Together We Can Change Hunger & Homelessness

Join Catholic Charities in Honoring

National Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week

November 12 – 20

As Thanksgiving approaches, many people in America reflect on the reasons for which they are thankful. The

holiday is a wonderful time to show one’s appreciation by donating time, attention and resources to those

who are less fortunate.

Catholic Charities combats hunger through our Food Assistance Programs, providing low-income families with monthly food distributions, and offering emergency food packages to households that find themselves in crisis. On average, over 700 food packages, totaling over 10,000 pounds of food, are distributed each month throughout Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore.



Each year, Catholic Charities Shelter Services combats homelessness by providing a temporary home to approximately 130 men, women, and newborns through our two shelters, our adult shelter Casa San Francisco and our residential maternity program, Bayard House. Both programs provide accommodations and three daily meals as well as case management support to help each resident to obtain income, find affordable housing options, and secure permanent housing. Bayard House residents also receive guidance in prenatal, postnatal, and infant care as well as parenting education.

Catholic Charities Rapid Rehousing Service of our Basic Needs Program helps to reestablish permanent

residences for persons who have experienced a recent period of homelessness, providing them with financial

assistance and case management expertise to avoid future problems. The Homeless Prevention Service works

with clients who are at risk of losing housing because of a financial disruption. Both are available to clients

throughout Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore.



"Every person deserves to live without worrying whether they will have food

on their plate or a roof over their head. Far too many people are forced to make

hard choices between paying for food, housing and other critical expenses."

- Fritz Jones, Executive Director of Catholic Charities

Help Provide for Hungry Families in Our Community

As we give thanks for our blessings, please consider making a donation to those who are in need and are working hard to gain those blessings for themselves.



Click here to make an online donation. Designate your gift to Basic Needs Services, Bayard House, Casa San Francisco or Food Assistance. To pay by check, send to: Catholic Charities, 2601 W 4th Street, Wilmington, DE 19805. Please note Basic Needs Services on the memo line.

Support Your Community...Register Today!

The Bishop's 5K Run/Walk

November 19, 2022 • 9:00 am

Saint Mark's High School

2501 Pike Creek Road, Wilmington, DE 19808

The Bishop’s 5K not only raises much needed funds for Catholic Charities, it also raises awareness of the work we do in our community.

For more information, contact Andrea Rotsch at arotsch@cdow.org or call 302-573-3121.

Thank You 2022 Bishop's 5K Sponsors!

Please join us for an evening filled with beautiful music to support those in need in our community.

The sights and sounds of Christmas come alive in Delaware as we welcome the Stars of Carnegie Hall! The New York Tenors, Andy Cooney, Christopher Macchio & Daniel Rodriguez, will be here one night only! It's sure to be a night that will bring the Spirit and Magic of Christmas into all of your hearts! 

Click here to view the New York Tenors on YouTube.

Please consider donating new or gently-worn, warm clothing, such as: coats, hats, gloves, socks, etc. Donations may be dropped of to any of our locations. A collection bin will also be provided at the concert location. The proceeds from this concert will benefit Catholic Charities as we focus on giving and caring for those affected by hunger and homelessness.

Sunday, December 11, 2022 • 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Salesianum High School Auditorium

1801 N Broom Street, Wilmington, DE 19802

$45 • All Seats Reserved

Buy tickets online or call 302-573-3120

VIP Post Show Reception Tickets $100

Includes a meet and greet with the NY Tenors and Bishop Koenig, cocktails & hors d'oeuvres.

For questions or more info, please contact Andrea Rotsch at 302-573-3120 or arotsch@cdow.org.

Click here to download the event flyer.

Thank You Sponsors!

Catholic Charities' Bayard House

Warm Welcome to Stacy Brooks

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

This scripture is one of my favorites. It reminds me that God is thinking of me and looking out for me and for that, I am so grateful. 

I was born and raised in Delaware. When I first started working as a counselor in the Summer Youth Employment program, I knew my passion was to help people. I have a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s in Human Service Administration.

I worked in public housing agencies for 15 years and was previously employed with Catholic Charities, working with the 9-12 year old boys’ group home when it first opened. I am thrilled with the opportunity to work at the Catholic Charities Bayard House. I visited the Bayard House as a college student and was very impressed by their services. Now, my passion for working with others has come full circle. I look forward to making a difference in others lives as the Bayard House Program Manager.

Click here to learn more about the Catholic Charities Bayard House.

Joanne is motivated by the stories of people she meets. She has been blessed to hear many stories in the last few years. A Delaware native, her husband is of Mexican descent. As Joanne listened to the news about the border, she came to understand that some of what she heard did not align with her personal experience. She decided to dig deeper.

