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| Catholic Charities Receives Emergency Grant from Otto Bremer FoundationCatholic Charities received a $99,969 emergency grant to help meet the significant increase in demand for food and shelter.
The Bremer Emergency Fund of the Otto Bremer Foundation, with support from Bremer Banks, gave the award to Catholic Charities on Jan. 21.
“We recognize that timely financial assistance can sometimes make the difference between instability and security, enabling families and individuals to meet emergency needs and retain housing or jobs,” said William Lipschultz, Foundation Trustee. “Once people are able to meet their basic needs and avert a crisis situation, they are in a better position to access community programs that can help them achieve long-term economic stability.”
One of 81 organizations that received grants, Catholic Charities will use the funding to provide emergency food and shelter. The Bremer Emergency Fund was started as a response to the current economic challenges by the Otto Bremer Foundation and the Bremer banks.
Catholic Charities faces unprecedented demand. In January, almost 6,000 people slept on the floor of the Dorothy Day Center. That’s 300 more than in December.
“This is an acceleration of a trend we’ve seen the last two years,” says Fr. John Estrem, CEO of Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. “We’re responding to the need we anticipated. But we didn’t anticipate the increases we’re seeing. The grant from the Bremer Emergency Fund draws much-needed attention to the plight of many of our neighbors and provides urgently needed financial assistance that allows us to serve those most in need. We are grateful for Bremer’s support.”
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