OUR IMPACT
How we provided care and created hope for those in need across the Diocese of Jefferson City in 2022.
In 2022 Catholic Charities served thousands across the Diocese of Jefferson City, accompanying them in mind, body, and spirit with compassionate social services – valuing each person we served by honoring their inherent dignity and respectfully caring for them, regardless of their faith, culture, or situation.
Whether our neighbors traveled across the globe or across the street to meet with our caseworkers, program coordinators, interns, or volunteers, the encounters experienced in 2022 have left a lasting and positive impact on our community.
Our work presents countless opportunities to help – from bringing a neighbor closer to food security with nutritious items in our Catholic Charities Food Pantry, to helping clients manage their health amidst chronic disease.
From welcoming a newcomer after long years of waiting in a refugee camp to family reunification amidst the challenging U.S. immigration processes. From responding to local disasters in rural communities to walking with new home buyers and people hoping to break the cycle of poverty with payday loan relief. From need to care, we journey with our clients in many service areas.
While the impact our programs have on our clients, their households, and social networks is readily evident – this work also profoundly impacts each of us who work at Catholic Charities. It also leaves an impression on many of you who give your time, your prayers, and your financial support to our agency.
With this report, we invite you to see the reach that your support and our work have had on the 38 counties we serve within our diocese.
While numbers can never fully express the depth of what we do at Catholic Charities, we’ve gathered a few that represent the effects of our work in the communities we serve. Behind each of these numbers are real people, real families, with real needs and experiences – people, families, and needs that we are blessed to serve with your support.
Experiences in the features below are shared with full knowledge and permission of our clients. To honor their stories and their trust, we have opted to change given names to pseudonyms, which are indicated with an asterisk.
We are very proud to have earned, again, the Candid Platinum Transparency rating. While 2022 financial reports are currently in progress, we invite you to review past years' reports by clicking here.
A Note from our bishop
Charity and mercy are central to our identity as Catholics. We strive to live out these virtues in our daily lives, in our parishes and through our Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri. With your support and your volunteerism, we are helping spread these works of charity across the Diocese of Jefferson City — a beautiful reflection of the Catholic spirit as we seek to walk in the footsteps of Christ.
– Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight, Bishop of Jefferson City
ACROSS OUR AGENCY
Active volunteers performed over 25,000 hours of service for and with us in 2022
Partnering agencies and organizations helped us reach those in need in 2022.
New donors joined us in our mission for the first time ever in 2022
COMMUNITY SERVICES
What does providing care and creating hope look like for someone seeking help from Catholic Charities? For two families in Sedalia, it was a year-long journey through addiction recovery rooted in professional care, community support, and prayer. Click on the feature below to read Carlos's* story.
COMMUNITY SERVICES
What does providing care and creating hope look like for someone seeking help from Catholic Charities? For two families in Sedalia, it was a year-long journey through addiction recovery rooted in professional care, community support, and prayer. Click on the feature below to read Carlos's* story.
Program highlights
Full-time staff members across three programs attended to CCUSA's annual Applied Institute for Disaster Excellence (AIDE) conference
Hispanic clients served with case management impacting over 150 household members.
*NEW* Financial Stability program housing our Payday Loan Relief services in partnership with Mid America Bank
Clients served by HUD-Certified Housing counselors helping with SAFHR applications, education, and assistance with home buying and renting.
COUNSELING SERVICES
Finding professional counseling services that honor and incorporate a client’s faith journey is a bit like finding buried treasure. Catholic Charities desires to make these services widely available to communities in their service areas. Click on the feature below to see how we're working on naming, and meeting, the need.
COUNSELING SERVICES
Finding professional counseling services that honor and incorporate a client’s faith journey is a bit like finding buried treasure. Catholic Charities desires to make these services widely available to communities in their service areas. Click on the feature below to see how we're working on naming, and meeting, the need.
Program highlights
Catholic Schools within social and emotional curricula provided by Catholic Charities staff, impacting over 100 students
hours of Mental health counseling services with 15 clients, including couples, individuals, and families
Active search for a Director of Counseling Services to reinvigorate program growth and capacity to see clients.
HEALTH & NUTRITION
Like many neighbors who come to the Catholic Charities Food Pantry, Leah* first visited for food – and found something more. With an atmosphere of welcome, a client-choice grocery style layout, and staff who are invested in building relationships, folks come for food and experience community. Read Leah's story by clicking on the feature below.
Program highlights
Households enrolled in the Catholic Charities Food Pantry, bringing 4,063 pantry members one step closer to food security
Pounds of food were brought home by pantry members, reallocating half a MILLION dollars in grocery money back into family budgets
Participants enrolled in the Mid-MO Self-Management of Blood Pressure (SMBP) program, working with CDC-trained facilitators at 6 sites
Individuals participated in nearly 50 workshops and educational seminars spanning topics in chronic disease management, healthy activity, and nutrition
FAMILY IMMIGRATION
When refugees and their families flee violence and war, they can't anticipate the nuances of navigating a complex immigration system alongside resettlement. That was the case for Uliana* and her family, who fled Ukraine after the Russian invasion and subsequent war. This year we’ve encountered many clients with stories like Uliana’s and remain committed to journeying alongside them. Click on the feature below to learn more.
Program highlights
Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representatives added to Family Immigration staff this year.
Immigration legal consultations provided by Catholic Charities staff in 2022
Increase in applications for status change received in our program as clients navigate the U.S. immigration system.
clients were provided with immigration legal services impacting over 1,600 people in households across the diocese.
Refugee Services
Navigating life with a medically fragile child is one thing – navigating those health challenges while rebuilding your life in an entirely new country is another. Thida* and Aung’s* story is one of compassion, care, and exceptional services to help meet an exceptional need. Click on the feature below to read Thida and Aung's story.
Program highlights
Individuals resettled from countries across the globe into welcoming and safe communities across mid-Missouri.
Students rebuilding their lives in the U.S. were enrolled in local schools
Newcomer clients found full-time employment on their journey towards self-sufficiency
Community Sponsors who have journeyed alongside newcomers to navigate the many challenges of resettlement together.
Parish Social Ministry
Our Charity and Mercy grants aim to fund projects and ministries in Catholic parishes across our diocese like St. Patrick’s Haven transitional housing – a collaborative effort of four local parishes led by St. Mary Catholic Church in Shelbina, Missouri – providing women and children a safe home while they await access to public housing. Click on the feature below to learn more.
Program highlights
Charity and Mercy grants were funded by the Parish Social Ministry Committee at Catholic Charities
Members of the diaconate community became the first class of Catholic Charities Parish Ambassadors
Members of the Catholic Charities board of directors were commissioned to form the Parish Social Ministry committee
Healthcare professionals in the Faith Community Nursing group gathered at Catholic Charities for quarterly meetings
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