Newsroom

The world's largest Catholic fraternal men's organization -- the Knights of Columbus -- is the focus of this week's “Faith Alive” program on Annunciation Radio of Northwest Ohio. Host Rodney Schuster, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo, welcomes Willi Meyer, Executive Secretary for the Ohio State Council Knights of Columbus under the leadership of State Deputy Mark Siracusa.

Helping Hands of St. Louis’ 10th Annual Shoe Fest will be Saturday, August 12. “We typically give away over 600 pairs of shoes,” says Sue Shrewsbery. "We focus on East Toledo families, but no child will be turned away, if we have their shoe size.”

Learn about the recent 40 Days for Life Campaign with Kevin Jorrey, Catholic Charities Office for Life and Justice Director, and friends. Then meet Jessica Hanna, keynote speaker for the upcoming May 8 Friends for Life Fundraiser at the Hilton Garden Inn - Perrysburg.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo is collecting financial donations to support disaster relief efforts in Mississippi after devastating tornados killed 26 people and left widespread destruction. All donations will be passed on dollar-for-dollar to sister Catholic Charities agencies in affected areas.

Host Rodney Schuster welcomes Mike McCartney, Catholic Business Network Member, Michael O. Kenney, featured speaker at the April 20 breakfast event. Then learn about Catholic Charities  Permanent Supportive Housing program from Jen Voigt, Program Coordinator, and how the program improved the lives of one of the families served. 

Learn what Catholic counseling services are available in the Diocese of Toledo. Host Rodney Schuster, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo, welcomes Kathy Didion, LPCC-S, Sam Byrne, LPC, and Rev. Jeremy Miller from Corpus Christi University Parish.

Join our 40 Days for Life Closing Prayer Vigil April 1, 2023 at the Toledo Women's Center, 1160 W. Sylvania Avenue, Toledo. The 40 Days for Life Campaign in the Diocese of Toledo began Ash Wednesday and runs through April 2. Prayer Warriors gather daily to offer peaceful and prayerful witness to the dignity of human life outside of this abortion facility.

This week we discuss the May 8, 2023 Friends for Life Fundraiser with Kevin Jorrey, Catholic Charities Office for Life and Justice Director, and Spiritual Jail & Prison Ministries Programming in the Diocese of Toledo with Deacon Ed Irelan, Catholic Charities Justice Ministry Coordinator, Sr. Marguerite Polcyn, OSF, and Rev. John Blaser.
    

Share your Easter Blessings! Host Rodney Schuster, Executive Director, Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo, welcomes Sue Shrewsbery from Helping Hands of St. Louis, Willi Meyer from La Posada Family Emergency Shelter, Vicki Smith from Miriam House, our transitional shelter for homeless women and children in Norwalk, and Susan Dyson from Catholic Charities HOPE Pantry in Mansfield.

The Hoelzle Sisters wanted to do something for others on their birthdays, so they asked for socks! And they donated 300 pairs of children's socks to Helping Hands of St. Louis, a ministry of Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo!

On this week's "Faith Alive" program, learn how you can help support Pro-Life efforts to defeat the proposed amendment to Ohio's Constitution and help educate others about this amendment. Listen to the March 7 program online at Annunciation Radio of Northwest Ohio.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo welcomes your spring cleaning donations for the "Roll It Forward" Rummage Sale, our furniture ministries and for our Helping Hands of St. Louis Clothing Center. Learn what is needed and how your donations help on "Faith Alive!"

The Catholic Bishops of Ohio have issued a letter about the proposed amendment to Ohio's Constitution for the November 2023 ballot, which threatens life in its earliest stages. They strongly encourage Catholics and all people of goodwill in Ohio to work against including the proposed amendment for the November ballot and, if it appears on the ballot, to vote against the amendment to prevent countless deaths of pre-born, innocent children.

Catholic Charities Community Services Focus of This Week's "Faith Alive!" Learn more about our Emergency Services in Mansfield, with Brian Hunt, Program Coordinator, Family Support and Guidance Program Services in Toledo with Brian Rome, our Central Regional Director, and Crisis Navigation + Community Health Services Program Coordinator Breanna Mantz from our Huron County Catholic Charities Office.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo is collecting and forwarding donations dollar for dollar to Catholic Relief Services for earthquake humanitarian relief in Turkey and Syria. Donate on our secure website or mail your checks made out to Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo, with a Turkey/Syria Earthquake Relief designation.

The number of people Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo is serving continues to grow dramatically. “We provide the most basic human needs of food, clothing, and shelter to our communities’ most vulnerable men, women, and children across the Diocese of Toledo,” says Rodney Schuster, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Toledo. “We ask for your prayers to protect and lift our staff and the people we serve. We also ask for your financial support as our ministries are being dramatically stretched."

