Catholic Charities Atlanta (CCA) has completed the enrollment process for this year’s Christmas Connections program, its annual gift-giving initiative that has connected parish sponsors with families in need for approximately thirty years. Beginning in July this year, CCA staff and volunteers collected gift requests for hundreds of families. With the enrollment portion of this year’s program complete, CCA will move into the next phase of getting the collected Christmas wish lists to the sponsor parishes (Christ the King, St. Brigid, St. Peter Chanel St. Joseph, and St. Jude) to be paired with generous supporters. Those interested in volunteering to help with distribution day on December 5th can email Richard Yancey at ryancey@ccatlanta.org. Those interested in other volunteer opportunities at CCA can visit catholiccharitiesatlanta.org/get-involved/volunteer/ to learn more.
Last month, the People of Hope Museum visited Roswell, through a partnership between Catholic Charities Atlanta, Catholic Charities USA, and The Lilly Foundation. This immersive experience provided community members, civic leaders, and business professionals with a deeper understanding of the challenges many individuals and families experiencing poverty face every day.
The exhibit demonstrated the power of storytelling to foster empathy, inspire dialogue, and strengthen community partnerships. When organizations and leaders take the time to understand the barriers facing vulnerable populations, they are better equipped to develop solutions that create lasting impact. From business partnerships to volunteer engagement, everyone has a critical role to play in building stronger, more resilient communities.
Thank you to everyone who attended, listened, learned, and helped advance these important conversations. Together, we can create pathways to hope for our neighbors across North Georgia. Check out the segment from Channel 2 News on the event here!
Join Us in Creating Lasting Change
There are many ways to be part of this work. Whether you’re interested in volunteering your time, making a financial gift, or exploring a partnership opportunity for your organization, your support helps us create real pathways to hope for individuals and families experiencing hardship.
Learn how you can volunteer or make a gift today—together, we can turn understanding into action and compassion into hope.
Catholic Charities Atlanta joined Catholic Charities agencies across the United States to host People of Hope: Faith-Filled Stories of Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a nationwide storytelling museum designed to amplify the profound impact of Christian service on August 4th & 5th, 2026. The museum was located at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School (11320 Woodstock Rd, Roswell, GA 30075) and was open to the public between 1:00pm – 5:00pm each day.
This initiative is made possible thanks to a grant to Catholic Charities USA from Lilly Endowment Inc. to highlight Christian Faith and Life. The People of Hope Museum launched its tour in March and will travel the U.S. for two-and-a-half years. Catholic Charities USA is the national membership organization for 168 independent Catholic Charities agencies around the country which served more than 16 million people regardless of faith last year. Services addressed needs ranging from housing to disaster assistance, health care, and family support. Catholic Charities agencies are united by a shared commitment to honor the dignity of every person and answer the Gospel call to come to the aid of those most in need.
Housed in a retrofitted tractor-trailer, the People of Hope Museum is an immersive experience that brings to life video stories featuring staff and volunteers of Catholic Charities agencies across the country sharing their memorable encounters with families and individuals in need.
Visitors were able to experience an interactive poverty simulator, gain a greater understanding of poverty in Georgia, and be inspired to address poverty and social isolation through bridgebuilding and community action.
Understanding creates compassion, but action creates hope.
“For more than 75 years, Catholic Charities Atlanta has walked alongside individuals and families during some of life’s most difficult moments. Hosting People of Hope gives our community a meaningful opportunity to better understand poverty, encounter stories of resilience and discover practical ways to help our neighbors move toward stability.”
-Vanessa Russell, CEO
Catholic Charities Atlanta staff were onsite to connect the experience of our local community by sharing how poverty affects working families throughout North Georgia. Visitors explored:
· What poverty looks like in our community
· How CCA walks alongside families through crisis and toward stability
· Practical ways individuals can volunteer, advocate, support, and become part of the solution
Last year, CCA served almost 11,000 individuals, 74% of which have low income. The wraparound services CCA provides address barriers such as lack of resources, mental health, education, housing and employment, empowering families to become more self-sufficient. To learn more about the People of Hope Museum, visit www.peopleofhope.us. To explore volunteer opportunities or learn more about Catholic Charities Atlanta programs, visit https://catholiccharitiesatlanta.org/.
