Catholic Charities, Diocese of San Diego

Catholic Charities, Diocese of San Diego, 619-231-2828. Provides critical support services for children, adults and families, including counseling, pregnancy and adoption services, immigrant and refugee services, senior, homeless and emergency services.

How do you help people in my community?

Catholic Charities, Diocese of San Diego, addresses social service needs throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties, a vast area covering 8,852 square miles.  Our programs embrace the most vulnerable individuals in our community, regardless of race, religion or national origin. 

We encourage individuals to call us:

• When you have a question about adoption.
• When you're not sure about a change in immigration laws.
• When you have a question about CalWORKs.
• When a homeless woman needs a place to take a shower.
• When a family needs extra food.
• When you know a woman who is pregnant, but doesn't know where to turn.
• When a constituent wants to donate five new computers.
• When you know someone who needs affordable, professional counseling.
• When someone needs help making a utility payment.
• When a couple is seeking marriage counseling.
• When a homeless mother in El Centro needs shelter for her children.
• When a homeless woman needs a sober environment to spend the day.
• When you need a translator.
• When someone is looking for a place to volunteer time.
• When a senior needs help with an unexpected expense.
• When someone needs help filling out citizenship paperwork.
• When a homeless man in North County needs a place to sleep.
• When a family needs clothes for a child going to school.

Why do you need my support?

Locally, many residents of San Diego and Imperial Counties continue to live in poverty and struggle every day to make ends meet.  The high cost of living, including exorbitant health insurance costs, lack of a living wage, and shortage of affordable housing has resulted in dramatic increases in individuals and families looking to Catholic Charities for assistance. 

A monetary gift of any size or value significantly impacts our abilities to help others in your community: 

$5     purchases a pre-paid phone card for a homeless man looking for work

$15   pays for one woman’s shelter and evening meals for one night

$25   provides a week of hot, nutritious noontime meals delivered to a homebound senior

$50   pays for the processing of a citizenship application

$75   covers the cost of a counseling session for a low income family, individual, or couple

$100 assists a battered or abused woman seek legal counsel

$200 provides transportation for an entire year for a Foster Grandparent serving children with special needs. How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won'

How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?

Catholic Charities is an excellent steward of gifts; 85 cents of every donated dollar goes directly to programs and services.  We are a recipient year after year of national and local government funding -- a testament to our high ethical, fiduciary, and service delivery standards.  We continue to be selected as fiscal agent for programs benefiting the entire San Diego community, including Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds and Sempra Energy's Neighbor-to-Neighbor utility assistance program.

Moreover, we are the only nonprofit in San Diego County awarded a CalWORKS contract to provide employment case management services for transitioning individuals from welfare to work.  A recent Rand Report named Catholic Charities the overall best Welfare-to-Work program in San Diego, surpassing not only two for-profit companies but the County of San Diego itself.

Catholic Charities financial statements are audited annually by an independent certified public accounting firm and are available upon request.

Can I Volunteer? How?

Yes!  We need your help in supporting our mission to the poor and disadvantaged in San Diego and Imperial Counties.  Please call (619) 231-2828, ext. 232 for further information. 

Volunteer opportunities are varied and include assisting in programs such as:

Food Resource Centers (Downtown San Diego, Vista, El Centro)

Homeless Services for Women and Children (San Diego, El Centro)

Homeless Services for Men (Carlsbad, Calexico)

Immigration Services (San Diego, Chula Vista, Vista, El Centro)

Refugee Services (San Diego)

St. Francis Center Thrift Store (Vista, CA)

Senior Nutrition Program (San Diego East and South Bay, Imperial County)

Senior Services, Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs (San Diego, El Centro)