An Act of Kindness Goes a Long Way!   As Christmas draws near, my prayers are drawn ever closer to the contemporary and timeless message delivered by the angels on that first Christmas, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14). “Peace on Earth.” On that first Christmas, Jesus came to bring peace to our world, to our hearts, to our neighbors.   Suggested offerings that can help bring “Peace on Earth” to vulnerable families in need: • $1,000 keeps a family struggling to live on unemployment benefits secure in their home. • $500 provides five counseling sessions for an uninsured mom suffering from depression. • $250 buys dinner for 10 shelter residents for a week. • $100 provides free, confidential services for individuals affected by an unexpected pregnancy. • $75 purchases one monthly food package for a family enrolled in a food cooperative. • $50 allows a shelter graduate to buy new sheets and towels for their new home • $25 provides three days of food for a hungry household in crisis Click here to make a donation online and designate your gift to a specific ministry. Or send a check to Catholic Charities, 2601 W. 4th St, Wilm., DE 19805. Please note your gift designation on the memo line of your check. May the blessings of the newborn Savior and the message of the angels, “Peace on Earth” be with you this Christmas and throughout the New Year.

Richelle A. Vible Executive Director P.S. If you can’t make a financial donation this year, consider volunteering. You can Benefit clients by conducting a food or diaper drive. We also welcome car and other vehicle donations. For more information about these projects, please visit www.cdow.org/charities or call 302-655-9624.

Appointments Still Available for Energy Assistance

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered in Delaware by Catholic Charities, continues to accept applications for the current heating season. This federally funded program assists low-income Delawareans with heating bills through direct payments to home energy suppliers. The LIHEAP benefit is based on a household's income, size, and type of fuel. In order to apply, you must call the Catholic Charities office closest to you and schedule an appointment. You must reapply each year for the benefit. If you are eligible for LIHEAP, you also may qualify for other programs that require LIHEAP eligibility. For example, if your home is not as energy efficient as it could be, you may qualify for home weatherization improvements through the Delaware Weatherization Assistance Program, administered by Catholic Charities in Kent and Sussex Counties.   Click here for more information about Energy Assistance.

Help Catholic Charities’ Cause with your Vehicle Donation

The end of 2020 is near and it's a great time to donate your IRS tax-deductible cars, trucks, boats, RVs and motorcycles, regardless of their condition or registration status. We happily accept donations of motor vehicles to support our programs. Donors can donate with no cost to them. Catholic Charities will arrange for vehicle pickup, if necessary, and provide the donor with an IRS tax receipt for their records. Click here to arrange for vehicle pickup, or call 1-844-940-GIVE.

Year-End Bonus From Your Biggest Donors? Act Now...this ends on Dec 31, 2020

There is a little known provision in the CARES Act that allows donors who itemize their taxes to deduct cash contributions to offset 100% of their income. Normally, this income tax charitable deduction for cash gifts is limited to 60% of income. Click here for more information from the Delaware Community Foundation.

Tax Credits Available Through the Neighborhood Assistance Act

Tax credits are still available for qualified donations through the Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA). The program encourages businesses and individuals who pay Delaware state income taxes to invest in programs serving impoverished neighborhoods or serving low- and moderate-income families. Donations made to each of these three Catholic Charities programs will qualify a donor for 2020 tax credits: Basic Needs, Bayard House, and Casa San Francisco. Donors must meet the minimum contribution amounts: $2,500 for individuals, and $10,000 for business. In exchange for a qualified contribution, the NAA provides state tax credits equal to 50% of the investment. Credits are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information on the NAA Program, please call the Catholic Charities Community Relations office at 302-655-9634.

Have a Blessed Holiday Season!

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 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.

Catholic Charities Services Are Open! Please visit our website for the latest information on how to access services.

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