December 2nd is Giving Tuesday!
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that encourages us to give back to the people and causes we are grateful for. Get into the giving spirit and support Catholic Charities through our IGiveCatholic campaign!
When you donate to our 2025 IGiveCatholic campaign, your gift will benefit our Afterschool Program and Youth Services. By fueling tutoring, providing school supplies, and creating life-changing learning opportunities for bright young minds, we can build a brighter future together!
Catholic Charities Atlanta is committed to serving those in need, and we need your support to continue providing essential services to our community. Every donation helps us reach those who rely on us most.
Give Today and Make a Difference.
You can read the statement on The Georgia Bulletin’s website in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
]]>The recent wildfires in Los Angeles County have devastated the lives of more than 150,000 people, forcing evacuations and destroying countless homes (Source: LA Times).
Our hearts go out to all those enduring loss, fear, and tragedy during this crisis. We also offer prayers of protection for the brave First Responders who are selflessly putting themselves in harm’s way.
In the face of such unprecedented disaster, we are called to embody Christ’s love by coming together as neighbors, as fellow Americans, and as one family in faith.
We invite you to join us in supporting God’s family—OUR family—through prayer and love in action. Catholic Charities of Atlanta has partnered to support Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Charities of Los Angeles who are actively providing disaster relief to those in immediate and greatest need. You can support the victims of the California fires directly through their websites linked here.
We stand united in prayer and hope for healing for Los Angeles and all those impacted by the fires.
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#iGiveCatholic is an annual giving day for the faithful across the nation (and the globe!) to come together and raise as many charitable dollars as possible for Catholic parishes, schools, and ministries in participating dioceses. Last year, #iGiveCatholic raised more than $20 million for 1,870 organizations in 50 dioceses across the United States!
#iGiveCatholic is a 24-hour celebration from midnight until 11:59pm on #GivingTuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which falls on December 3rd!
Support Catholic Charities Atlanta’s Safe Passages and Saint Joseph’s Place Programs this holiday season by donating to our iGiveCatholic campaign:
https://atlanta.igivecatholic.org/organizations/catholic-charities-atlanta
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Catholic Charities Atlanta (CCA) will be hosting “Holy Halloween!” 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk at Blackburn Park in Brookhaven, GA on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 8 a.m. All proceeds of the race will benefit vulnerable and at-risk children in their programs.
The 5K is a USATF Certified Course so runners/walkers can use their time for seeding in the AJC Peachtree Road Race.
Walkers and runners of all abilities, backgrounds, and faiths are welcome to attend. There will be a Best Costume Contest, so participants are encouraged, but not required, to show up in their Halloween costumes. Music, post-race refreshments and children’s activities such as pumpkin painting and cookie decorating will also be offered.
Participants and teams can sign up to run or walk here: https://runsignup.com/holyhalloween.
Sponsorship packages are available.
Questions?
Michele Langevin
470-970-9637
mlangevin@ccatlanta.org
January is National Mentoring Month. Catholic Charities Atlanta Refugee Services includes an award-winning Mentoring Program. Every day, mentors and mentoring practitioners show up for young people as agents of opportunity and catalysts for change.
This past week CCA Employees Neidegar Martinez, Refugee Youth Mentoring Support Specialist and Nasra Yonis, Manager of Youth Services attended the 2024 National Mentoring Summit in Washington DC.
Convened annually by MENTOR during National Mentoring Month, the National Mentoring Summit is an opportunity for mentoring practitioners, researchers, philanthropic investors, youth leaders, government and civic leaders, and Affiliates from across the country to unite under the shared goal of driving positive change for young people. Attendees have the opportunity to learn from one another, form new connections, and explore best practices for strengthening and expanding the youth mentoring movement.
Neidegar and Nasra met with GA Senator Jon Ossoff and had conversations about mentoring.
View the CCA Mentoring Program Fact Sheet HERE
Learn more about the Mentoring Program with Grace’s Story:
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