She began to volunteer with a group called Women of Welcome and also worked for them for a year. This group was interested in ways to reach out in faith and action to those in need. In 2019, she traveled with Women of Welcome to the Texas-Mexico border to talk with everyone she could: immigrants, border patrol officers, townspeople, legislators, and volunteers. It was an affirmation of her call to serve.

Joanne enrolled in a certificate program at Villanova University for persons who wish to serve those facing issues of immigration. She served an internship with La Esperanza to build awareness. Joanne continues to study in the Villanova program even as she begins her ministry with Catholic Charities.

Her deep desire in this work is to accompany others in whatever way their immigrant experience requires. “Every person lives a different experience. I feel called to listen and to hear their joys and struggles. I hope to help them meet their goals in immigration.”

Click here to learn more about Catholic Charities Immigration Services.

Buy a Bouquet During the Month December

To Benefit Casa San Francisco Emergency Food Pantry

Catholic Charities been selected by The Giant Food Bloomin’ 4 Good Program to benefit from the sale of specially marked $12.99 Bloomin’ 4 Good bouquets. Catholic Charities will receive a $1 donation from each purchase of a bouquet with the purple tag. This is a great way to broaden awareness in the local community and raise donations for our organization to support our community better. 

Where can I buy the Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet?

Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquets are available at all Giant Food locations. Look for the bouquets with the purple hanging tag in the floral section of the store. If you can’t find them, just ask a staff member where they are. They’ll be happy to show you!

Does only a certain type of floral bouquet benefit local nonprofits?

Yes, floral bouquets which benefit the selected nonprofit organization of the month are indicated by a purple hanging tag. The bouquets are “grower’s choice,” so the assortment of seasonal flowers will vary.

What is the Bloomin’ 4 Good Program?

Each time a shopper purchases the Bloomin’ 4 Good Bouquet with the purple hanging tag, $1 is donated to a local nonprofit organization selected to benefit for the month. Every bouquet sold works to give back across the local communities served by Giant Food.

To learn more about this program, please visit giantfood.2givelocal.com. 

Delaware’s Continuum of Care is a community based collaborative that ensures a responsive, fair, and just approach to addressing homelessness, and strives to achieve housing for all.

Housing Rights Matter:

Delaware’s Continuum of Care Sponsors Town Hall

Catholic Charities was pleased to participate in a recent Town Hall to address Housing Instability and Racial Injustice. Led by Catholic Charities Senior Director, Kimberly Ellis, the panel was comprised of local business, government and non-profit leaders, including Sarah McBride, Sharea Moore, Marie Pinckney, Matt Meyer and Sherry Dorsey Walker.

The goal was to address the complex and enduring issue of housing insufficiency and inequality which has plagued our community. According to Kim Ellis, “We are working toward creating a pathway to housing that is fair and equitable, as affordable housing is crucial to strengthening, individuals, families and communities.”

For more information, please contact Kimberly Ellis, Senior Program Manager, Catholic Charities Basic Needs Services at kellis@ccwilm.org.

Save the Date! April 27, 2023

Catholic Charities Annual Tribute Dinner

Each year, Catholic Charities honors outstanding individuals who have demonstrated a deep commitment to addressing the well-being of our communities’ most vulnerable – our own mission.

We bestow upon these remarkable persons the Msgr. Thomas J. Reese Award, created in 1989 in memory of Msgr. Reese, a community activist and longtime director of Catholic Social Services, the forerunner of Catholic Charities.

For more info, contact Andrea Rotsch at arotsch@cdow.org or call 302-573-3120.

Many Thanks to Our Supporters & Partners!

Catholic Charities serves the most vulnerable in Delaware and the 

Eastern Shore of Maryland, regardless of religion, race, or ability to pay.

For more information about Catholic Charities, click here.

To make a donation to Catholic Charities, click here.

To learn about becoming a Volunteer, click here.

To learn about employment opportunities, click here.

To follow us on Facebook, click here.

Catholic Charities Mission

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington exists to help fulfill the Christian duty to love and serve God's people. Our mission is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The universal and local Church proclaims the Gospel and teaches the recognition of the dignity and sacredness of each human life and the belief that we are called to share our resources with the most vulnerable among us.

It is the mission of Catholic Charities to address human suffering and to promote and restore the well-being of people and society by:

• Providing, as a primary focus, caring service to families and persons in need;
• Coming together with members of the community to become informed about and to take action on critical social issues; and,
• Advocating publicly for social policies which enhance human dignity and safeguard basic human rights.