At Catholic Charities Dallas, we know from experience that even the smallest act of true generosity can change a life. Our clients’ incredible stories are proof of the impact generosity has on the lives of individuals, families, and our entire community.
Hundreds of individuals begin their journey to becoming a citizen at our weekly workshops.
Citizenship workshops help families stay together
Porfirio Ortiz moved to Dallas in the 1990s in search of a better life. His home in Mexico had become too dangerous. After starting a family and building a life here, Porfirio wanted to work toward becoming a citizen.
“I want to stay for the rest of my life with my kids and my family. All my kids were born here. I’ve lived for twenty-something years here in the United States, and I don’t have anything back home. My house is here, my family is here,” Porfirio said.
Porfirio asked his lawyer about the citizenship process, but found he was not able to afford it, so he turned to Catholic Charities Dallas.
“I go to church every Sunday, and I hear good stories about this organization,” Porfirio shared.
He began the process to become a citizen by attending one of our weekly citizenship workshops hosted by our Immigration Legal Services team. Each Friday, CCD staff and volunteers assist our clients with the forms required to apply for citizenship.
Porfirio expressed that the workshop was helpful because he did not know the process to become a citizen, and the staff and volunteers were able to give him the aid he needed.
The citizenship workshops are just one of the many services that Immigration Legal Services offers. For more information, please click here.
Elena purchased her home in June thanks to support from CCD.
Long-time dream reached thanks to CCD’s Next Gen Wealth Academy
Elena came to Catholic Charities Dallas and Next Gen Wealth Academy in 2021 looking for help to reach her financial goals. She dreamed of purchasing a home and saving for her daughter’s education, but as a single mother, she knew she faced challenges in managing her finances. Not only is she limited to a single income, but she is also hearing impaired and has fewer employment options due to her legal status.
In her initial assessment with a financial coach, Elena learned the steps she needed to take to reach her goals. In these sessions, she obtained her credit score, identified how much debt she had, and learned how much she needed to save to purchase a home.
Along the way, Elena began to include her daughter in her financial education so that she would be in a better financial position as she started college. She even added her daughter as an authorized user on her credit cards. This allowed Elena’s daughter to begin building her own credit and learn about managing a credit card.
Elena consistently wanted to learn more and support her daughter, so she took advantage of all the opportunities at Next Gen Wealth Academy. Along with her financial coaching sessions, she also participated in homebuyer education classes and opened a savings account, which CCD was able to match.
In two years, Elena has been able to increase her credit score by more than 50 points, cut her debt in half, and saved more than $20,000. Thanks to her efforts, Elena was able to reach her dream of purchasing a home on June 15!
Next Gen Wealth Academy helps individuals and families thrive by creating a positive relationship with money through coaching, education, and personal development. If you or someone you know would like to learn about Next Gen’s resources, please click here.
Isabel graduated from high school and is now studying to become a dental hygienist.
International Foster Care program gives youth the tools to succeed
Isabel Tomas Felipe credits Catholic Charities Dallas with making her the person she is today. Isabel was forced to flee her home in Guatemala and came to the United States as an unaccompanied refugee minor in 2017. After arriving in the U.S., she was placed in the International Foster Care program (IFC), part of Children’s Services.
Isabel said when she first came to the U.S., CCD was in her corner every step of the way. Her case manager and others helped her learn English, provided tutoring opportunities so she could succeed in school, and assisted with her legal case.
During her time in the IFC program, Isabel graduated from high school, becoming the first person in her family to do so. Isabel said even though it was difficult at times, she persisted for her siblings back in Guatemala.
“I want to help my biological siblings have a good, stable life,” Isabel said. “I wanted to make a change, and I wanted to break the cycle of poverty that they’ve been in for a long time.”
After turning 18, youth in the IFC program can stay in the program and transition into Supervised Independent Living, or they can leave the program. Isabel decided to stay.
“It was an opportunity that was put on my path to help me succeed.”
