Catholic Charities Responds to the Opioid Crisis with Appeal Follow Up and $100,000 Challenge Grant

All 185 parishes in the Diocese of Cleveland will come together this weekend to support the expansion of Catholic Charities’ addiction treatment services in Northeast Ohio. This Catholic Charities’ Follow Up Appeal is bolstered by a generous Challenge Grant, which will match all new, increased or additional gifts to the Appeal, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000. Donations can be made through envelopes provided at all area Catholic churches this weekend or through the online giving portal at www.CatholicCommunity.org/Challenge.

Catholic Charities has a long history of implementing successful treatment programs in Cuyahoga County, including intensive residential treatment programs at Matt Talbot for Recovering Men and Matt Talbot for Women. Catholic Charities will utilize their expertise to expand treatment services to all other seven counties of the Diocese of Cleveland. Catholic Charities President and CEO, Patrick Gareau, states: “Given the scope of the opioid epidemic, it is imperative that we create more treatment options, allow for easier access and become restorative agents in the communities within our Diocese.”

“Catholic Charities has always reached out with compassion and care, finding themselves at the frontline of society’s most pressing needs,” says Bishop Nelson Perez. “Opioid addiction is one of the greatest health crises of our time. Your generosity to this Follow up Appeal will allow Catholic Charities to provide services that will restore health and hope to our community.”

Catholic Charities’ expanded addiction programs would include varying layers of treatment options for people before and after inpatient care, allowing recovering people the continuum of services needed to sustain their sobriety and develop sober living skills. Families of those impacted by addiction would also have access to programs and services that seek to strengthen the family, which suffers from the ripple effects of addiction.

The total goal for the 2018 Catholic Charities Annual Appeal, which kicked off in February, is $12.5 million to support the health and human services delivered in the eight counties of the Diocese for people who are elderly and infirmed, individuals who are hungry and homeless, children and families at risk, and children and adults with disabilities. Last year’s Catholic Charities Annual Appeal exceeded its goal of $12 million and raised over $14.1 million, the most in recent history.

Catholic Charities assists nearly 400,000 people in need annually throughout the eight-county Catholic Diocese of Cleveland with more than 150 programs and services available at 60 sites. Donations can be made securely online at www.CatholicCommunity.org/Challenge or by calling 216-696-6525 ext. 1910.