Our friends at Morton’s The Steakhouse in New Orleans are donating $25 for every $75 prix fixe menu sold July 26-July 30 to our Oil Spill Relief Fund. What a great way to enjoy a fabulous meal and support our local fishing communities!

Salad: (choice of one)
Morton’s Salad
Caesar Salad
Beefsteak Tomato Salad

Entrée: (choice of one)
Single Cut Filet Mignon
Prime USDA Ribeye Steak
12 oz New York Strip Steak
Broiled Salmon Fillet

Sides: (Choice of one)
Sautéed Garlic Green Beans
Steamed Fresh Asparagus
Lyonnaise Potatoes
Mashed Potato

Dessert: (choice of one)
Morton’s Legendary Hot Chocolate Cake
Crème Brulee
Key Lime Pie

Morton’s The Steakhouse is located at 365 Canal Street. Call (504) 566-0221 or visit www.mortons.com to make reservations or view the entire Morton’s menu. Regular dinner hours are 5:30 p.m. – 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. on Sundays. 

Catholic Charities Hispanic Apostolate Community Services ESL classes will resume in August.

Click on your language for more information:  English >   |    Español >

Class sites are:
Tulane University in Uptown New Orleans
St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Marrero
Church of Christ in Mid City New Orleans
Esperanza Charter School in Mid City New Orleans
Atonement Lutheran in Metairie
Causeway Branch Library in Mandeville

In order to serve the fishing communities affected by the oil spill, Catholic Charities and our affiliated ministry Second Harvest Food Bank have partnered with Catholic Church parishes, local governments, state agencies (DSS and DHH), and other area non-profits.

At our five oil spill relief centers, families can receive food vouchers to local grocery stores, case management services, crisis counseling and other emergency supplies. 

Through July 21, 2010:

• We have provided emergency assistance to 18,541 people (6,983 families).
• We have distributed $371,500 in food vouchers to affected families and $78,540 in emergency food boxes from our affiliated ministry Second Harvest Food Bank.
• Our affiliated ministry Second Harvest Food Bank has distributed about 296,289 pounds of food (about 230,000 meals) to its member agencies in 11 Louisiana parishes affected by the oil spill.
• We have distributed 393 cans of baby formula and 1,051 packages of diapers.
• Our mental health crisis counselors have provided crisis counseling to 5,843 people.
• We have distributed $180,355 in other direct assistance and baby supplies to families.

We are operating five oil spill relief centers in the affected areas:

• St. Bernard Catholic Church in St. Bernard
• St. Thomas in Point-a-la-Hache
• St. Patrick in Port Sulphur
• Mary, Queen of Vietnam in NO East
• St. Anthony in Lafitte
• We are also providing counseling information and referrals at Breton Sound and Venice, LA.

If you need help, please call the toll-free Catholic Charities Care Line at (866) 891-2210.

Click here to make a donation to our Oil Spill Relief Fund >

Today, 112 of our preschoolers in four of our five Head Start Centers celebrated their graduation at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in New Orleans. These students have finished the Head Start curriculum and will begin kindergarten at various schools throughout the New Orleans area in the fall.

Learn more about our programs for children and family >

Find us on Facebook to see more photos from the Head Start graduations >

Since May 1, almost 17,000 individuals have received emergency assistance through Catholic Charities.  By the numbers, through July 9, 2010:

• 16,703 people (6,288 families) have received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities;
• $370,600 in food vouchers have been distributed to affected families, $75,030 in emergency food boxes from Second Harvest Food Bank have been distributed at the relief centers, in addition to regular distributions through the SHFB partner pantries in the area;
• 393 cans of baby formula and 1,051 packages of diapers have been distributed;
• Total food assistance: $445,630
• 3,524 people have received individual counseling and 60 have taken part in group counseling with Catholic Charities crisis counselors;
• $147,107 in direct assistance and baby supplies has been distributed to families;

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the Catholic Charities toll-free Care Line at 866-891-2210.

Our friends at Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) are biking for bucks to help us raise money for the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans Oil Spill Relief Fund. TEAMPHLY is asking its fans and partners to join them in “Climbing for Cleanup” by making a donation. 

Chairman & CEO Jamie Maguire, along with Co-Presidents Chris Maguire & Sean Sweeney are competing in the Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race. This race on August 14 in Leadville, CO is known as one of the toughest in the world. It includes 14,000 feet of climbing over the 100 mile course!

CLICK HERE to make a donation to Catholic Charities through TEAMPHLY’s “Climbing for Cleanup.”

For more information on “Climbing for Cleanup”, please visit www.climb.phly.com. 

In order to stay intimately connected with our donors, volunteers and friends, we have established a Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans Facebook page.

Find us on Facebook to get the latest news from Catholic Charities, and to interact in a meaningful way with others who are interested in our work.

