"The Thought of Being Homeless... with 7 children"

Imagine receiving a 3-day notice to vacate when you're the parents of 7 children aged 11 and younger. That happened to one of our neighbors after they were unable to pay rent in April and promptly received a 3-day notice to pay or leave.

The family was surviving on CalFresh while both parents, who had recently lost their jobs, sought help. Thankfully they reached out to Catholic Charities where Dora, one of our highly experienced housing supervisors, knew what to do. She secured rent that covered April and part of May to stabilize the family while both parents looked for work.

The smiles of these three youngest sisters are worth so much, and here is what Mom had to say:

"OMG!!! Thank you! It was the positivity, hopes & prayers that God did answer. I'm in shock! Thank you for making it happen," wrote the mother whose burden of worry had been lifted.

Even better, the father, a security guard, has been rehired after an initial layoff.

With your support, we are able to help our neighbors with past due rent and mortgage assistance, move in costs, payment of delinquent utility bills, referrals to other services, and advocacy. In 2024, Catholic Charities East Bay provided more than $500,000 in financial assistance - support that led to stable housing, improved health and well-being, and reduced homelessness.

Citizenship Matters

Florencio recently visited Catholic Charities Oakland filled with joy upon achieving US citizenship. The preparation for his citizenship test was all the more difficult because his hearing in one ear is compromised and the exam is both written and oral. It was vital that he be able to clearly hear the questions asked. Teresa, our Immigration Counselor, worked with him practicing all 100 questions he could potentially be asked. Her help increased his confidence, and he passed with flying colors. Congratulations Florencio and much appreciation to Teresa.

Join us May 15 for our next Coffee on the Quarter, which brings supporters together with Catholic Charities team members who are on the front line. On May 15, we'll take a deep dive into Mental Health and Violence Prevention services, which continue to address a growing community need. This event takes place at our Oakland headquarters, 433 Jefferson Street at 5^th Street, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Please register by May 9.

Catholic Charities East Bay's 40^th Annual Golf Classic took place at Blackhawk County Club on Monday, April 28. 120 golfers showed up to tackle Blackhawk's famed Lakeside course. The weather could not have been better, with barely a breeze and gentle warmth. The foursomes enjoyed a great day on the course with friendship and camaraderie. Mario Alioto, Catholic Charities East Bay's Chief Executive Officer, opened and closed the day with well wishes and gratitude to all the sponsors, supporters, volunteers, and Presenting Sponsor, Wilcox Family Foundation. Mario expressed gratitude for a beautiful day on a wonderful course, with a reminder to keep in mind our neighbors who are helped by Catholic Charities. The event was made possible by the dedicated work of the Golf Planning Committee, chaired by Stephanie Sloane of Sloane Consulting Group. Members also include Silver Sponsor Stephen Courtney, Board Chair Jim Fiedler, Michael Bauman, and Catholic Charities team members.

In April, we celebrated all of our volunteers at a series of events held across our offices. In Oakland, volunteers and team members met for breakfast. Carson Yu, long time housing volunteer, received a certificate from Catholic Charities USA for his services.

A big thank you to all Catholic Charities East Bay volunteers who contribute to our mission year-round.

We're actively searching for an Annual Fund Manager, Social Media Coordinator and a Donor Engagement and Database Coordinator Please visit our Careers page at cceb.org.