by Kaitlin Jackson
Pastor James Giles, president and CEO of Back to Basics Ministries Inc., makes a call for support during the May 30 rally on Buffalo’s East Side.
With one month to go until the conclusion of the 2019 Appeal which supports Catholic Charities of Buffalo, ministry and community leaders representing Buffalo’s East Side came together to rally support to help meet this year’s goal of $11 million by June 30.
“Catholic Charities continues to have a tremendous impact on the most underserved on Buffalo’s East Side, going above and beyond from providing emergency assistance to a mother who is in danger of losing her house to a young man looking for workforce training,” said Pastor James E. Giles, Back to Basics Outreach Ministries. “This is a human services organization that provides great benefit not only to the East Side, but throughout Western New York. It’s critical that the 2019 Appeal reaches its goal – so Catholic Charities can continue to help those who need it most.”
All Appeal funds raised are dedicated to funding the 70 programs and services Catholic Charities offers across Western New York, and the programs and ministries of the Fund for the Faith. Over the past year, more than 20,000 lives on the East Side were impacted, including nearly 12,000 children under the age of 18 who have received support through various Catholic Charities programs, including multisystemic therapy, school based programs that address non-academic barriers to learning, mental health services, emergency assistance and hunger relief. Catholic Charities also provides mental health counseling programs, emergency assistance, parenting programs and workforce and education services to adults.
“Community leaders such as Pastor Giles are some of our biggest champions as they see firsthand the impact that Catholic Charities is having on the most vulnerable in their community, as we assist those in need find hope and help when they feel they have nowhere else to turn,” said Dennis C. Walczyk, president & CEO, Catholic Charities. “We thank Pastor Giles and the East Side community for coming together to help us on our final push towards our 2019 Appeal goal.”
With one month to go, $8,693,373, representing 79% of this year’s $11 million goal, has been raised for this year’s annual Appeal. To make a donation to the 2019 Appeal, contact Catholic Charities at 716-218-1400 or visit ccwny.org.
