Catholic Charities responding to address people’s basic needs
CHARLOTTE — Western North Carolina has not been spared from the economic downturn caused by COVID-19. After the pandemic forced many businesses to close in mid-March, the state’s unemployment rate shot up from 4.3 to 12.9 percent – and many communities within the Diocese of Charlotte were hit even harder.
North Carolina’s jobless numbers for June were to be released July 17, but even if the economy shows signs of rejuvenation, thousands of people across the diocese continue to suffer the consequences: lost wages, food insecurity and the inability to pay their rent or mortgage bills.
Jobs in industries that have typically thrived in the region – hospitality and tourism, restaurants, trade, construction – have evaporated.
Asheville, whose economy is heavily dependent on tourism and leisure activities, had an unemployment rate of 16.1 percent in May – 5 percentage points higher than the national average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Hickory region, which includes Lenoir and Morganton, is not much better at 15 percent, and unemployment in the Greensboro and High Point areas sits at 14.5 percent.
Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte has been responding to the resulting rise in demand for basic assistance during the pandemic – continuing to operate its three food pantries and providing emergency assistance for rent and utilities. The agency is even handing out free face masks to anyone who needs them, thanks to a donation from Catholic Charities USA.
Your help is needed now more than ever, the agency says. Catholic Charities’ three food pantries in Asheville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem, in particular, rely heavily on regular donations to keep operating. Both food and non-food items are needed for distribution each week.
Support has been coming in the form of individual and parish-wide efforts.
“We are blessed to have close relationships with local parishes which so generously provide food and nonperishable donations each month, either with direct donations or through a larger drive at the church,” says Dr. Gerard Carter, Catholic Charities’ executive director. “These parish partnerships are always deeply appreciated but even more so when many people must rely upon outside assistance during this difficult time.”
Many times it is more convenient for parishioners to participate in church collections rather than drive to the Diocesan Pastoral Center or local Catholic Charities office to drop off donations, agency officials note, so at right is a suggested list of both food and non-food items that are commonly needed.
Since March, Catholic Charities has provided 199,936 pounds of food – an increase of 46,726 pounds over the prior quarter – to 4,439 people at its three food pantries, including 2,073 children and 389 seniors. The agency has also distributed over $40,000 in housing and utility bill assistance with an additional $92,000 distributed specifically to homeless veterans and their families.
They anticipate the need for financial assistance (rent and utilities) to increase over the next few months and their hope is to be able to keep responding to those requests.
Meanwhile, people have expressed their appreciation that Catholic Charities has been there for them in their time of need:
“This is such a blessing! It is so much food that I won’t need to even try to go to the store anytime soon. Thank you so much! This is a godsend for my family.”
“Thank you so much for all this food! And, thank you for the face masks also. We need them.”
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor
Donate now to help
To help with COVID-19 recovery efforts, please consider making a secure financial donation through Catholic Charities’ website, www.ccdoc.org/donate, or mailing your donation to: Catholic Charities Central Processing, 1123 S Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203.
Donate food and other items
For parishioners within easy distance of Catholic Charities’ food pantries in Asheville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem, consider organizing a food drive at your church or drop off donations directly at the food pantry. Please call ahead, as office hours and staffing may vary. Contact Catholic Charities directly via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call: Asheville at 828-255-0146; Charlotte at 704-370-3262; or Winston-Salem at 336-727-0705.
Items being pre-packed and distributed to individuals include:
- hot and cold cereal
- jelly
- tuna
- canned pasta/dry pasta
- rice
- pasta sauce/tomato sauce
- dried beans/canned beans
- canned fruit
- canned vegetables
- peanut butter
- flour/sugar
- cooking oil
- kid-friendly snacks
- easy-to-prepare meals/dried meals
- Maseca corn flour
- laundry detergent
- bar soap
- toiletries
- toothpaste
- toilet paper
- paper towels
- diapers and wipes
Need help?
To find out about medical resources, changes to government benefits and food pantries near you, call 2-1-1 to find up-to-date information on available community services.