Effingham Catholic Charities was the recipient of one of the C.E.F.S. Community Service Excellence Awards presented at the C.E.F.S. Annual Board Meeting on August 4, 2016. 

Catholic Charities was acknowledged as an outstanding community partner in serving the needs of low income households, seniors and persons with disabilities.  When C.E.F.S. did not receive state funding to provide emergency shelter for the homeless, the agency would refer homeless people to Catholic Charities where they would assist by providing emergency shelter in a hotel.  When a C.E.F.S. client was unable to pay the good faith effort needed for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program reconnection assistance, Catholic Charities stepped in and supplied the payment to assist the client in getting utilities reconnected or to avoid disconnection.  C.E.F.S. Effingham County Outreach Coordinator Cindy Mayer noted the collaboration that really set Catholic Charities apart this year was their willingness to assist with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.  Catholic Charities accommodated the VITA Program requirements and provided a volunteer with an office and a computer to prepare taxes, a secure email, and use of the vault to ensure confidentiality of tax returns until the Outreach Coordinator could pick up the paperwork.  Catholic Charities went above and beyond to accommodate C.E.F.S.’s VITA Program.  Catholic Charities realized the need, saw the value of allowing a staff member to volunteer and found a way to make it work.

Pictured in photo with the award is Carrie Crippen, Catholic Charities Office Manager and Sr. Carol Beckermann, Area Director of Catholic Charities.