Charity Appeal assists in language, health, social ministry programs

(Editor's note: Following is the first in a series of articles highlighting where and how the money raised by the Catholic Charity Fund Appeal helps people in need.)

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PROVIDENCE - Seventy-year-old Maria has been in the United States for 25 years. She became a citizen in 1983 after being here for only two years. But because of her age and her life circumstances, there has never been a real push for her to learn English. She has been attending the programs offered at Project Hope/Proyecto Esparanza for the past ten years.

"When I first met Maria, I was surprised to learn how long she had been attending ESL classes," said Richard Andrade, program supervisor of PH/PE. "Her English language skills were such that it made me think she was just a beginner. She joined our new ESL I morning class last June, and made such progress that she was able to enroll in our ESL II class in January. Truly, her overall progress is outstanding! Today, she is actually tutoring others and is able to assist the beginners with the basics. Maria demonstrates the real success of our ESL program."

Maria's story is just one of the many successes achieved person-by-person through diocesan organizations dedicated to assisting Rhode Island communities. Donations to Catholic Charity Fund Appeal and weekend Mass collections have direct impact on programs like Project Hope/Proyecto Esparanza and on people like Maria.

As director, Andrade collaborates with the parishes of Blackstone Valley to aid parishes and priests in their social ministry missions. They offer a wide variety of assistance, regardless of religious affiliation. PH/PE services include assistance with basic needs such as food, rent, and prescriptions; access to the Keep the Heat On assistance program; immigration information and ESL classes, assistance, and representation; applications for the Cabrini Fund child care scholarship program; and preparation of income taxes for low-income individuals and families. It is here that people like Maria can become an active participant in both community and state.

Andrade's work doesn't end with that one project, however. He is also deeply involved with the Interfaith Community Dire Emergency Fund, established in 1978 by a group of clergy in response to a heating crisis in which community members who couldn't afford to heat their homes looked to the church. The clergy decided to pool their resources. The result: Today, the Interfaith Community Dire Emergency Fund helps Rhode Islanders in need of assistance with rent, heat, utilities, and prescriptions. The Diocese of Providence, which underwrites 100 percnt of the ICDEF's costs, manages this association. Every penny collected for this organization goes directly to the clients in need.

And if that isn't enough, Andrade is also involved with is the AIDS/HIV Ministry. The staff works with those of all faiths who are afflicted with AIDS/HIV, as well as with those directly affected by someone with the virus. Members of this ministry have been invited to many schools to speak, and they also offer a list of rabbis, priests, pastors and other clergy who are willing to help in some way. Pastoral care, speakers, research materials, outreach, training, and support are offered through this organization.

These three organizations are just a few of the many in Rhode Island that thrive because of the generous donations received from the Catholic Charities Fund Appeal. Without such support, countless numbers of families would be homeless and suffering.

For more information regarding any of these organizations, please contact Rick Andrade at one of the following:

Interfaith Community Dire Emergency Fund:

401-421-7833 x107

randrade@dioceseofprovidence.org

AIDS/HIV Ministry:

401-421-7833 x126

randrade@dioceseofprovidence.org

Project Hope/Proyecto Esparanza:

401-728-0515

(This article originally appeared in The Providence Journal)