Quick Response to Hungry Families
St. Vincent de Paul Conference President George Burton coordinates volunteers as Thanksgiving baskets are distributed at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Carrollton on Nov. 22. (NTC/Kevin Bartram)
FOT WORTH — "You’re such a blessing!”
“Thank you so much!”
“You have no idea how much this means.”
Tracy Dalrymple, Catholic Charities Fort Worth Community Care program manager, received grateful responses like these nearly every time she sent a Walmart e-card for groceries to someone who had lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the government shutdown.
A second collection Nov. 1 and 2 at all parishes in the Diocese of Fort Worth made this urgent and timely assistance possible. In a letter to parishes requesting a second collection specifically for food assistance, Bishop Michael Olson reminded parishioners, “We who are faithful Catholics must know that the poor and hungry come first because they are Christ among us.”
Parishioners responded to Bishop Olson’s request with more than $165,000, which was divided between the diocese’s 19 parishes with food pantries and CCFW. Outside of the special collection, the diocese donated an additional $100,000: $50,000 to CCFW and $50,000 was split among parishes with food pantries.
Dalrymple said CCFW was able to quickly disburse the funds by providing parishes with the phone number for a dedicated line and the link to a simple online application form.
“Parishes gave out that phone number and some parishes even helped people submit their forms,” Dalrymple explained. “It was easy to attach copies of their ID and SNAP benefits letter.”
On Nov. 12, the day the online form went live, the agency immediately began receiving referrals from parishes and St. Vincent de Paul Societies.
“The requests came in quickly and funds were dispensed quickly,” Dalrymple noted, adding that Walmart gift cards are easy to dispense and redeem.
Though not always able to disburse the full SNAP benefit amount, the agency tried to provide as much assistance as possible, Dalrymple explained.
“These funds are helping families that have been so affected by the loss of SNAP benefits and everything else going on [economically],” she said.
Rita Gauthier, director of Client Services at the CCFW Northwest campus in Wichita Falls, said the Wichita Falls office also dispensed special collection funds for food assistance. Once parishes were notified, “calls came in quickly,” she said.
Cindy Casey, director of CCFW Client Services, pointed out that money from the special collection is returning to the parish level.
“We’re using those funds to assist people referred to us by Catholic parishes,” she explained. “This is an opportunity to offer assistance to people we would not be able to help normally. And we are deeply grateful to our diocese, our bishop, and parishioners who are assisting those in need.”
Volunteer, contribute to, or learn more about Catholic Charities Fort Worth by visiting CatholicCharitiesFortWorth.org.