Dear friend,

I remember my very first event as Youth and Family Programs Manager at Catholic Charities years ago. Can I tell you about it? 

Back to School prep used to happen in the dining hall of the stuffy old Family Support Center. This was the bygone era when the dining hall was more of a bustling multipurpose room where, at any one moment, numerous activities could be packed into the space. Pulling off Back to School was truly something. Imagine helping anywhere from 50 to 80 children all in one room. It could get loud in this little “one room school house,” but we still pulled off miracles.

How far we have come... 

When the community joined hands to build Caritas Center, we could truly begin to dream bigger. This year, I am seeing those dreams come to life as we prepare our kids for another school year. Children have the space they need to grow, healthcare is just one elevator ride away, and our housing resource partners are eager to bring all they have to offer (don’t miss the pictures below!). 

Caritas Center is open, but we need your help more than ever to help these kids succeed. 
Even with this incredible new building, we know our kids will still face unimaginable hurdles embarking on their education without a home. Every day without stable housing could set a child back. While these parents’ days are busy with house hunting and other stability services, their kids count on you, me, and all of us at Catholic Charities to help guide them along their journey.

Will you chip in to support children in their learning and development? 

  • $1,000 can help a family put down their rental deposit 
  • $500 can provide a month of after-school support for a child 
  • $250 can fill a child’s backpack for an entire semester and cover everything in-between

Any amount makes a difference. Every gift adds up to accomplish something incredible.  

All it takes is one positive experience to change the course of a child’s life. I see this happen every day through the work you make possible at Caritas Center. On behalf of all the kids, moms, and dads at Catholic Charities, I thank you for making dreams come true.  

With love for all, 

Toni Abraham | Youth and Family Services Program Manager 

PS - A monthly recurring gift of $41.66 for a year or more can make a lasting difference in the lives of the children we serve. Can you help?
Catholic Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization. Our tax ID is 94-2479393. Prefer to mail a check? Please make your check out to "Catholic Charities" and mail it to PO Box 4900, Santa Rosa, CA 95402. 
Recently at the Caritas Family Center...
The Children's Museum of Sonoma County's mobile van visited Caritas Center to get creative with families! Using recycled materials, parents had a chance to make art with their children. What a joy to see moms and dads having a moment of peace to create something special together. Thanks, CMOSC, for supporting our families!
Three cheers for the children who participated in Luther Burbank Center’s (LBC) visiting program. Once a week since February, kids have been gathering at Caritas Center to create their very own play. This partnership with Catholic Charities is a part of the LBC’s Creative Arts for Resilience and Expression (CARE) program at Caritas Center to provide arts experiences for youth from high-risk environments.  
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa | srcharities.org