Charities appeals for giving to urgent needs at Christmas

This holiday season, Catholic Charities is sending out an urgent message to residents of the Albany Diocese: "Christmas isn't just for children."

Sister Maureen Joyce, RSM, executive director, often finds that the tags left dangling on parish "giving trees" as Christmas approaches are those requesting gifts for adults. In addition, when Charities agencies receive calls offering donations, they most often are from people who want to give toys to children.

As a result, she said, the agencies may not have enough gifts for the hundreds of adults they serve in homeless shelters, transitional housing and senior apartments. Catholic Charities also serves many low-income persons with disabilities.

Coat collection

A special need this Christmas is coats for adults; many Charities agencies are reporting that their clients are braving the winter in sweatshirts. Catholic Charities has also been getting calls from non-Catholic agencies and programs asking for coats for adults, especially in larger sizes.

"We've had a positive relationship this year with Kem Cleaners," which collects and dry-cleans donated coats for children, said Sister Maureen. So far, Catholic Charities has received more than 1,000 kids' coats.

However, she bemoaned the fact that no one has yet organized a "Coats for Adults" collection, saying: "People don't think about adults who have the same need."

Greater need

Sister Maureen said that when needy adults are asked by Catholic Charities to name what they'd like for Christmas, they rarely ask for luxuries. Instead, they request gift certificates to grocery stores or warm clothing.

This year, the need is more critical. She noted that the number of needy families who have asked to be "adopted" by donors who provide Christmas gifts has increased by a record 40 percent.

"I don't think [needy] people have the resources," she explained. "Buying presents for Christmas is a luxury, especially when you're preparing for high utility bills."

Staying in background

Donors should also be aware that anonymous giving is best, Sister Maureen noted. For example, Conserns-U, a Charities program in Rensselaer, provides a "Christmas store" at St. Joseph's Church where needy parents can shop for their families' gifts among donated items.

Choosing for themselves "is the ideal," she said.

The next-best setup for donations is when poor families provide a list of which items they need, along with clothing sizes. That way, donors can buy exactly what's needed, but parents can be the ones actually giving the gifts to their families. Gift certificates to stores where a parent could pick out a coat or other gift are also welcome.

"It's better if it remains behind-the-scenes," Sister Maureen said of giving to families in need. "You don't want people to feel they're a charity or a cause."

(Any money or gift certificates given to Catholic Charities specifically for Christmas gifts for the needy are used only for that purpose. To donate, call 453-6650 and ask for Mary Pat Hickey.)

(12/16/04)