KeyBank donates $20,000 to Catholic Charities

As Catholic Charities continues to see an increasing number of people in need in the Capital District, Key Bank is stepping up in a major way to help the non-profit. 

On Dec. 17, KeyBank announced a $20,000 donation to Catholic Charities' COVID-19 Relief Fund, which supports residents of the Albany Diocese impacted by the pandemic and state shutdown. The donation will help carry the nonprofit through the Christmas season and winter months. 

"People are in need right now,” said Vincent W. Colonno, CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany. “Our neighbors are coming to us for rental assistance, for domestic violence services and even for their next meal. It’s no secret that our resources are being stretched thin.”

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany is one of the largest nonprofits in the region and has continued to provide vital services, such as rental assistance, domestic violence programs, nutritional support and overdose prevention, to residents throughout the pandemic. 

“We all realize the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on the Capital Region, and we are committed to helping the region recover and move forward,” said Ruth Mahoney, Capital Region President, KeyBank. “We are proud to partner with Catholic Charities in support of their regional reach and impactful programming that continues to deliver life sustaining and life enhancing services to those that need it most during these times.”

Requests for emergency and rental assistance from Catholic Charities in the tri-county area (Albany/Schenectady/Rensselaer) are on the rise. In October, the nonprofit provided $2,100 in emergency funding, and  over $5,000 so far in December.  Catholic Charities’ domestic violence shelters are at high or max-capacity with few exceptions. As COVID-19 cases increase, calls for assistance remain high. The organization has also increased its food distributions tenfold – from one to 10 each month – to address food insecurity that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.  

The number of individuals accessing treatment for substance abuse and dependency through Catholic Charities each week has increased by 60 percent as people report relapsing in recent months due to increased stress, isolation and mental health needs. 

“We’re experiencing a very high volume of need and our resources have remained largely unchanged,” Colonno said. “We’re thrilled to be working alongside KeyBank in our efforts to support the community through this difficult time. This donation will go a long way to help a furloughed worker pay rent, a person in recovery stay sober or a single parent keep food on the table and the heat running through the winter.”