Direct Assistance
Catholic Community Services is an essential provider of safety-net services in Lane County, particularly food distribution.
Food for Lane County is rightly recognized for the key community role it plays in collecting 7 million pounds of donated food per year. However, few people know that more than 20% of this food – 1.6 million pounds last year – is distributed by Catholic Community Services through its service centers in Eugene and Springfield. More than 25,000 low-income persons receive food because of this partnership between Food for Lane County and Catholic Community Services.
In addition to food, Catholic Community Services’ safety-net includes:
- free distribution of donated clothing, hygiene and household items
- utility bill payment assistance
- limited help paying for prescription medications, bus passes, and fees associated with obtaining birth certificates and identification documents
- Church Pledge Program to meet needs that aren’t addressed in other ways
- health insurance enrollment
- referral to additional sources of help
Catholic Community Services is able to multiply direct assistance dollars in a highly cost-effective manner. Last year every $1.00 invested in our direct assistance activities resulted in $4.29 worth of immediate help provided to someone in need.