As the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico stretches into a third month,  more fishermen and their families find themselves caught in an economic and mental health crisis.   Those needing crisis counseling can get it, free of charge, at any of our five oil spill relief centers.  Catholic Charities Care Line, 1-866-891-2210, is available 24 hours a day.  The National Suicide Prevention Hotline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), is also available 24 hours a day.

Since May 1, almost 14,000 individuals have received emergency assistance through Catholic Charities.  By the numbers, through June 28, 2010:

• 13,696 people (5,203 families) have received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities;
• $236,900 in food vouchers have been distributed to affected families, $72,840 in emergency food boxes from Second Harvest Food Bank have been distributed at the relief centers, in addition to regular distributions through the SHFB partner pantries in the area;
• 353 cans of baby formula and 966 packages of diapers have been distributed;
• Total food assistance: $401,370
• 2,667 people have received individual counseling and 58 have taken part in group counseling with Catholic Charities crisis counselors;
• $115,948 in direct assistance and baby supplies has been distributed to families;
• $1,044,423 raised;
• $855,316 spent.

Those wanting to help can make donations to the Catholic Charities Oil Spill Relief Fund by clicking the link to the right.

Director Spike Lee, third from right, with Catholic Charities clients

Director Spike Lee interviewed a group of Vietmanese-American fishermen who have been left unemployed by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  The fishermen are receiving services through Catholic Charities oil spill response center in New Orleans.

Help at Breton Sound

Since May 1, more than 13,000 individuals have received emergency assistance through Catholic Charities.  By the numbers, through June 23, 2010:

• 13,688 people (5,203 families) have received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities;
• $230,900  in food vouchers have been distributed to affected families;
• 2,297 emergency food boxes from Second Harvest Food Bank have been distributed at the relief centers, in addition to regular distributions through the SHFB partner pantries in the area;
• 493 cans of baby formula have been distributed along with 597 boxes of diapers;
• 2,296 people have received individual counseling and 58 have taken part in group counseling with Catholic Charities crisis counselors;
• $99,521 in direct assistance and baby supplies has been distributed to families;
• $980,000 raised;
• $708,000 spent.

We at Catholic Charities deeply appreciate the support of our donors as we respond to the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico by providing services for the fishermen of the impacted communities.  At the present time, we are currently accepting monetary donations to fund our relief work.  You may donate online, by mail or over the phone.  If you are interested in donating food, please contact Second Harvest at 504-734-1322.  If you have additional questions, please call 504-592-5685.  Someone will return your call within 24 hours.  Thank you again for your support.

Since May 1, more than 9,800 individuals affected by the oil spill have received emergency assistance  through Catholic Charities. 

In order to serve the affected communities we have partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank,  local governments and state agencies (Dept of Social Services and Health and Hospitals) and other local non-profits such as United Way.  We are also very grateful to BP for its $1 million gift that has enabled us to expand our services.

By the numbers, through June 14, 2010:

• 9,819 people (3,283 families) have received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities;
• $185,500 in gift cards and/or food vouchers have been distributed to affected families;
• 1,600 emergency food boxes from Second Harvest Food Bank have been distributed through our oil spill centers, additional food has been distributed by Second Harvest through regular partner food pantries;
• 190 cans of baby formula have been distributed along with 102  boxes of diapers and 291 ½ packs of diapers;
• 1,535 people have received individual counseling and 58 have taken part in group counseling with Catholic Charities crisis counselors;
• $68,459 in direct assistance has been distributed to families.

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Since May 1, more than 7,800 individuals have received emergency assistance from the local Catholic Church through Catholic Charities.  By the numbers, through June 7, 2010:

• 7,803 people (2,369 families) have received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities;
• $140,600 in gift cards and/or food vouchers have been distributed to affected families;
• 952 emergency food boxes from Second Harvest Food Bank have been distributed;
• 177 cans of baby formula have been distributed along with 77 boxes of diapers and 186 ½ packs of diapers;
• 902 people have undergone mental health assessments; and
• 737 people have received individual counseling and 58 have taken part in group counseling with Catholic Charities crisis counselors.

Those wanting to help, can make donations  directly to Catholic Charities at www.ccano.org. 

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Catholic Charities is currently in need of volunteers to help us outreach to families who work in fishing-related industries affected by the oil spill.  All volunteers must initially attend an Oil Spill/ Disaster Relief Volunteer Orientation; orientations will take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday  at 2pm on the 10^th floor of 1000 Howard Avenue New Orleans, LA 70113. 

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       Since May 1, more than 6200 individuals who have been affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico have received emergency assistance from the local Catholic Church through Catholic Charities.  By the numbers, through June 1, 2010:

• 6227 people (1883 families) have received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities;
• $102,900 in gift cards and/or food vouchers have been distributed to affected families;
• 845 emergency food boxes from Second Harvest Food Bank have been distributed;
• 173 cans of baby formula have been distributed along with 77 boxes of diapers and 186 ½ packs of diapers;
• 748 people have undergone mental health assessments; and
• 503 people have received individual counseling and 28 have taken part in group counseling with Catholic Charities crisis counselors.