About 200 people of all ages recently attended the free 2017 WIC Healthy Baby Festival, hosted by Catholic Charities Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program. Activities for children and information for parents were features of the July 25 event held in Washington Park in Dunkirk.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo has received a $55,082 grant renewal from the Rochester Area Community Foundation to continue to support its Home Visitation Program, which provides weekly visits to homebound Genesee County residents ages 60 and above.

"Powerful Tools for Caregivers," a free caregiver education course, will start Aug. 24 and run through Sept. 28. The Genesee County Office for the Aging and the WNY Alzheimer's Caregiver Partnership (WNYACP) are sponsoring the six-week course.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo's In-School Social Work Program was the recent recipient of a $411,000 grant from Fidelis Care, the New York State Catholic Health Plan.

Expectant and young families are invited to four Healthy Baby Festivals planned for three counties during July and August by Catholic Charities Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program. The free events offer activities for children and information for parents and run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at sites in Buffalo, Dunkirk, Jamestown and Niagara Falls.

Reverend Monsignor David S. Slubecky, vicar general and moderator of the curia of the Diocese of Buffalo, announced this morning the 2017 Appeal in support of Catholic Charities of Buffalo met and exceeded its $11 million goal. After a very challenging Appeal, officials expressed gratitude for the incredible parish, community and corporate support, especially last-minute gifts, which brought the campaign total to $11,069,168.36.

Indian Falls United Methodist Church in Corfu is joining the Western New York Alzheimer's Caregiver Partnership (WNYACP) to offer a free, monthly respite program for persons with Alzheimer's or other dementia. The program will begin Wednesday, June 21.

Catholic Charities' Chautauqua County Outreach recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary of providing respite care and friendship to homebound seniors and nursing home residents in the county. A luncheon to thank the volunteers was held to mark the milestone.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo began a new chapter on Monday (June 12) as the agency celebrated the grand opening of its Wyoming County office on the campus of Community Action for Wyoming County in Building #1, 6470 State Rt. 20A, Perry. About 25 guests attended the event, including Sister Mary McCarrick, Catholic Charities' diocesan director, and Rev. Richard Blazejewski of St. Isidore's Parish in Perry, who blessed the office.

About 10 to 15 volunteers from Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Orchard Park take time out each month to provide a free, hot evening meal for Lackawanna residents at Catholic Charities Food Pantry and Outreach, 75 Caldwell St., Lackawanna. Recently, the group marked one year of service to the community.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo has appointed two supervisors, one clinical supervisor and one program manager to its leadership team.

The Most Rev. Richard J. Malone, Bishop of Buffalo, and Catholic Charities of Buffalo officials are asking for help as the organization struggles to reach this year's $11 million goal with the 2017 Appeal entering its final month.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo today reported the 2017 Appeal has reached 82 percent of goal, or $9,078,297.96 million in cash and pledges, a little more than three weeks after reaching 72 percent of the $11 million goal, or $7.89 million as of April 11. Typically at this time, three weeks after the annual Appeal Week campaign in local parishes throughout the Diocese of Buffalo, the Appeal is at between 87 and 91 percent of the final goal.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo has appointed four supervisors and three coordinators to its leadership team.

To kick off National Volunteer Week, Catholic Charities USA announced yesterday that Estelle Anderson of Buffalo was selected as the CCUSA 2017 Volunteer of the Year. Anderson, who is 95, has spent more than 30 years as a volunteer for the Layette Program at Ladies of Charity, a volunteer organization affiliated with Catholic Charities of Buffalo. For the program, Anderson sews crib linens and blankets, and has also hosted baby showers to collect items for the layettes.

The Most Reverend Richard J. Malone, bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo, reported today on the progress of the annual Catholic Charities of Buffalo Appeal, announcing $7,890,544.24 has been raised to date, as Catholic Charities officials marked the close of Appeal Week 2017 which ran from April 2-9 in parishes throughout the diocese.

Appeal Week 2017, in support of Catholic Charities of Buffalo, began April 2 in celebration of the generosity of Western New Yorkers who have contributed to the 2017 annual Appeal for Catholic Charities and to encourage those who have not already donated to do so.

