Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota is the winner of a $5,000 Community Assistance Award through Altra Federal Credit Union’s annual Best Life Community Awards.
That money will go to help Catholic Charities programs like MediAppS, which helps people with low incomes enroll in programs to get prescription medications at reduced or no cost, and provides emergency cash assistance to pay for prescriptions. And Onward & Upward, a program that provides a pathway for single parents and pregnant women to complete a college degree in the healthcare field through e social and financial support.
“Every grant or award we receive is a blessing,” Shanna Harris, Catholic Charities Executive Director said. “And every dollar of this award will go to help the most vulnerable and needy in our community.
Longtime volunteer Marla Markham nominated Catholic Charities when she learned of the Best Life Community Awards in July.
“I believe in the mission,” Markham said. “And I wanted other people to know what Catholic Charities does.” Markham is a part of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, administered in 19 counties for AmeriCorps Seniors by Catholic Charities.
The community voted online for 15 days at the beginning of November for nonprofits in a wide variety of service sectors all over the country including schools, food pantries, and cancer support organizations. At the end of the voting, Catholic Charities and nine other organizations each won a $5,000 Community Assistance Award.
“What I like the best about Catholic Charities is it is ever expanding and changing as needs are identified,” Markham wrote in her nomination letter to Altra. “They are willing to step in to help a community need and partner with others to bring needed services.” The nomination went on to include every Catholic Charities program, from adoption and parenting services to serving the homeless in warming centers to helping people afford their prescription medications.