Join the Catholic Business Network for our next free-will offering breakfast program on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Holy Family Center. Patrick Novecosky, one of America’s most accomplished Catholic communicators, will speak on “St. John Paul II and the Dignity of Work."

Host Rodney Schuster, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo, discusses the Catholic Business Network with Dave Litzenberg, Rich Cronin and Patrick Novecosky, our speaker on February 16, 2023. Then get a recap of the recent March for Life in our nation's Capitol.

Learn how to become a Catholic Charities Volunteer. Tune in to "Faith Alive," Tuesday at 4 p.m. on Annunciation Radio of Northwest Ohio. Catholic Charities Volunteer Coordinator Byron Wynn shares regional volunteer opportunities throughout the 19-county Diocese of Toledo.

Host Rodney Schuster and guests discuss the capital, donative and volunteer needs of Helping Hands of St. Louis. This Catholic Charities ministry serves on average over 250 meals daily to low-income and homeless families. Each month, on average, 400 individuals get groceries, hygiene products and homeless kits from the Food Pantry and nearly 700 individuals receive clothing, shoes and household items from the Clothing Center.

Catholic Charities Helping Hands Clothing Center is in dire need of warm winter hats, gloves, socks and hand warmers. Assembling these items in a gallon-size ziploc storage bag is a great youth group service project and will be greatly appreciated buy the homeless we serve!

Regional staff members discuss Catholic Charities Project Bethlehem, an outreach program to help those we served in Mansfield, Norwalk and Toledo. Individuals, groups and organizations are invited to sponsor an individual or family by donating Christmas gifts to those we serve.

Byron Wynn, Catholic Charities Volunteer Coordinator, the brainchild of Catholic Charities Opportunity Kitchen, and Instructor Chef Saundra Irvine, discuss this intense, fast-paced, 10-week compassionate culinary "boot-camp" providing a skills-driven immersion into the commercial food service industry and transformational life skills for any workforce.

In the first half of the show, year-end and Planned Giving opportunities are discussed with Tom Waniewski, Director of Development. Homelessness Prevention and Rent Assistance is then discussed with Toledo Regional Program Coordinator Brian Rome.

In this "Faith Alive" program Host Rodney Schuster, Executive Director Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo, discusses Homelessness Services with Sue Shrewsbery, Helping Hands of St. Louis Program Director, and the Sandusky Furniture Ministry with Tom Lucas, Catholic Charities of Erie County Program Coordinator.

Kevin Jorrey, Office for Life & Justice Director, and Allison Stump, Students for Life Coordinator discuss the upcoming March for Life on January 20, 2023 in Washington DC. Reserve your seat and board our bus!  Listen in as they share their stories and offer ways for you to get involved!

Make your way to the Oregon Meijer, 1725 S. Wheeling Street, Oregon, OH, to purchase $10 SImply Give food cards before the New Year! The proceeds support Helping Hands of St. Louis hot meal and pantry programs that provide food to over 1,000 people each week.

Looking to make a difference during this Season of Giving? Host a Ham Drive! Or simply donate what you can! Helping Hands of St. Louis needs 100 boneless or spiral cut hams for Christmas baskets and our annual Christmas Dinner Dec. 20.

Our next Catholic Business Network speaker will be Peter Range, Executive Director of Ohio Right to Life, (www.ohiolife.org) on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at St. John XXIII Catholic Community, 24250 Dixie Highway, Perrysburg, OH. Doors open at 7 a.m. with networking, breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and program at 8 a.m.

Dave Litzenberg, Catholic Business Network Chair, Rich Cronin, President of Catholic Charities Board of Directors and Peter Range, Executive Director of Ohio Right to Life discuss the Dec. 6 Catholic Business Network event at St. John XXIII. Peter Range will speak on "Work, Worship and Warfare: The Call to Sanctification." 

We pray you'll show your support for neighbors in need by making a generous #GivingTuesday gift to Catholic Charities. When you do, your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar thanks to several of our generous benefactors!

Grocery shopping at the Oregon Meijer this week benefits Helping Hands of St. Louis! Meijer is donating a meal to help feed a neighbor in need for every purchase at the Oregon Meijer that includes a Meijer brand food product!

Traditional Thanksgiving dinners will be prepared and served at Helping Hands of St. Louis and guests will be able dine-in again this year. The free meals will be served between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22 at Helping Hands of St. Louis, 443 Sixth St., Toledo. 