Now, she has a part time job and is attending Tarrant County College to earn her associate degree. Isabel is studying to become a dental hygienist. She said she has accomplished these goals because of the support she received from CCD.
“I am very grateful for the advice that I received from friends, my family, my case manager, and Catholic Charities.” Isabel shared.
This year, Children’s Services has served more than 200 clients. To learn more about Children’s Services and IFC, please click here.
The mobile food pantry helps Veronica put food on the table for her family.
Mobile community pantries filling the gaps for area families
Even though Veronica has only been to the mobile food pantry at San Juan de Lagos Santa Teresita twice, she said it is already making a difference for herself and her family.
“I needed the groceries for my family,” Veronica said. “Everything is so high at the store. You go to buy food, and you can’t buy meat.”
Veronica was struggling to make ends meet when she heard about the CCD food pantry from a friend. The cost of her bills, including medicine after open-heart surgery, often left Veronica unable to put food on the table. However, she says that is no longer the case thanks to help from Catholic Charities Dallas.
“We have something to eat now,” Veronica said.
She shared that learning about the mobile community pantries came at the right time because she is providing not only for her five children but also for her niece and her family.
“Times right now are hard, so the food has been helping out a lot.”
In the last year, Hunger Services has served close to 150,000 clients and distributed more than 7.4 million pounds of food. To learn more about Hunger Services or find a pantry location, please click here.
Hunger Services by the Numbers
Data as of May 2023
Shiwa is now able to drive and is working full time.
Refugee Services helps client thrive in United States
Shiwa Khamosh came to the United States as a refugee from Afghanistan in August 2022. When she arrived in the U.S., Catholic Charities Dallas’ Refugee Services program assisted with reception and placement services. Even though she had gone through a tremendous change, Shiwa was positive about her new journey and was looking forward to establishing her independence.
Shiwa took advantage of the support Refugee Services offered and enrolled in the Match Grant Program which offers cash assistance, intensive case management, and employment services to help clients immediately find and maintain employment. The program’s goal is to help clients become economically self-sufficient within 240 days.
Shiwa, who is fluent in English and holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology, began applying for jobs in the community immediately. Her case manager connected Shiwa with job counselors while she looked for jobs on Indeed and other websites.
At first, Shiwa struggled to find a job because she did not have a car and did not know how to drive. However, she did not let this stop her! After weeks of working with CCD, Shiwa called her case manager and shared that she was learning how to drive and had a friend who was helping her purchase a car.
About six months after her arrival in the U.S., Shiwa drove her own car to CCD to share great news with her case manager. Shiwa was hired at the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants! By the end of the Match Grant Program, Shiwa established her independence and could afford her rent, utilities, and car payments thanks to her new job,
She shared that she is grateful to CCD and her case manager for the support she received to help her reach her goals. Even though she loves her new job, Shiwa said her goal is to work at Catholic Charities someday so she can give back to the agency that gave to her.
Upcoming Events
Casino Night
- Thursday, September 28, at Stonebridge Ranch Country Club at 6:30 p.m.
- All proceeds from the event will support the Community Health Clinic
- More information on purchasing tickets and sponsorships to come
Breakfast with the Bishop
- Thursday, October 5, at St. Paul the Apostle Parish Center at 7:30 a.m.
- Featuring Guest Speaker, John Stankey, CEO of AT&T
- All proceeds from the event will support Hunger Services
- For more information and to purchase tickets and sponsorships, please click here
When we see Christ in our brothers and sisters in need, this is where the power of generosity begins. We recall the words of Christ,
“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35)
At Catholic Charities Dallas, we witness the life-changing power of generosity every day. The contagious excitement of a young refugee family as they receive items that transform their new house into a home. The smile on the face of a child as they learn to read alongside their parents. The relief in the eyes of a person who no longer needs to worry about what they will eat that day. Although it looks a bit different each time, the impact of generosity is undeniably present in every one of these lives. We hope these stories of the transformative power of generosity within our community resonate with you and encourage you to join us in serving, educating, and empowering all those in need. Your generosity is what makes our work possible!