Through a collaborative effort with Encompass Family Health Home and partners across upstate New York, Catholic Charities of Buffalo is now a Children's Health Home Care Management provider in the region. As a Children's Health Home Care Management provider, Catholic Charities will work alongside a network of other providers, health plans and community-based organizations to both enroll children in Encompass Health Home and coordinate services for children and their families.

The Wyoming County office of Catholic Charities has moved to a larger, more accessible site and is now serving clients two days each week on the campus of Community Action for Wyoming County in Building #1, 6470 State Rt. 20A, Perry.

Valley Chapel Free Methodist Church has partnered with the WNY Alzheimer's Caregiver Partnership (WNYACP) to offer a free, monthly respite program called Caring Hands and Hearts for persons with Alzheimer's or other dementia beginning March 9.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo announces the appointment of three individuals to director positions within the agency. Meichle Latham, LCSW-R, has been appointed to the role of Catholic Charities Encompass Family Health Home Regional Director; Jackie Richter, LCSW-R, has been named School Based Services Director; and David Wirtner was appointed Director of Information Technology.

About 40 parish volunteers, clergy, lay leaders and Catholic Charities' staff attended a volunteer training workshop on Feb. 4 to help kick off the 2017 Appeal for Catholic Charities in Erie County.

About 60 parish volunteers, clergy, lay leaders, donors and Catholic Charities' staff attended a luncheon following a volunteer training workshop on Jan. 28 to help kick off the 2017 Appeal for Catholic Charities in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo, like the United States, has been "welcoming the stranger" since we were established in 1923. Similarly, our nation was instituted by those who were persecuted and fled their native lands out of fear for their lives.

Catholic Charities celebrated the grand opening of its Health Care Center located on the Immigration and Refugee Assistance campus, 10 Herkimer St., Buffalo, Wednesday (Nov. 16), with officials expressing appreciation for its operating and funding partners, as well as for the legacy of those who were part of the former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in which it is housed.

A Grand Opening to celebrate the completion of the Catholic Charities Health Care Center located on the Immigration and Refugee Assistance campus, now that both health care providers are operational, will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16 in the converted former Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 10 Herkimer St., Buffalo. Brief remarks will begin at 3:30 p.m. All are invited.

Catholic Charities announced the recent appointment of Linda Chadderdon as the newest staff member of its Home Visitation Program serving Genesee County.

"Caregivers: This Day is for You" is the theme of a free day of workshops for caregivers set for (Saturday) Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Millennium Airport Hotel, 2040 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga. The event is sponsored by the Western New York Alzheimer's Caregiver Partnership (WNYACP) and the Erie County Caregiver Coalition.

Two Niagara Falls parish volunteers who together have served the Appeal in support of Catholic Charities for 120 years were presented Service in Love Awards by the Most Reverend Richard J. Malone, Bishop of Buffalo at the annual Appeal Mass of Thanksgiving and Leadership Reception on Sept. 9.

Linda Doll, a staff member with Catholic Charities Home Visitation Program in Genesee County, is retiring after six years of dedication to older adults and volunteers. Linda will be missed, especially for the energy, organization and compassion she brought to the program, the people and the volunteers.

A Thrift Store has been added to the variety of services offered to the community by Catholic Charities in Wellsville. The thrift shop opened in expanded space as part of the Food Pantry and Outreach program located at 67 East Pearl St.

SPECIAL TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES from Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope (NOAH) Congressman Brian Higgins will join with the Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope {NOAH), Laborers' Local 91, Iron Workers' Local 9, Catholic Charities of Buffalo and the City of Niagara Falls at 12:45 pm on Friday, August 19th to announce an innovative Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The announcement will occur at the Laborer's Local 91 Union Hall, located at 4500 Witmer Industrial Estates Road in Niagara Falls.

Two special awards and awards for years of service were presented July 21 to Foster Grandparents during the annual Catholic Charities' Foster Grandparents recognition luncheon held at Pearl Street Grill and Brewery.