Date Posted: 08.29.2024 Volunteers feed more than a million ORLANDO | A sea of white hairnets covered much of the Central Florida Fairgrounds hall Aug. 24, 2024, as more than 2,000 volunteers prepared meals for the hungry. Catholic Charities of Central Florida staff and volunteers joined Light Orlando in its annual event.Borne from the food insufficiency exacerbated by COVID, Light Orlando’s Hunger Project seeks… Read More >
Date Posted: 08.27.2024 Soup Bowl Supper: September 28 Pathways to Care helps homeless and precariously-housed men and women with a safe place to heal from serious injury and illness. Soup Bowl Supper is the annual fundraiser for this important ministry. Guests will enjoy a variety of soups donated by more than 10 local restaurants. Soups are served by VIP guests—such as Bishop John… Read More >
Date Posted: 08.23.2024 Nurse practitioner committed to God’s will to help others ST. CLOUD | When Dr. Romualdo Dator had the idea of opening a free medical clinic in Osceola County, Bethanne Smith wanted to be a part of it. Fifteen years later, she is still taking care of patients with tenderness and love.The St. Thomas Aquinas parishioner had seen the struggles of the working poor firsthand. The… Read More >
Date Posted: 07.02.2024 Amendment 4 Information An extremely grave amendment has been placed on the November 2024 ballot that seeks to erase pro-life protections by inserting language into the Florida Constitution prohibiting regulation of abortion. The amendment would allow late-term abortions, including when the baby is capable of feeling pain, and would eliminate laws requiring parental consent and safety protocols for… Read More >
Date Posted: 05.24.2024 Farmworkers face tragedy, find support After bus crash Catholic Charities offers counseling, necessities as farmworkers recover from injuries ORLANDO | The eating area of the Days Inn in Gainesville was filled with men, beleaguered by the past days’ events and still stunned by the bus accident that took the lives of eight of their own, just four days earlier. These… Read More >
Date Posted: 05.10.2024 Diocese addresses mental health through conference ORLANDO | In response to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops National Campaign for Mental Health, the Diocese of Orlando is hosting a full-day conference on the subject. Coordinators hope the Catholic Mental Health Gathering will provide an opportunity for self reflection, education about mental health, and offer encouragement to provide avenues in which to… Read More >
Date Posted: 05.09.2024 Blessings x2 Twins = mother’s and family’s unexpected blessings ORLANDO | Desperately eager to learn if she was pregnant or not, 22-year-old Ediana Valdez didn’t wait to get home to take her pregnancy test. Instead, she ran to the store bathroom. It was positive. She burst into tears, not knowing how she could possibly keep the child… Read More >
Date Posted: 04.18.2024 Volunteers recognized at new awards banquet APOPKA | Almost 80 Catholic Charities of Central Florida volunteers from different parts of the Diocese of Orlando were recognized April 13, 2024, for their dedication and hard work toward helping those in need. The volunteers served in various ministries such as Agape Mission Markets, Clinics, Family Stability, Comprehensive Refugee Services program, and Immigration and… Read More >
Date Posted: 04.11.2024 Paying it forward: Young man shares his gifts to help refugees ORLANDO | Dhanush is 15 years old. As a young boy in India, he discovered a gift for technology. Seeing those less privileged around him, he wanted to share it by teaching computer skills to the less fortunate. He found that opportunity by serving refugees through Catholic Charities of Central Florida. In March, Dhanush taught… Read More >
Date Posted: 04.04.2024 AmeriCorps volunteer renews stay at Catholic Charities ORLANDO | Joseph Fayed is passionate about his work with Catholic Charities of Central Florida Refugee Services. As part of the AmeriCorps VISTA program, Fayed joined Catholic Charities in January 2023, assisting in volunteer recruitment and youth mentoring of refugees. He liked it so much, he signed up for another year. “I’m really passionate about… Read More >