Susan Shrewsbery, Director of Helping Hands of St. Louis, Susan Dyson, Mansfield's HOPE Food Pantry Coordinator, and Willi Meyer, Facility and Activities Coordinator at La Posada Family Shelter discuss Thanksgiving food needs. "Faith Alive" airs weekly on Annunciation Radio of Northwest Ohio

Jen Voigt, Catholic Charities Permanent Supportive Housing Program Coordinator, discuss the housing services Catholic Charities offers. She and Byron Wynn, Catholic Charities Volunteer Coordinator, discuss opportunities like Project Bethlehem, a volunteer program that makes Christmas special for the families we serve.

Join us on Saturday, October 29th at 10:00 a.m. at our Furniture Ministry warehouse located at 1813 E. Shoreway Drive in Sandusky for an informal Open House. We are looking for able bodies to help clean and organize the warehouse and update our furniture inventory. There will be donuts!

Vicki Smith, Catholic Charities Miriam House Program Coordinator, Willi Meyer, La Posada Family Shelter Activities and Facilities Manager, and Deacon Ed Irelan, Justice Ministry Coordinator, discuss the homeless services Catholic Charities offers in the Diocese of Toledo at our shelters and the "Off the Streets" program.

The 19th Annual Make A Difference Day Food and Supply Drive continued all day at Catholic Charities HOPE Pantry, 523 Park Avenue East. Nonperishable food items, toiletries and financial donations benefit Catholic Charities HOPE Pantry and Harmony House.

Nearly 200 families took home 630 new and gently used coats to keep warm during the upcoming winter season. Gently used and new boots, hats and gloves, warm children's PJ's, books and puzzles were also available. "Thank you to all who donated coats, especially Perrysburg Knights Of Columbus Council 7978 who purchased 154 children's coats for the Helping Hands of St. Louis event and to Saint John XXIII parishioners who hosted a Winter Clothing Drive,' Says Sue Shrewsbery.

On our latest "Faith Alive" program, Host Rodney Schuster, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo, is joined by Brian Rome, Family Support & Guidance Program Coordinator, and Brian Hunt and Breanna Mantz, Community Emergency Services Program Coordinators in Mansfield and Norwalk. They discuss the crisis navigation and community emergency services Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo offers in the Diocese of Toledo.

Donations of clean, gently-used coats and winter wear are needed, especially children’s coats, boots and outer wear. Helping Hands volunteers and staff will assist men, women and children in finding winter clothing items from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the side parking lot next to the old school building of Helping Hands of St. Louis, 443 Sixth St., Toledo, OH.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo is collecting and forwarding donations dollar for dollar to sister Catholic Charities agencies for Hurricane Ian disaster relief services in affected areas. Our prayers go out to all affected - those who have lost loved ones and millions of people who are suffering from the devastation wrought by this treacherous deadly storm.

Kerstin Pakka, Project Rachel Coordinator, and Tyler Pakka, Joseph Ministry Coordinator discuss their ministries. Allison Stump, Students for Life Coordinator, and Kevin Jorrey, Office for Life and Justice Director, share 40 Days for Life Activities and the upcoming Oct. 15 Mass for Life at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church.

Helping Hands of St. Louis needs new rotating groups of volunteers! Each group would be responsible for 1 day a month (or more), rotating on a monthly schedule and should consist of 6 - 8 persons for the morning shift and 2 - 4 people for the afternoon shift. Those who wish to come for the whole day are welcome too!

Learn why homeless families call Catholic Charities' La Posada Family Emergency Shelter home. Join us Oct. 4 as La Posada celebrates over 30 years of serving families in Toledo!

Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo kicks-off the return of "Faith Alive" at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The hour-long program will air weekly on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. on Annunciation Radio of Northwest Ohio. Tune in to WNOC 89.7 FM Toledo / Bowling Green, WHRQ 88.1 FM Sandusky / Port Clinton, WFOT 89.5 FM Mansfield / Lexington, WSHB 90.9 FM Willard, and WRRO 89.9 FM in Bryan are Northwest and North Central Ohio's Catholic Radio Stations. 

Join us Thursday, October 6, 2022 for our next Catholic Business Network breakfast. Our speaker will be Matt Bell, Founder of Team Recovery, presents "God's Plan" and his efforts helping those suffering from the disease of addiction.

Buying food from farmers and ranchers has so many great benefits. Consider stopping by your local farmers market to enjoy the many advantages it has to offer.

An estimated five million, or one in 10, seniors nationally are victims of elder abuse, neglect or financial exploitation. Catholic Charities Adult Advocacy programs help protect adults age 55 and older in Huron, Erie, Richland and Ottawa Counties through legal guardianship.