Catholic Charities to host breakfast for Casa San Francisco Nov. 21 in Milton
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington and its Sussex County homeless shelter, Casa San Francisco, will inform the community about the growing number of homeless and hungry in local communities during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, Nov. 16-24.
Catholic Charities will host an awareness-raising breakfast to honor the work of Casa San Francisco from 8 to 10 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, at Irish Eyes Restaurant, 105 Union St., Milton, in support of the work of the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness. Tickets are $25 each, and Catholic Charities asks that attendees bring a donation of nonperishable food as well.
Those wishing to attend should visit www.cdow.org/catholic-charities to purchase tickets online via credit card. Tickets can also be purchased by writing to Casa, PO Box 38, Milton, DE 19968, or any other Catholic Charities location. To make a donation of food, clothing, or other household goods, call Casa at 302-684-8694 to make arrangements.
Casa San Francisco opened in 1981 as a crisis center for migrant farm workers and the poor in the Milton community. Casa continues to work to restore the well-being of the homeless and those experiencing poverty in Sussex County. The shelter program provides accommodations and three daily meals to 10 adults. Casa staff works with each resident to obtain income and find affordable housing opportunities. Casa residents also receive help with medications, laundry, clothing, and transportation during their stay. Each year, Casa is home to approximately 140 people.
In addition to the shelter, Casa operates an emergency food pantry, a food cooperative, and a senior food program. In total, more than 1,500 families receive some type of food assistance from Casa San Francisco each year.
“Many of our neighbors continue to be at risk of losing their homes or going hungry because of the slow economic recovery,” said Richelle A. Vible, executive director of Catholic Charities. “It’s our hope that holding this breakfast calls attention to these difficulties and how Catholic Charities can help."
In Delaware, about 17,500 different people receive emergency food assistance in any given week, according to The Food Bank of Delaware. Of those households that receive help, 44 percent of the members are children under 18 years old. On any given night in Delaware, approximately 1,000 people are homeless, according to the Homeless Planning Council of Delaware.
Each year, the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness ask those concerned about the social ills of hunger and homelessness to set aside the week prior to Thanksgiving to honor National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
