 |
| 2002-2003 Annual Report |
 Cardinal Roger M. Mahony Archbishop of Los Angeles |
|||
 Dear Friends,For 84 years, Catholic Charities has sought to enhance the wellbeing of individuals and families living in the Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The agency’s deep roots in the areas it serves allow it to identify crucial needs specific to the locality and to develop programs and services tailored to the requirements of the diverse communities which make up the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Last year, over 220,000 individuals and families came to Catholic Charities for food, shelter, compassion and support to help them through difficult times. Services, available regardless of the client’s race, ethnicity, income, gender or religious belief, are offered in keeping with the Mission of Catholic Charities to provide human services, empower individuals, work for positive social change and foster social justice. Throughout the cities and towns, urban and rural areas of the tri-county region, Catholic Charities maintains a wide range of comprehensive programs and services. For example, St. Margaret’s Center in Lennox supplies lunches, shelter vouchers, case management and other services to 150 homeless persons each week. Families come to Mahar House in Wilmington to take advantage of the supportive services offered by the Family Development Network. St. Mary’s and St. Catherine’s Centers, in Central and South Los Angeles, respectively, provide emergency food and access to survival-oriented services to people who earn less than $10,000 per year for a family of four. Emergency shelter for the homeless, transitional housing, case management, basic skills training and job referrals are available to residents at the Lancaster Community Shelter. At Lompoc Community Services, funds are allocated to help low-income individuals make repairs to their homes. From its base in Camarillo, the Older Adult Services and Intervention Services Program (OASIS) extends a variety of assistance to the frail elderly in Ventura County. As a community partner of the Pomona Access to Social Services, Catholic Charities focuses on housing placement assistance for residents of the San Gabriel Valley. I am grateful to you for your commitment to helping the poor in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles through your support of Catholic Charities. Asking the Lord’s blessing upon you, and with every best wish I am. Sincerely yours in Christ,  His Eminence Cardinal Roger Mahony Archbishop of Los Angeles |
|||
|
 If you would like a copy of this page as it appears in print, click here to download. The file can be viewed and printed from your desktop with Adobe Acrobat Reader. |