. Claudia Burke, serving more than 9,000 adults and children last year. This agency has seen a tremendous increase in the number of people in need of food, baby formula, diapers, personal needs, help with evictions, and utility shut-offs, as well as transportation of sick children for much-needed medical treatment.

The St. Francis Prayer Center ministers to those who are often underserved and neglected by our society. Each year thousands find the spiritual direction, counseling, and solitude that are essential resources for individual and family healing and discovering the next step in their Gospel journey.

St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center welcomes single mothers and grandmothers who struggle with the everyday stresses of providing for their families. The center offers a 3-year program of life change, personal growth and development opportunities, self esteem building, basic life skills, and employment skills.

For more than 20 years, the St. Michael Community Breakfast program’s dedicated volunteers have prepared and served a hearty "breakfast" to members of the community. More than 100 individuals gather every Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. to share a meal in the Holy Angels Soup Kitchen (formerly the cafeteria of the St. Michael School Building).

With the support of our community, these organizations can continue to serve those in need. For more information on how you can help these agencies, please call Catholic Charities’ Communications /Fund Development at 810-232-9950 ext. 226/228, or email givehope@ccsgc.org.