Portland, Maine – Catholic Charities Maine is joining with the Catholic Charities network around the country to participate in We Are There, a national awareness campaign highlighting the safety net of social and human services Catholic Charities agencies provide in their local communities.
“Since 1966, Catholic Charities Maine has brought comfort, hope, and relief to our neighbors, regardless of their faith, throughout the state,” said Stephen Letourneau, CEO, Catholic Charities Maine. “Being part of the We Are There campaign is one more opportunity to spread the word about the good work our nearly 500 staff and 500+ volunteers are doing every day to uplift the most vulnerable people in Maine. Being a part of the nation-wide Catholic Charities USA network helps us learn from others, tap national resources, and work toward a greater good with initiatives like this one.”
As one of the largest and most diverse statewide private human service agencies in the state, Catholic Charities Maine provides leadership programs and services to reduce poverty, support families, advocate for justice in social structures. Our work includes providing behavioral and mental health services for adults and children, supporting services in substance use disorder treatment and recovery, strengthening and growing services for Maine’s aging population, welcoming and supporting New Mainers in integrating into local communities, creating program models for emergency assistance services, and addressing hunger/food security issues, among other services.
Our goal is to serve those in need with special emphasis on Maine’s most vulnerable populations — the poor, elderly, and children. Catholic Charities Maine’s work is mirrored by services provided at Catholic Charities agencies around the country. There are 168 independent Catholic Charities agencies and 3,900 collective locations spread out across the United States and its five territories. Collectively, the Catholic Charities network served more than 15 million people last year and provided more than 30 million meals to those in need. The dedicated, selfless staff of Catholic Charities agencies are aided in this work by the indispensable contributions of more than 215,000 volunteers nationwide. The services offered by each local Catholic Charities agency differ because they are tailored to the specific needs of the vulnerable members of their individual communities.
Catholic Charities USA, the national membership organization for Catholic Charities agencies, organized and launched the We Are There campaign. Over the coming months, the campaign will raise awareness for the work of Catholic Charities through a variety of national media outlets. Here in Maine, Catholic Charities Maine will continue to highlight the different ways we aid and accompany our neighbors in need.
About Catholic Charities Maine
Since 1966, Catholic Charities Maine has provided high-quality, community-based social services to people of all faiths, beliefs, and economic backgrounds. As one of the largest human service agencies in the state, we are committed to helping children and adults overcome adversity and achieve self-sufficiency through our 20+ programs. To learn more, please visit www.ccmaine.org.