Food Distribution Sites Expand
LAKE CHARLES -- Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana now provides food distribution to registered individuals and families at three locations within the Diocese of Lake Charles. The food distribution schedule at Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana, 1225 Second Street location for the remainder of 2018 and through June 2019 is as follows:
For registered clients whose last name begins with A through L, food distribution will take place at 1225 Second Street in Lake Charles on Friday, October 12; Friday, November 9; Friday, December 14; Friday, January 11; Friday, February 15; Friday, March 15; Thursday, April 11; Friday, May 10; and Friday, June 14.
Those registered clients whose last name begins with M through Z, distribution will be at 1225 Second Street, on Friday, October 19; Friday, November 16; Thursday, December 20; Friday, January 18; Friday, February 22; Friday, March 22; Friday, April 12; Friday, May 17; and Friday, June 21.
The dates for distribution at the Upper Cameron Food Bank, located at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church, 11054 Highway 384, in Big Lake are on the Wednesdays of October 17, November 14, December 19, January 16, February 13, March 13, April 17, May 15, and June 19.
A new location has been opened in lower Cameron Parish at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Creole,5250 West Creole Highway. Distribution there will take place on the first Friday of each month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. – October 5, November 2, December 7, January 4, February 1, March 1, April 5, May 3, and June 7.
Catholic Charities continues to follow the example of Jesus, serving the communities and neighbors that need help the most. Its strategic priority is to collaborate with parishes to identify those in each community facing hardship and respond with the appropriate services that are lacking.
Contributions to the Return to the Lord Capital Campaign in favor of Catholic Charities have made it possible to add services to lower Camron Parish with movement to put plans in place for other areas of the Diocese of Lake Charles.
The goal in Return to the Lord was to raise $800,000 to enhance its Diocesan Social Ministry Program to offer education on the services that are available in order to connect the right services to those who qualify.
Included in that was to remodel warehouses to increase storage capacity for disaster relief services and outreach; purchase new refrigeration equipment to increase cold storage capacity; upgrade vehicles to use as mobile food banks to better serve parishes and create an endowment to help sustain operations and increase staff.
Funding for Catholic Charities is provided in a number of ways, 32 percent from diocesan collections and contributions, 22 percent from private donations, 20 percent from general grants, 11 percent from grants that can only be used for residents in Calcasieu Parish, four percent from the annual Jazz Brunch fundraiser; and 11 percent from grants provided specifically to aid individuals in Allen, Beauregard, Cameron and Jefferson Davis parishes.
Those wishing to register or recertify to receive food baskets must bring the following items to receive food:
• Picture ID for each adult in the household;
• Social Security card for each person in the household;
• Proof of one month's income for the Household: Food Stamp Letter, SSI, TANI, Social Security, Child Support Letter, Retirement, Unemployment, Veterans Benefits, Payroll Checks;
• Proof of Residency- a utility bill or copy of current lease and rent receipt.
For further information, call Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana at 337- 439-7436.
